Inspiring young minds
“We chose Westonbirt School for our son and daughter as we wanted a smaller school with a family feel. We have been delighted with our choice. The staff at Westonbirt really know our children and they have thrived.” - Current parent “Top marks here for pastoral care and well-being.” - Good Schools Guide 2021 “Westonbirt has shaped the person I am today. The school not only helped me achieve academic success, but also personal growth and confidence.” - Jasmine, Year 13 “It is the quality of the teaching and relationships between students and staff that is so outstanding.” - Year 13 parent
WELCOME Parents increasingly appreciate that a greenhouse, not a hothouse, is the optimum environment for children to flourish. At Westonbirt, it is the passion and commitment from staff that fuels teaching and the expectation that each child will fulfil their potential and beyond. A holistic approach to education is well supported by the abundant outdoor space for sports and co-curricular activities. Individuality is celebrated and our pupils develop a level of confidence which is neither arrogant nor taken for granted. A small school that proudly punches above its weight, Westonbirt pupils are regularly selected to play for county and national sports teams, drama students appear at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and over two-thirds of pupils play at least one musical instrument. I look forward to welcoming you to Westonbirt soon.
Natasha Dangerfield Headmistress
"Westonbirt has exceeded our expectations on every level." Parent of current Year 7 flexi-boarder "Students here receive what is practically customised teaching." Good Schools Guide "Students leave brimming with confidence." Tatler Schools Guide
WHY WESTONBIRT? At Westonbirt you will find an inspired community set within 210 acres of parkland grounds and a breathtaking Victorian mansion. A greenhouse, not a hothouse, success is celebrated and development is nourished. Class sizes are small and the school is rated excellent for academic achievement and pastoral care by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. The boarding school ethos benefits day students and boarders alike and our strong sense of community is key to ensuring pupils feel valued and well supported in becoming the best version of themselves. Staff know students exceptionally well and it is their passion and commitment that fuels teaching and ensures the learning environment is rich and filled with an expectation that each child will reach their potential. The abundance of outdoor space for sports at Westonbirt and a broad co-curricular programme supports a holistic approach to education. Academic scholars benefit from a variety of enrichment and extension activities and pupils with additional needs are supported to achieve their potential through our dedicated Learning Support team. Westonbirt is also proud to offer a strong EAL department (English as an Additional Language) and enjoy a vibrant international community.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT Westonbirt offers a broad curriculum with the ability to tailor subject options to individuals where possible. Class sizes are small and achievement is high with Westonbirt ranked in the top 5% for value added. Results calculated by Durham University measure student progress against base line data for each child and find that the ‘value added’ to students at Westonbirt is within the top 5% of schools nationally - meaning that Westonbirt pupils achieve at least a grade higher than expectation at GCSE. In 2021, 44% of our GCSE students achieved top Grades 8 and 9. We offer a wide range of qualifications in the Sixth Form, including A levels, BTECs, Leiths and the EPQ and in 2021 59% of students gained A - A* grades. We aim to be as flexible as possible with subject choices; allowing students to build a bespoke programme of learning that is right for them and 90 % of students are accepted by their first-choice university, going on to study a huge variety of subjects including Medicine, Sports Science, Law, Architecture, Drama and much more. Pupils with additional needs are supported to achieve their potential through our dedicated Learning Support team and academic scholars benefit from extension activities, in addition to being stretched and challenged in lessons. Specific support is given to those intending to apply to Oxbridge or for other specialist degrees such as Medicine.
INSPIRING SURROUNDINGS Located in 210 wonderful acres of Cotswold parkland and gardens, Westonbirt students are extremely fortunate to have a hugely inspirational setting in which to live and work. The main school house is an historic and striking building, a Victorian mansion nothing short of stately home proportions. Within its wonderful 150-year-old walls you will find a thoroughly modern school with excellent facilities. Students appreciate the magnificent state rooms and make the most of the elegant spaces in which they work and rest. Westonbirt is situated in the middle of Royal Gloucestershire with Highgrove House nearby and Westonbirt Arboretum opposite. The arboretum, which originally stemmed from our grounds, makes an impressive heritage partner and is a fabulous option for students to extend their walks. With a drive of about an hour and a half from Heathrow airport and frequent school mini-bus runs in and out, students find us accessible and in a country setting which can offer those from the city a breath of fresh air in a safe and secure environment.
DID YOU KNOW? Westonbirt students are 75% British and 25% International. We are very proud of our rich cultural diversity with 29 different nationalities in school.
FLEXIBLE OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES Westonbirt offers flexi boarding for three nights a week as well as weekly and full boarding. Many of our local students take up this opportunity which supports a focus on prep and school activities during the week and also the opportunity to have supper and socialise with friends. Boys boarding was launched in September 2021 with over 40% of key stage 3 now made up of boys. Boys board in Badminton House with stunning views across the grounds while girls dorms are located in Dorchester and Beaufort Houses, also enjoying magnificent vistas. Sixth Form boarding is designed to replicate university living to prepare students for the next stage in their educational journey. “It is the sense of community and the beauty of the house we occupy that makes boarding at Westonbirt such a magical experience. Routines are established in the boarding environment that enable teenagers to form successful habits and learn to manage their time, and ultimately their studies, more effectively.” Natasha Dangerfield Headmistress
EXAMINATION RESULTS Tailored teaching and small classes mean that Westonbirt students are well supported to achieve their potential.
