A Sixth Form experience like no other
“Success was testimony to the support of the staff team and the Westbourne model of academic excellence.”
WILLIAM, 44 IB POINTS, TOP 1% WORLDWIDE
Westbourne Voices
Hear from our students
Our mission is clear
To develop future-ready leaders with the curiosity, creativity and capability to shape a rapidly developing world. Our results speak for themselves.
With graduates consistently ranking in the top 1-2% worldwide, Westbourne has a 130-year history of facilitating student access to the world’s leading universities, including Oxford, Cambridge and the Ivy League.
Ranked #1 in the UK for Innovation and Technology, and #2 IB Boarding School for Results, Westbourne’s Sixth Form blends academic excellence with a professional culture.
Our students are treated as young adults, taking ownership, thinking critically and leading with integrity and confidence.
Students choose between the globally renowned IB Diploma, or A-Levels, both delivered in a future-focused, high-performance environment where collaboration, independence and real-world application drive every lesson.
Joining our dynamic Sixth Form in Penarth connects them to a global network of peers across Sydney, Singapore and soon, India, collaborating in real-time through cutting-edge technology to share ideas and research.
This global perspective is enriched through exchange trips to Sydney, our Singaporebased Future Leaders Lab ‘mini-MBA’ led by INSEAD professors, and world-class university preparation. From day one, Westbourne students begin building the knowledge, mindset and global leadership skills to excel at top universities and beyond.
Accelerating student success
“I think the community at Westbourne is incredible. The great thing is that you can still draw on Westbourne now, even as alumni, for an amazing support network.”
DHARANI,
Westbourne is built for academically ambitious, globally minded students aiming for the world’s best universities and beyond.
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS
Oxbridge and Russell Group open days
Local & Global expert tutoring
Privileged connections with world-leading universities GLOBALLY MINDED, LOCALLY ROOTED
Our Penarth students receive personalised mentoring by experienced teachers and careers specialists, both on campus and virtually, via our global schools. This is complemented by our AI Socratic tutor, KnowVa Coach, giving them seamless, realtime access to world-class expertise.
We provide a supportive, yet aspirational environment defined by intellectual curiosity, collaboration and professional purpose –where success is shaped by focus, confidence and ambition.
“Mini MBA” Future Leaders Lab in Singapore led by INSEAD professors Study exchanges with our Sydney and Singapore schools
Global university applications managed by market experts with longstanding admission director relationships
Joint projects with classmates in Sydney and Singapore
KnowVa Coach Socratic AI Tutor
Global careers advice
GLOBAL TOP 1% WESTBOURNE ALUMNUS, LAW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Outstanding
95% A*-B (7-5)
IB Diploma Grades, 2025
#2 IB Boarding School
best-schools, 2024
90% Top 20 University Entry
“The teachers have been very supportive of my academic progress. The IB Coordinators allowed me to take on ever higher challenges and break out of my comfort zone.”
% of graduates entering top 20 UK universities or equivalently elite international institutions
#1 for innovation
Award-winning technology sets us apart
AI-assisted learning and virtual reality have transformed the learning experience for our students, giving them the tools to research deeper and think more broadly, building confidence and independence. And this translates to outcomes.
Globally recognised through awards including the Global EdTech Award for Best Digital Transformation, and the Tes Schools Awards for Best Use of Technology, in 2024 we were voted the UK’s most innovative
independent school by the ISA. We were honoured to be named Independent School of the Year for Education Technology in 2025.
We are the only school in the UK using a bespoke AI learning platform, KnowVa Coach, developed alongside Cardiff University’s Department of Neuroscience and INSEAD professors, to support students to deepen their learning across a range of academic subjects, elevating their knowledge and skills far beyond the classroom.
SINCE INTRODUCING AI TECHNOLOGY, STUDENT PERFORMANCE HAS INCREASED, ON AVERAGE, BY 30%; THAT’S TWO GRADES HIGHER.
♦ One of the first schools to use AI technology, our powerful AI tutor, KnowVa Coach, offers instant, personalised feedback.
