Westbourne School 1885-2010 Celebrating 125 years of excellence

Some things never change.

Back in 1885, the year of Westbourne’s foundation, the local newspaper cheered its readers with this outlook on the year ahead;

“We fear there is no escape from the conclusion that we have before us another year of languishing trade, small profits and declining wages…”

Perhaps not the best time then to start any new venture. Yet undaunted, the founders went on to create an establishment “for the education of the children of Sheffield gentlemen”.

It wasn’t the snappiest title, nor was it the most accurate, since the school opened its gates only to boys. This select band were schooled in the essential disciplines of the time – Latin, French, arithmetic and drawing. The priorities outside the classroom were clearly stated in a set of printed rules, which sternly reminded pupils that “no boy is excused cricket unless for some sound reason”.

Fast forward a little over a century, and Westbourne is unrecognisable from the establishment created by its idealistic founders. It is Sheffield’s leading co-educational independent school, and is ceaselessly pursuing a programme of continued development for the future.

Yet it remains proud of its long history, and is working actively to strengthen its bonds with former pupils from past decades. The creation of a Westbourne association not only enables old boys and girls to stay in touch with their former school, but opens up the benefit of their experience to current pupils. To find out more about the former pupils’ network, click here.

The association with Westbourne is one our ex-pupils can look back on fondly for the rest of their lives. It’s part of the reason our mission statement is “educating girls and boys for life”.

It’s an ideal of which we think our founders would have approved.

The First Hundred Years 1885 - 1985 

1997
Westbourne School opens it doors to girls in all year groups.  The first girl was Laura Bramall who was featured in a TV documentary.

2001
New Senior School opens in the adjacent Ashdell House, offering co-education to GCSE (age 16).