Experiences of current Westminster School reception intake

[nba]

Hi, I would like to ask if anyone here has a DC in Westminster under school reception class and how you are finding it? Would be especially interested to hear from any girl parents as we are considering this school. Thank you

Hi, I have a girl in the brand new reception at Westminster Under and we have been delighted so far. The pastoral care has been wonderful, the pace fast as you would expect, the lessons interesting and inspiring and there has been so much outdoor play. We have been very very impressed. Was there anything specific you wanted to know?

I am curious what is their curriculum like?

Very much second hand (my username is old now), but all the reception parents I’ve spoken to seem happy.

The curriculum is similar to other private schools with emphasis on play and time outdoors as well as the usual academic and creative subjects. The pace is fast and the lessons are interesting and are already being geared towards critical thinking etc.

thank you! I am interested in the boy/girl ratio of the class and also whether most kids can already read and write when they entered the school or are some more ahead than others?

Also how are the parents like , are they very wealthy or mostly professionals? Do you feel it’s quite a competitive environment as it’s so hard to get in!

I can’t answer for reception, but on your second para:

I’s say about half are “very rich professionals” (eg Chelsea town houses), and half are more normal dual-salary professional families.

Everyone is pretty friendly. Parents aren’t competitive in the sense of trying to beat the other families, but certainly there’s lots of focus on getting into Westminster School (didn’t used to be a concern, but the introduction of girls at the senior school has changed the numbers and no one really knows yet what the new required standard is).

The school itself uses competition a lot as motivation. I think most students enjoy that a lot, so it’s fun and not a negative. It wouldn’t suit a student who hates to be compared to others or who can’t handle not being top at things though.

Can I please ask if anyone knows how the first co ed year 3 cohort looks like this year by any chance? I mean split boys/girls, is it 50/50 or more skewed to girls ? Thank you.

The boy/girl numbers are nearly equal. There are the same number in one class and there is one extra boy/one girl fewer in the other class.

Some of the children can read, write and do sums but many (I would say most but not totally sure) couldn’t when they started. I think they all can a bit now as they are half a term in and the pace is quick.

The parents seem to be mostly professional to me and I haven’t seen any particular displays of wealth but of course you do have to be able to pay the fees. Most people seem to live North, West and South West of school from almost next door to about 30mins away.

It’s not at all competitive currently but we are only half a term in to reception! I would say the school is really trying to ensure that the parents stay relaxed and don’t start comparing. I guess one can either buy into the competition or not and that is true at every London school.