Westminster Under School is an independent preparatory day school, with a school week that runs from Monday to Friday during term time, with some Saturday sporting fixtures throughout the year.
Whilst no two days are the same, there is a great daily, weekly and termly rhythm to School life, working within which allows all pupils the very best opportunities to learn and grow. Useful information about school hours, homework expectations and how to get to School can be found below.
Please note that information regarding Years 1 and 2 will not become available until 2027 and 2028 respectively.
School Hours
The School opens from 8.00am each morning and pupils in Years 3-8 are expected to arrive between 8.00am and 8.10am, to get organised for the day and to meet with their form teacher, with lessons or an assembly following on from 8.25am. While this applies to all pupils at the School, the time at which pupils finish lessons each day is determined by their year group, and Reception hours differ slightly too; please see below for details.
Reception
- Reception pupils start every day at 8.15am and finish at 3.15pm.
- Optional after-school clubs run from 3.20pm to 4.15pm Monday to Thursday.
Years 3 - 5
- Year 3 and 4 pupils finish their lessons at 3.20pm every day. Year 5 pupils finish at 4.00pm.
- Games takes place twice a week during school hours, on Vincent Square or at the Sports Centre. Find out more about sport at Westminster Under School.
- Optional after-school clubs begin at 3.20pm or 4.00pm and finish between 4.00pm and 5.45pm (depending on the activity); those who are not attending a club go home. Find out more about after-school clubs.
Years 6 - 8
- Year 6, 7 and 8 pupils finish their lessons at 4.30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays after Games and at 4.00pm after lessons on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Find out more about sport at Westminster Under School.
- Optional after-school clubs begin at 4.00pm on non-Games days and finish between 4.45pm and 5.45pm (depending on the activity); those who are not attending a club go home. Find out more about after-school clubs.
Homework
As they progress through the School, pupils are expected to dedicate a little more time to their homework, as outlined below.
Year Group Allocations
| Reception | 30 minutes per weekend, plus reading |
| Year 3 | 20 minutes per night, plus reading |
| Year 4 | 30 minutes per night, plus reading |
| Year 5 | 50 to 60 minutes per night (two subjects) |
| Year 6 | 60 minutes per night (two subjects) |
| Year 7 | 90 minutes per night (three subjects) |
| Year 8 | 90 to 105 minutes per night (three subjects) |
Travel
There is no official door-to-door school transport; however, the following services are available and are currently used by pupils to get to and from School. All transport is arranged by parents directly, with the operators; please see below for details.
Taxi
There are two external taxi providers who take several pupils to and from School.
Minibus Service
- West London Minibus Route 1: W2 → W8 → SW7 → SW3 → WUS
- West London Minibus Route 2: W10 → W11 → W2 → WUS
This service is not available for pupils in Reception.
Public Transport
Westminster Under School is close to several central London Underground stations. Pimlico Tube Station, on the Victoria Line, is less than five minutes’ walk away. Victoria and St James’s Park on the District and Circle lines are approximately a ten-minute walk away.