♦ We use EdTech to seamlessly share resources and expertise between teachers and students across the entire world.
♦ Our groundbreaking Holographic Teacher brings the world’s finest teachers to our UK students and vice versa.
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR INNOVATIVE PRACTICE in the UK for Innovation
♦ Through our Global Staffroom, teachers across our global schools share research and methodology, promoting teaching excellence.
♦ Century provides AI-assisted commentary, giving students three ‘frequencies’ of assessment feedback.
♦ Critical thinking, a core future ready skill, is deeply embedded in our teaching practice.
# 1
# 1 in the UK for EdTech
Two elite pathways
STUDY THREE CORE SUBJECTS
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) ‘Philosophy for 17 year-olds’develops critical thinking and enquiry
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) Develops creativity, social responsibility, teamwork and leadership skills
Our students don’t just sit examsabove and beyond standard curricula, they gain the mindset, resilience and global perspective demanded by top universities and industries. SUPERCHARGE YOUR FUTURE READY SKILLS
Extended Essay/ EPQ Promotes independent research and writing skills; gives students a significant advantage in university applications. 1 2 3
ACADEMIC ACCELERATOR
The very best grounding for the IB Diploma Programme. Specifically designed for students who are new to the UK education system. One-year GCSEs available.
Boosting confidence, study skills and IB Diploma success.
Supercharge your future
Sixth Form study at Westbourne comprises a myriad of exclusive opportunities designed to enrich and strengthen every student’s academic and professional portfolio. Gain a headstart on your future.
CARDIFF CASTLE WELCOME DINNER
A highlight of the calendar, Sixth Form students are inducted into the Westbourne community with a spectacular gala dinner in the company of their peers from our global schools.
SCAN the QR code to watch the highlights on YouTube
INSEAD WORKSHOP
Led by esteemed INSEAD professors, students attend an intensive series of masterclasses to build core entrepreneurial skills and professional acumen.
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES
Exciting exchange opportunities with our Sydney and Singapore campuses support students to build a dynamic global alumni network.
FUTURE LEADERS LAB
A gateway to the thrilling world of business and entrepreneurship, led by INSEAD professors. Our fully immersive MBA-style programme offers cutting-edge insights and real-world experiences, running at our Singapore campus in June.
CAREERS
Strengthening their professional profiles, students attend regular one-to-one careers mentoring with our resident careers experts, including advice on pathways, university applications, CV writing, interview techniques, and building a professional network on LinkedIn, as well as support in securing meaningful work experience in the UK and globally.
“Studying at Westbourne has improved my leadership skills and sense of independence. I love being part of a community of students who are so ambitious and we’re given so many opportunities to develop our own ideas.”
GRADUATE STORIES
SCAN the QR code to hear from our graduates
Pathways
Our students are mentored and supported to ensure success on highly competitive courses at the world’s top-ranking universities.
THE RUSSELL GROUP
ELERI CARMEN, IB STUDENT
Boarding with us
Ranked #2 IB Boarding School in the UK for results, our boarding school isn’t just a place to stay; it’s a dynamic multicultural community that celebrates diversity and fosters mutual respect.
Fusing British boarding school tradition with vibrant international perspectives, we are pleased to welcome UK and international boarders from Years 7 - 13.
Accommodation options include our bright, clean Boarding House, a two-minute walk from the Senior School and Sixth Form, and friendly local homestay options.
Boarding students are an integral part of the Westbourne School familyliving, studying and socialising alongside our day students, and forging lifelong friendships.
“It is really beautiful here and I like the feeling of nature and that everything is really nearby. Actually, making friends here was much, much easier than I expected. We are all here having this international experience and everyone tries their best to create this feeling of community. I just mostly talk about how kind, welcoming and really helpful and supportive this community at Westbourne is.”
Be Curious, Be Bold, Be Future Ready
“My favourite aspect of Westbourne is most definitely the small classes, which allow me to establish better relationships with my teachers and classmates, increasing my desire to excel in my education.”
MORGAN, NOW STUDYING AT QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
