Girls at Westminster

Day girls

Day girls were first admitted to Westminster in significant numbers in 1976, with the first boarders joining in 1981. There are around 100 girls in the Sixth Form, about a third of whom are boarders. Day girls, like the day boys, are similarly assigned to Houses.

Boarding girls

The boarding girls are accommodated in either Busby’s or Purcell’s House. Purcell’s, which looks after some 20 girls, is an all-girls House. It is situated in Barton Street, two-minutes’ walk from the main School site. Busby’s House is mixed with 10 spaces allocated for girls on the top two floors of the House in Little Dean’s Yard. The girls are supervised by the Matron.

Care and support

The Housemaster is the first line of contact with the School for parents. Under the House system, girls are also assigned a Tutor and a mistress – with special responsibility for girls – who is available for consultation by both parents and girls.

On arrival at Westminster, new girls are invited on to an induction programme to help them settle in to school life. Girls generally integrate into the academic and extracurricular programme quickly.

Activities

Westminster girls are renowned for being high achievers and their academic record is very impressive. Girls are keen to participate in music and drama and make good use of the opportunities on offer. Many girls sing in Westminster Abbey as part of the School’s Abbey Choir.

Sports

Of all the sports offered, netball is the only one restricted to girls. The School has three netball courts at the sports field at nearby Vincent Square. Regular sport fixtures are held against several London day schools.

At the School’s boathouse in Putney, girls row in all-girl crews. Many enjoy the challenge of taking up new sports. Girls also take part in sports alongside the boys and have been successful in fencing, shooting, squash, swimming and martial arts.