Brutally honest opinion at westminster school

I’m considering applying for Westminster school 16+ as I like the idea of their traditions, wide range of extracurricular, delving deeper into subjects style of teaching and experiencing a mixed school (I go to a girls school)

Does anyone who currently goes to Westminster have any complaints or any honest opinions about it?

I’m happpyish at my current school, but there are a few shortcomings and idk if it’s worth changing schools…

I’m especially interested in stuff like bias towards/against departments (especially stem) or what type of person suits the school best or wouldn’t do so well (self motivated/sociable/studious), as well as the general atmosphere eg are the people there mostly studious or more ‘rowdy’ (for lack of better word)

Also, are there subjects that are easier or harder to get in with?
And other people who got in at 16+ do the teachers knowing you for less long affect how well they know you for university applications?

(I’m planning on taking chemistry, biology, maths and something else that I’m undecided about)

If anyone has any other opinions lmk too!

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 1

e554364644

I'm also might apply to westminster but they only except 10-15 boys a year , i'm a boy, so its a bit of a 50/50 if i apply or not.
I go to an all boys school and I just want to experience what co-ed is like.

where else are you applying too?

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 2

KellyC321

Original post by e554364644

I’m not applying for anywhere else, I’m planning on staying at my current school if I don’t get in.

Tbh I’m not even sure if I’ll apply at all since I’m quite happy at my current school. it’s mostly for a different experience and potentially better STEM(?)

Reply 3

AmilieTreciph

heyy, was just wondering if you decided to apply in the end
I'm also applying for sixth form with similar subjects :smile:

Reply 4

AmilieTreciph

this is a bit random, but do you go to wycombe abbey at the moment?

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 5

peony589

hi, I'm a girl who moved from an all girls school to Westminster for sixth form. Honestly I really loved my time there - I'm a big fan of the old buildings and being surrounded by so much history. The location is so central and it's amazing being able to walk past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament each day but also peaceful and cut off in its own way with Deans Yard and little Deans Yard. It's also really cool when there are special events going on at the abbey (even managed to see King Charles before the coronation!). I think I had it easier joining than some other people did as I had some of my closest friends from my old school who also moved with me and this made settling in and having a good friend group much easier. You will eventually find a friend group though, even if it takes time. I personally really liked all the talks and clubs on offer and the fact that two afternoons a week are devoted to sports.

I don't think there was - or at least didn't notice - any bias towards certain departments during my time there. In terms of what person suits the school most I would say you have to be very academically inclined and motivated. There was quite a lot of work and homework (but this is teacher and subject dependent) and I did humanities rather than stem. I already came from a school where there was quite a competitive academic environment so maybe this didn't impact me as much when I moved to Westminster. It is, however, not a nice place to be struggling academically given that most people are very high achievers. Especially when it comes to uni applications and oxbridge in particular, it can feel very upsetting if you get rejected given that everyone else around you is getting in and talking about it (they had something like 90 oxbridge offers this year).

There is, however, a big mix of people at the school - studious, sporty, sociable, all of the above...I found in general that most people were quite friendly and sociable and I had a good social life while I was there and would often stay at school until late in the evening hanging out with friends, 'working' in the library and sometimes having dinner at school. there are also a decent number of parties. You'll probably find that you're friendly with and chat to a large number of people during your time there even if you have a smaller friendship group. this was the case with me at least.

I don't think that getting in at 16+ affected my university applications - if you're worried about this just make sure you work hard and make a good first impression in the first year - there will be plenty of opportunities to do so through tests, exams , essays etc.

Another point to mention is the Saturday school. I was pretty exhausted throughout my time there as it basically felt like we had a one day weekend which wasn't much of a break. Having said that, it was pretty social as we often went out for lunch after school which was fun.

All in all I really enjoyed my time there and miss it a lot and will always look back on my time there very fondly. It is definitely intense and at times stressful so it just depends on whether you are cut out for this kind of academic environment or are prone to comparing yourself to others etc., but from my personal experience I would definitely recommend it - just depends on what type of person you are.

Reply 6

KellyC321

Original post by AmilieTreciph

heyy, was just wondering if you decided to apply in the end
I'm also applying for sixth form with similar subjects :smile:

Hi! I did end up applying.

By the way, this is a bit off topic but if you’re doing chemistry as well, for the sample paper for compulsory questions, did you notice that the solutions didn’t make sense? I thought the balancing didn’t check out and the third question about reactivity should’ve been XYZ right?

Idk if I’m being stupid and I’m wrong or they’ve made a typo? Just checking for peace of mind haha

Reply 7

KellyC321

Original post by peony589

hi, I'm a girl who moved from an all girls school to Westminster for sixth form. Honestly I really loved my time there - I'm a big fan of the old buildings and being surrounded by so much history. The location is so central and it's amazing being able to walk past Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament each day but also peaceful and cut off in its own way with Deans Yard and little Deans Yard. It's also really cool when there are special events going on at the abbey (even managed to see King Charles before the coronation!). I think I had it easier joining than some other people did as I had some of my closest friends from my old school who also moved with me and this made settling in and having a good friend group much easier. You will eventually find a friend group though, even if it takes time. I personally really liked all the talks and clubs on offer and the fact that two afternoons a week are devoted to sports.
I don't think there was - or at least didn't notice - any bias towards certain departments during my time there. In terms of what person suits the school most I would say you have to be very academically inclined and motivated. There was quite a lot of work and homework (but this is teacher and subject dependent) and I did humanities rather than stem. I already came from a school where there was quite a competitive academic environment so maybe this didn't impact me as much when I moved to Westminster. It is, however, not a nice place to be struggling academically given that most people are very high achievers. Especially when it comes to uni applications and oxbridge in particular, it can feel very upsetting if you get rejected given that everyone else around you is getting in and talking about it (they had something like 90 oxbridge offers this year).
There is, however, a big mix of people at the school - studious, sporty, sociable, all of the above...I found in general that most people were quite friendly and sociable and I had a good social life while I was there and would often stay at school until late in the evening hanging out with friends, 'working' in the library and sometimes having dinner at school. there are also a decent number of parties. You'll probably find that you're friendly with and chat to a large number of people during your time there even if you have a smaller friendship group. this was the case with me at least.
I don't think that getting in at 16+ affected my university applications - if you're worried about this just make sure you work hard and make a good first impression in the first year - there will be plenty of opportunities to do so through tests, exams , essays etc.
Another point to mention is the Saturday school. I was pretty exhausted throughout my time there as it basically felt like we had a one day weekend which wasn't much of a break. Having said that, it was pretty social as we often went out for lunch after school which was fun.
All in all I really enjoyed my time there and miss it a lot and will always look back on my time there very fondly. It is definitely intense and at times stressful so it just depends on whether you are cut out for this kind of academic environment or are prone to comparing yourself to others etc., but from my personal experience I would definitely recommend it - just depends on what type of person you are.

Thank you so much for your reply! It’s really helpful and I am very grateful you wrote in such detail!

Reply 8

jivindubal

Original post by KellyC321

Hi! I did end up applying.
By the way, this is a bit off topic but if you’re doing chemistry as well, for the sample paper for compulsory questions, did you notice that the solutions didn’t make sense? I thought the balancing didn’t check out and the third question about reactivity should’ve been XYZ right?
Idk if I’m being stupid and I’m wrong or they’ve made a typo? Just checking for peace of mind haha