Harris Westminster sixth form - how is it?

[isa2]

Does anyone have any experience of Harris Westminster sixth form? My child potentially has a tricky decision about whether to move there from a small, comfortable and good quality private school - a secure and easy sixth form life staying where he is vs. a maybe more interesting and inclusive (and cheaper!) environment! What should he consider?

Well it will have big A level classes of 30ish. Does he need lots of attention?

@KindergartenKop thanks - no, he doesn't need lots of attention, but 30ish per A level class would be significantly more than most of the state sixth forms round us, and the Harris Westminster prospectus says classes are usually 15-24 each, so I'd be surprised if they were all 30ish.
@RedDogBlueDog - it seems like quite a transparent process with an exam and an interview process. It doesn't seem as though coming from a private school is necessarily a disadvantage. An important part of the point of the school is that they prioritise children who have been in care or receiving free school meals - they have a lower requirement in terms of exam score needed to get an interview, but I think children who aren't in those categories but live in a London borough are treated the same as one another, at least in terms of score needed to be offered an interview. My son has got as far as being offered an interview, so thinking a bit more seriously about what it would be like.

We looked at it. Didn’t pursue as it was too high pressure for my DD. She didn’t need their bootcamp approach of doing 4 A-levels in order to keep the students on the straight and narrow. And she didn’t want to go to school on a Saturday as it would have interfered with her hobbies.

IMO they do a great job with their target pupils but the very strict approach isn’t necessary for everyone and might be counterproductive for some.

I’ve had two sons move from private schools to HWSF and not regretted it. There is obviously a broader social mix which is great, and a focused mind set. However they have both managed to have very busy social lives in the usual teen way. They loved being so central after being at school in the leafier parts of London. They felt the teaching compared to what they had had in their old schools. I’ve never really paid attention to class sizes. Hope that helps. Happy to answer specifics.

Coming from a private school won’t affect admissions at all.

A friend’s son moved from a pretty average comp. He initially found it pressured and not very nurturing. However he’s just had an Oxbridge offer, so I think he’s pretty positive about it now.

@RedDogBlueDog I don’t know I’m afraid but I’d be very surprised if not. From what I have seen, it is an inclusive place.

Thanks for helpful replies! I'm also curious how well the staff get to know the students in such a big college, and whether extra-curricular life feels a bit lacking with so much academic focus e.g. my DC does lots of music at school at the moment - I guess that might not really be available?

@isa2 there is definitely an adjustment moving from school to sixth form but by Year 13 my eldest knew his teachers really well and they had a great rapport. He started during Covid so that was trickier.

there is a lot of extracurricular on offer and they have to get involved with clubs & societies. Depending where your child has been before they level of music/sport might not be the same, but the opportunities are there. although it’s a sixth form college it has quite a ‘school’ feel in that respect.

Eg: there is a lot of focus on the houses, house competitions in everything.

The music is provided by nearby Westminster school along with Classics, Drama, and probably a few other 'nice to have' things by now. It is basically a Maths school with a bit of Humanities added on. Class sizes are large, there isn't a lot of student space and no computer room. Lunchtimes are long so expect to pay out for a lot of eating out. It is a great address but basically a converted office building. I wouldn't send a child with SEN there. The Harris chain has low budgets (although this branch has a little more cash than others). Attendance on Saturdays is poor. Students are compelled to continue with 4 A levels even if one going badly (or to do an EPQ in its place).

Location fantastic, kids very bright, very diverse.

It is free!!!

Disclaimer: my info may be out of date as a few years old.

@Phineyj i haven’t noticed that the Saturdays were poorly attended but I can only speak from my son & his friends’ experience . By Year 13 they seemed pretty focused on getting top grades and happy-ish to go in, often a little worse for wear perhaps.
I agree there is a maths focus in that a lot (by no means all) do Maths A level but no more so than at the boys’ schools they attended previously.
Good point on lunches! The canteen does cater for FSM pupils though.
There is NO outside space, it is a converted office block as you say. May not be to some people’s taste, for sure.

Hopefully that means they have got an attendance person on site on Saturdays now...

My son has just started at HWSF. Parent
orientation last night. Lots of emphasis on pastoral support and SEN as well as scholarship and rounded education. Very impressive. Definitely suits children who are deeply motivated by their subjects and want to learn but I get the impression that pupils are selected on that basis. Hard to push a reluctant child in this environment. So far he really loves it. He went to 2 SF orientation days and recounted that on being asked what his A level choices were (double maths, physics, chem) at one, the other students said “weird”, and at HWSF they said “cool, me too”. So he chose HWSF. I think it’s a school where they embrace and celebrate the ‘nerd’. One of the English teachers presented during the session - I think standards and opportunities are high for humanities too (talk of shared lessons and drama with Westminster School) - it has less of flavour of an arts school but certainly lots of opportunities for cultural enrichment and visiting lecturers. The long lunches and open school, morning and evening are fantastic for children who want or need to study in school environment, it also allows time for societies of which there are many. So far so good. Hope that’s helpful.

Please note that universities now ask GCSEs and where your DC taken it. So those moving from private to state sixth form has less advantages now. Though I heard that Kings Maths Free school is excellent for those interested in Maths and Physics. Teaching and diverse pupil cohort is fabulous, we know of girl from private school moving there due to such a small class for further maths in her previous school.

I'm glad they've improved re SEN.

They use Westminster to teach subjects they can't or won't offer. It's a lot better than nothing but a bit fiddly for the students as due to the 10-15 min walk the lesson times don't quite align.

Long lunch breaks work out well for the independent and motivated students. It does make the day rather long though so that should be considered as with commute, a student could be out 7am to 6pm.

Do they still do Saturday school?

Yes there is still Saturday school. My second son is in Year 13 there and just started again last Saturday.

Mine was the original post above - my son has gone there to do humanities subjects and it seems great so far - excellent and very enthusiastic teaching, lots going on, very diverse group of friendly kids from all over London, overall very good, lively atmosphere. I think they make it very clear what the deal is - they expect people will work really hard, take 4 subjects, take an interest in what's beyond the immediate A Level syllabus, take study really seriously. This agenda is spelled out at every possible point on the admission pathway. I think if kids are happy with it, they seem to try pretty hard to deliver what's promised (at least as far as we can tell so far). But it's obviously not for everyone, and I think kids (not parents) need to make a very clear decision that it is what they want, otherwise it could be an unhappy experience.

Thanks for the update

Thank you for your update!
Which subjects is your DS doing? And is he doing any of the ones that are taken at Westminster school? I am wondering how does that work?
Many thanks!

Replying by PM so as not to identify my child!

Would you be able to say which subjects are at Westminster?

I hope that's not too outing.