Westminster Under School is a co-educational, independent day school for pupils aged 4–13.
Every pupil’s curiosity is established early and developed with care and ambition over time. From the Pre-Prep to Year 8, children are encouraged to think independently, to explore ideas in depth and to enjoy the process of learning, all whilst remembering the importance of play. Teaching is broad, challenging and flexible, allowing pupils to move beyond the constraints of a narrow syllabus.
School life is busy and varied: pupils play sport, make music, perform, compete and lead initiatives of their own, growing in confidence as they discover new interests and strengths. As a central London prep school, we make full use of the city’s museums, galleries, libraries, theatres and churches through our extensive expeditions programme.
Within a warm and well-structured pastoral environment, pupils are supported to become resilient, considerate and self-assured — ready to move on as capable learners and thoughtful individuals.
Mr Michael Woodside
“Westminster Under School is distinctive for its central London location and our unwavering focus on encouraging children to be curious, sparky and to embrace their potential. They may enjoy science, English, mathematics, history, geography or Classical Greek. They may spend hours reading books or have great knowledge of the world about them. Everyone here loves learning. If your child likes a challenge, is energetic about new things and has a desire to do well then this may well be the school for them.
The academic standard is high, alongside which there are almost unlimited opportunities in sport, art, drama, music and community service that go far beyond academic results – our last ISI inspection referenced this as a significant strength. There is a particular focus on the way we treat each other – in a friendly and caring manner – setting good examples for others. Pastorally, this is a small school and all staff get to know the children very well. Smiles are everywhere and we ensure every pupil has a sense of wellbeing about their achievements and for the future.
My favourite moments are seeing children arrive excited and leave still with a smile on their face, discussing all of the things they’ve learned – from Fermat’s Theorem to the French Revolution and everything in between.“
