Westbourne Prep School

What the school says...

Westbourne develops globally-minded, well-rounded, articulate young scholars who progress to the best universities in the world (90% Russell Group entry). Westbourne graduates possess the skills, knowledge, confidence and character to become leaders of the future, and go on to secure top careers in fields including medicine, law, engineering and business.

2021 saw record Sixth Form and GCSE results, with 50% of IB Diploma students achieving over 40 points (the equivalent of 4A*s at A Level), 85% 7/6 (A*/A equivalent), 96.8% 7-5 (A*-B). At GCSE, 100% attained A*-C (9-4 under the reformed GCSE grading system), with 86¬hieving the highest grades, A*/A (9-7).

Founded in 1896, Westbourne's reputation for academic excellence has been established for 125 years. Ranked 1st in the UK in smaller school league tables for five years in a row, and IB School of the Year 2019, it is one of the UK’s most academically elite schools. As referenced in the Sunday Times Best School Guide 2021: ‘Westbourne is one of the most consistently high-achieving independent schools in Britain.’

Students benefit from smaller class sizes than at other schools, allowing personalised attention and one-to-one support. Offering a small, friendly community where every student is known by name by every teacher, Westbourne is described as having a family feel, blending traditional values with outstanding teaching. The school is committed to innovation in education, and combines traditional classroom teaching with the latest technology including being one of the first schools in Wales to implement artificial intelligence-assisted learning.

Westbourne offers the International (IB) Diploma Programme in Sixth Form, and GCSEs from Year 9, which allows students opportunity to study a wider range of subjects as excellent preparation for the IB. Senior School entry is at Year 6.

Prep School pupils benefit from a diverse, stimulating curriculum, including early exposure to foreign languages, the arts, mathematics and science, as well as a range of excellent sporting opportunities. All children participate in a weekly STEM afternoon and attend Westbourne's FaB (Forest and Beach) School half termly, an immersive outdoors learning and wellbeing initiative that offers learning opportunities in local coastal and countryside settings, including the school’s private forest site on a 20-acre farm.

Westbourne Nursery accepts children from 2 years and is open for 51 weeks a year at a cost of £63 per day from 7.30am until 6.00pm. The nursery also offers half days.

Westbourne is located in Penarth, an affluent seaside suburb voted one of the best places to live in 2021 for health and wellbeing (The Times) and one of the Top 10 best places to live in the UK (Sunday Times). A 10-minute train journey from vibrant, historic Cardiff, ranked by the EU Quality of Life Survey as the 3rd best European capital city, Westbourne offers the perfect blend of modern metropolis, suburban safety, seaside and countryside.

The school enjoys excellent transport links, with easy access to the M4. There is a convenient train service from Penarth to Cardiff Central, which offers direct trains to London and across the UK. The school has minibuses running each day across the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff, with alternative routes available on request. ...Read more

This is not currently a GSG-reviewed school.

Do you know this school?

The schools we choose, and what we say about them, are founded on parents’ views. If you know this school, please share your views with us.

Please login to post a comment.