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Reviewed

Harris Westminster Sixth Form

State school · London, SW1H 9LH
  • Sixth form
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 16-19
  • 616 pupils
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Harris Westminster is an inspiring place – a stimulating, scholarly and lively environment that instils a love of learning and gives bright sixth formers a breadth of knowledge that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Youngsters feel fortunate to be there and staff feel privileged to teach them. It’s a winning combination.

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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
616 ·
Religion
None
Local authority
Westminster City Council

Headteacher

Principal

Claire Scott

Since 2024, Claire Scott. Brought up in the US and educated at Malvern Girls’ College (now Malvern St James) and UCL, where she studied economics – ‘and have been based in London ever since’. Says her real love is maths, which she has previously

Entrance

Very competitive. Around 2,200 youngsters apply for the 300 places available each year. Applicants take entrance exams in the two favourite subjects they wish to study for A level (sample questions are available online) and staff interview 800. ‘The

Open days
See school website

Exit

Around 60 per cent to Russell Group universities and more than 10 per cent to Oxbridge (43 in 2025). Each student has a UCAS mentor to guide them through the university application process. Most popular destinations are Imperial and Oxbridge. Thirty

% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)

School
90%
LA avg.
78%
Eng. avg.
66%
Data highlight

What is this?

The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.

Latest results

In 2025, 54 per cent A*/A at A level (82 per cent A*-B).

A level - Average points score (2024)

School
43.91
LA avg.
36.94
Eng. avg.
34.45
Data highlight

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Teaching & learning

This is a highly academic school that takes the brightest and best students from across London. Its continuing partnership with Westminster School is influential in setting the tenor of scholarship and creates high expectations. Students study four A

Qualifications taken in 2024
  • A level
  • EPQ
43
Number of teachers
16:1
Pupil to teacher ratio

Learning support & SEN

Some students with dyslexia, Asperger’s and autism but they are all high performers and must be able to cope with the demands of the curriculum. Staff often spot dyslexia that hasn’t been picked up by previous schools. ‘We have quite a number with

0.3 %
Students with a SEN EHCP
8 %
Students with SEN support

Arts & extracurricular

Year 12 pupils take two Cultural Perspectives courses each term, developing new skills, exploring new ideas and wrestling with thorny ethical issues. Recent topics include art for scientists, awesome American writers and the history of protest in the

Sport

Keeping fit and healthy is part of the Harris Westminster ethos and students are encouraged to play sport on Thursday afternoons. They use venues across London, including London South Bank University’s facilities across the river, and take part in

Ethos & heritage

Set up in 2014 with the aim of enabling bright teenagers, many of them from disadvantaged backgrounds, to fulfil their potential, Harris Westminster has delivered on every front in the intervening years. It’s a collaboration between Westminster

Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline

The house system is integral to the pastoral care system. Tutor groups are organised by houses so tutors and heads of house (all teachers) are the first port of call for students in need of support. Tutors also meet with students for 20 minutes five

Mobile phone policy

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Mobile phone policy is in line with the rest of our ethos - 'Students are free to make their own decisions, as long as they are the right ones. If they make mistakes, we correct students, teach them and expect them to take our advice. In this sense, mobile phone use is exactly the same as any other type of behaviour issue in schools'.

Pupils & parents

The school is culturally diverse, with pupils and parents from every London borough (around 10 per cent from Westminster). One student commutes from as far afield as Luton. Slightly more girls than boys (60:40) - ‘My guess is that the girls have got

616
Number of pupils

The last word

Harris Westminster is an inspiring place – a stimulating, scholarly and lively environment that instils a love of learning and gives bright sixth formers a breadth of knowledge that will serve them well for the rest of their lives. Youngsters feel

This school has not provided any information yet

If you are from this school, please, get in touch to feature images and useful information for parents.

Contact the school

Address

Steel House
11 Tothill Street
Westminster
London
SW1H 9LH
Get directions

Telephone: 020 3772 4555

Email: enquiries@harriswestminstersixthform.org.uk

Website: https://www.harriswestminstersixthform.org.uk

Local authority: Westminster City Council

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Have you considered?

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School data & information Harris Westminster Sixth Form Steel House, 11 Tothill Street, Westminster, London, SW1H 9LH
616 Pupil numbers
284/332 Pupil numbers boy/girls split
34 % Pupils whose first language is not English
16:1 Pupil to teacher ratio
43 Number of teachers

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

Mobile phone policy is in line with the rest of our ethos - 'Students are free to make their own decisions, as long as they are the right ones. If they make mistakes, we correct students, teach them and expect them to take our advice. In this sense, mobile phone use is exactly the same as any other type of behaviour issue in schools'.

Our review contains additional results data reported to us by Harris Westminster Sixth Form and is updated annually. See the review

% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)

School
47.8%
LA avg.
23.8%
Eng. avg.
17.1%

What is this?

Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.

Average points score (2024)

School
43.91
LA avg.
36.94
Eng. avg.
34.45

What is this?

These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.

Subjects entered at 16 to 18 (2024)

Pupils attending this school entered exams in these subjects. The list only includes qualifications approved for inclusion in the performance measures. The subjects and qualifications on offer at this school may change year on year. For a full list of subjects and qualifications on offer at this school, visit the school or college website or contact the school directly. Find out more

Subject Qualification Entries Avg. grade
Spanish GCE A level 13 A
Physics GCE A level 87 B
Mathematics (Further) GCE A level 72 A
Mathematics GCE A level 218 A
Logic / Philosophy GCE A level 39 A
History of Art GCE A level 17 A
History GCE A level 65 A
Government and Politics GCE A level 60 A
German GCE A level 7 A*
French GCE A level 20 A
English Literature GCE A level 64 A
Economics GCE A level 79 A
Chemistry GCE A level 125 A
Biology GCE A level 114 A
Art and Design (Fine Art) GCE A level 23 A

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Year 12 entry (average 2020-2022)

Year 13 exit

SEN overview

Harris Westminster Sixth Form is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

At Harris Westminster, we are committed to ensuring that every student with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) receives the support they need to thrive academically, personally, and socially. We identify needs early and work closely with students, families, teachers, and specialist services to provide personalised and flexible support. Our teachers are trained to create inclusive classrooms, removing barriers to learning so that all students can access the full curriculum with confidence. Alongside this, we offer targeted interventions that address individual needs while building resilience, independence, and self-belief. Our commitment extends beyond the classroom, with a strong focus on enrichment, leadership, and cultural capital. Students with SEND are encouraged to play a full and active role in college life through societies, clubs, cultural perspective classes, and leadership responsibilities. Our students lead on initiatives such as assemblies around inclusion, shaping the culture of the college and ensuring that their voices are heard. These opportunities help all students grow as confident individuals who can engage meaningfully with the wider world.

We also recognise that transition points are key to student success. We provide bespoke programmes to support students as they join the sixth form, and we prepare them for ambitious destinations when they leave. Our history of success is testament to this commitment: SEND students from our college have progressed to Oxford, Cambridge, Russell Group universities, Medicine, Veterinary Science, degree-level apprenticeships, and other prestigious routes. We are proud of these achievements and remain dedicated to ensuring every student leaves us with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed in their chosen pathway.

Updated Sep 2025
0.3 %
Students with a SEN EHCP UK mainstream school avg. 2.7%
8 %
Students with SEN support UK mainstream school avg. 12.9%

SEN conditons supported

No information available from the school. Find out more.

Our data explained
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