is westonbirt school academic?

[abitrag568u]

Hello,
We’re considering Westonbirt School for our DS, who is very academic but also quite sporty (loves team sports,football,rugby, etc). We want a school that provides strong academic results and lots of stretch for bright children, but also offers great sports and extra-curricular opportunities, ideally with a supportive, inclusive ethos.
Does anyone have recent experience of Westonbirt? Is it genuinely good academically (especially for high achievers), and how is it for sport? Can able children flourish there in both areas? We’re also interested in leavers’ destinations/university results, and how much they encourage participation/fun as well as competition.
Any thoughts would be appreciated! Many thanks.

Really hard to know your benchmark. You're looking at Oxbridge, Yale, Harvard - intellectual cohort with momentum and ambition or UCL level. Ive seen people say "really academic" and then you are what that objectively means and the responses are wildly different.

@easternenergizer Is it particularly hard to get into? Would they accept year 11 entry?

Thanks in advance!

Hello,

The below, from their website should give you an idea. I know one girl who went that is it. Quite smart. The below requirements are, in my personal opinion, not very high at all. I was bottom set at Oundle and walked getting into 6th form and the requirements there are higher than those of westonbirt (3as (7) and 3bs (6)). These requirements are nothing like Wycombe CLC etc. but then I don’t know if your opinion on what is an ‘academic school” differs from my own. Hopefully this objective data might give you some more idea and direction at very least. Good luck.

• A minimum of four GCSEs at grade 5; OR five GCSEs at grade 4 (or overseas equivalents)
• A grade 6 should also be achieved in a chosen subject if previously taken at GCSE
• A grade 7 in GCSE Mathematics is also required to take Further Mathematics at A Level
• If you have not achieved a minimum of grade 4 in GCSE English Language and Maths, then you will need to revisit these subjects.

No it's not. Tbh none of the Gloucestershire private schools are that academic because most of the top achievers go to the grammars. I suppose Marlborough and st Mary's calne plus the Bath ones would be but the others are 'all rounders'. Wycliffe / stonar/ rendcombe are all more about experience. Kings Gloucester, Dean close and Richard pate and Cheltenham are all academic. Wycliffe / Cheltenham boys might be the best bet. Stonar if you are round the M4.

OK I just checked their grades. 64% A * - B in 2025. For me, that is to put it bluntly, very low. I dont know how selective it is but I wouldn't put a bright child in that environment if I knew they could go somewhere where there would be more people of their intellect level around personally and they could get in.

@Lasecretaire Would they allow y11 entry and is it good for sport?

thanks in advance!!