Westminster School: 13 plus entry guide

About Westminster School

Westminster School is a leading private school for boys aged 13 to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18. The historic school is located next to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament in Central London and is recognised as one of the most successful schools in the world.

Students at Westminster School are encouraged to develop a love of learning and an openness to embrace new ideas. The curriculum incorporates traditional subjects alongside more contemporary options, including theology and philosophy, electronics, product design, and languages such as Mandarin and Russian.

Excellent academic results are second nature at Westminster School, with students’ grades placing the school firmly within the top 10 in the UK. Each year, approximately 40 students are offered places at top universities in the USA, with others taking up courses at leading institutions such as LSE, Imperial College, the Courtauld Institute, the Sorbonne, the Royal College of Music and the New York Film School.

• Address: Westminster School, 17 Dean’s Yard, Westminster, London, SW1P 3PF

• School type: private day and boarding, boys aged 13–18 with a mixed sixth form

• Headteacher: Dr Gary Savage

• Number of pupils: 750+

• Fees per term: £10,488–£15,144

• National rank (Sunday Times Parent Power): 7

• A level results: 97.5%

• GCSE results: 98%

Westminster School 13 plus admissions process

Each year, Westminster School offers around 60 external places to boys at 13 plus entry (Lower School) from a wide range of prep schools, including Hall School, Dulwich Prep, Sussex House, Tevor-Roberts’, Hereward House School and more. In 2022, 69 pupils moved up from Westminster Under School.

Most children are day students, but around 180 pupils across Years 9–13 choose to board. You won’t need to make a final decision about day versus boarding until February when your son is in Year 6.

Boarding for children in Years 9–11 is only available during the week. Children must attend Saturday morning school, but boarders then return to their parents’ home for the rest of the weekend. Westminster does not take international boarders at 13 plus entry.

1. Visit Westminster

If you’re considering Westminster School for your son, the school encourages parents to visit first when your child is in Year 5. There are three 13 plus open days and regular school tours each year.

Find out more about future tours and register your interest on the school website.

2. 13 plus registration

The admissions process begins when you register your son with the school. Registration for the relevant year of entry opens on 1st October in Year 5 and closes on 30th September in Year 6.

You will need to pay a registration fee at the time of application. This costs £300 and is non-refundable. However, if you are applying for a bursary, you may be able to waive this fee – contact the admissions team for details.

4. Second stage tests & interviews

In mid-December in Year 6, Westminster School will get in touch to let you know whether your son has been shortlisted for the next stage of the admissions process. This decision will be based on his performance in the ISEB Common Pre-Test and his latest school report.

Around half of 13 plus applicants are invited to the interview stage. Children will take further tests, which are taken in January:

• English: 40 minutes

• Maths: 40 minutes

A separate one-to-one interview will then be scheduled for late January or early February.

Pictured: an English question in a Westminster School 13+ Stage 2 mock test on Atom Home

5. Offers

Westminster School will write to you to let you know whether your son has been offered a place by the end of February when he is in Year 6.

Offers are unconditional, and are given to boys who the school believes will be able to comfortably achieve the required standard for entry when he joins the school aged 13. Westminster will ask your child’s prep school for a final reference of support in March when he is in Year 8.

If your son is not offered an unconditional place, he may be placed on the waiting list. Westminster School sometimes asks head teachers at prep schools to send an update on the progress of boys who are on the waiting list. If a space later becomes available, some of these boys then may be offered places up to the end of June in Year 8.

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