GCSE Results 2021
GCSE Results 2020
44% grade 8-9 62% grade 7-9 75% grade 6-9
30% grade 8-9 49% grade 7-9 76% grade 6-9
A-Level Results 2021
A-Level Results 2020
59% A*- A grades 78% A*- B grades 98% A*-C grades
49% A*- A grades 79% A*- B grades 97% A*- C grades
90% of students achieve their first-choice university with pupils going onto study a wide variety of courses at prestigious Russell Group Institutions as well as other UK and international universities.
DRAMA, MUSIC & ART Performances in Music and Drama are frequently staged in the Orangery, the Great Hall and the Chapel as well as in the nearby cultural centres of Bristol, Bath and Cheltenham. Drama productions are of extremely high quality and are regularly enjoyed by large audiences with performances often selling out.
Music is truly at the heart of the school with large numbers singing in choirs and two thirds of the students playing at least one musical instrument. Music lessons incorporate performance, composing and appraising as well as the study of different musical genres from Baroque and classical, to musical theatre, reggae and popular music. Composition work is carried out using Sibelius software in our dedicated Music Technology Suite.
“This incredible production transports you from the Great Hall to France with such ease. This is a testament to the vision, talent and hard work of the cast and crew” Audience member Les Miserables 2019
The school has its own light and spacious Art studios, providing the perfect environment for creativity. In recent years, students have gained unconditional offers to read at the prestigious Central Saint Martins; Glasgow School of Art and the Architectural Association School of Architecture. The school also puts on its own Art Exhibition each year for public display where works from a range of media are presented and appreciated.
DID YOU KNOW? Westonbirt students have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for several years – writing, directing and performing their own work.
DID YOU KNOW? Westonbirt’s equestrian team includes students selected to compete internationally in dressage and show-jumping.
SPORT With extensive playing fields and wonderful facilities, including a 9-hole golf course, sport is a significant part of school life. Major sports include Rugby, Cricket, Lacrosse, Netball, Swimming and Tennis. Sports coaches are experts in their fields and many students go on to play at county level and beyond. Students are encouraged and supported to extend their talents as far as they possibly can. At the heart of the sport provision is a £3m Sports Centre including a 25m indoor swimming pool, sports hall and aerobics room and a full gymnasium. Westonbirt enjoys an enviable reputation for producing highly successful individual and team performances in a wide variety of sports, always punching above its weight against much larger schools. A range of Physical Education activities are also offered through the curriculum with GCSE PE and BTEC Sports.
CO-CURRICULAR Westonbirt offers all students extensive additional learning through the co-curricular programme. Students are encouraged to participate in activities that are enjoyable and contribute hugely to Westonbirt life, helping to develop well-rounded, confident individuals. Examples of regular co-curricular activities in addition to Music, Sport, Arts and Drama include: • Leadership programme run with ex-England Rugby professional, Lee Mears • The Duke of Edinburgh Award • FameLab Academy in conjunction with Cheltenham Science Festival • Service Projects to Sierra Leone and Southern India • History of Art evening classes • Debating and Socratic Societies • Breakfast and Politics with the Headmistress • Leith’s Certificate in Food and Wine (Sixth Form)
VALUES AND ETHOS Westonbirt was founded as a Church of England School and retains a spiritual approach for all students, no matter their faith or cultural background. We have a beautiful Chapel in the school grounds managed by the School Chaplain. Our Christian ethos underpins our approach to school life and, regardless of religious belief or faith, all our students receive support for their personal spiritual development. Westonbirt offers a true community spirit and an atmosphere in which students flourish and feel supported. Many students choose to take confirmation during their time at Westonbirt. Others may enjoy the chapel during assemblies and key events through the school year such as Remembrance Day. It provides a magical setting for our annual candlelit service in December and a space to find some peace during the busy weeks of term. ‘I am writing this letter following my daughter’s GCSE results this week. Her achievements are a testament to the dedication and care of the whole Westonbirt family. From the moment we walked in and sat with the Headmistress we knew we had found a very special place.’ Parent of current Year 12 pupil
SIXTH FORM LIFE Westonbirt offers a vibrant Sixth Form community with a broad range of A levels and BTECs on offer and a unique leadership programme run with ex-England Rugby professional, Lee Mears. Westonbirt Sixth Form provides the perfect balance between supporting students to achieve their potential and offering a stepping stone to university living; students enjoy communal Sixth Form study and social spaces, study bedrooms, a Sixth Form Café and bar and access to our leisure centre, fitness suite and 9-hole golf course. Westonbirt Sixth Form offers its pupils the opportunity to develop the right kind of independence. Where it comes to academic work, we provide a supportive environment that encourages and fosters self-discipline; where extra-curricular opportunities present themselves, our students develop their leadership potential and organisational skills. Ultimately, students grow into the sort of young people that universities and employers desire: those with the organisational and social skills to enrich their environment and with the confidence and ability to hold and present themselves wherever their educational journey takes them.
BEYOND WESTONBIRT We take great interest in our students’ future paths, whatever route they choose and delight in hearing from our alumni on their wide ranging achievements. Past pupils are often invited back to address the school at our annual Speech Day and many more keep in touch with us via the Westonbirt Association. Our Aspiring Futures Days draw specialists and experts from a range of careers to come to school and open hearts and minds to the options that exist beyond Sixth Form, many of whom also offer some semblance of work experience, apprenticeship or intern work. Westonbirt students are linked to industry early and the applicable skills this provides them with are as valuable in some instances as their A levels.
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Westonbirt School, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QG T +44 (0)1666 880333 E admissions@westonbirtschool.uk www.westonbirt.org