Our GCSE results have continued to improve and we are justifiably proud that more pupils are reaching 5 or more A* to C grades than ever before. Given that we have  a non-selective, mixed ability intake, we are especially proud of their achievements.

Westbourne is interested in and focused on developing each individual's potential.  We are not concerned with league tables.  We do not massage our GCSE results because we enter all our students into all their GCSEs regardless of ability.  Most of our students will pass all 10 GCSEs, many will get grade As, the more able will achieve A* in some subjects and the vast majority of our pupils on learning support will exceed expectations.

Over the last few years most of our pupils have gone onto further education, either to pursue the conventional route and study 'A'  levels or to take National Diplomas (worth 3 'A' levels) at local colleges.  Students are given career advice and make informed decisions on further education choices as we invite guest speakers in from local sixth forms and colleges.  A number of Old Westbournians who were our first students to stay on into our Senior School have now graduated from university and we are beginning to hear of many success stories as these ex-students look back on their formative education at Westbourne.

For me the most exciting developments we have made are due to the purchase of Ashdell Grove.  This has allowed us to expand into three teaching groups in Senior School.  It has seen the birth of our ‘more able pupil’ groups and this structure will be continued for the foreseeable future.  This is an accelerated stream that is motoring ahead and has raised the bar on academic standards.  The present S9 ‘more able pupils’ group studied three dimensional trigonometry in Maths during their first term.  They have begun their GCSE Science a year early and will pursue Astronomy as an extra GCSE in their final year.  The other groups in S9 have also benefited by even smaller class sizes than the usual 16:1.  All in all the new structure and greater opportunities that we provide to pupils at Westbourne will ensure healthy academic achievement.

John Hicks

Headmaster