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Testimonials
Hear from Our Westbourne Families
"Maybe one of the best decisions we’ve ever made was to send our children to Westbourne."
Mr and Mrs Dalrymple - two children educated at Westbourne School
At Westbourne School, we understand what makes our community truly special. Our nurturing environment allows children to thrive not only academically, but also holistically, supporting their emotional wellbeing, creativity, and confidence every step of the way.
But don’t just take our word for it, hear directly from our Westbourne families about what makes our school such a unique and inspiring place to grow and learn.
“Westbourne School is a place where children are empowered to be their best selves, follow their passion, and achieve greatness. I couldn’t be happier with the transformation I’ve witnessed in my children. Westbourne not only provides a top-notch education but also fosters a sense of purpose and drive. It’s a community that nurtures excellence, ambition and compassion"
Billy Sharpe, Current parent - Former Sheffield United FC Captain
"Westbourne has always been the number one choice for our son’s education, and, as parents, we couldn’t be happier with the way the school has nurtured his academic and personal growth. The school goes above and beyond to ensure their students are not only prepared for future academic challenges but are also well-rounded individuals ready to succeed in whatever they choose to do next.
We have seen first-hand how dedicated the staff are to supporting students through their educational journey, offering guidance, encouragement, and high-quality teaching. Our son has benefited immensely from the guidance and strong sense of community at Westbourne. The leadership opportunities, combined with the supportive environment, have equipped him with invaluable skills that will undoubtedly serve him well in his post-16 and future career paths.
We have every confidence in the school’s ability to continue providing an excellent education and preparing their pupils for the next steps in their academic journeys. Westbourne is truly a school where students are empowered to excel."
Jane Grant, son in Senior School
"Our son joined Westbourne five years ago, and we immediately felt welcomed into the school community. We chose Westbourne for its commitment to a balanced and diverse curriculum, crucial for holistic development. In three words, I'd describe Westbourne as: Caring, Inspiring, and Nurturing.
The smaller class sizes have significantly impacted our son's progress and development. The teaching staff are exceptional, demonstrating a deep understanding of each pupil, extending beyond academics.
For us, the school ethos is reflected in our son's eagerness to attend school and participate in extracurricular activities, as well as his growing confidence and strong work ethic."
Claudia Ivanov, son in Senior School
"Westbourne has supported my 2 sons to mature from boys to young men through junior school and senior school. It has been refreshing to find an independent school which doesn’t adopt the usual pomp and ceremony often associated with private schools which has helped them to be grounded individuals despite their privilege. By far its greatest strength is Westbourne’s ability to promote core values to create an environment where students have a respect for others. This permeates throughout the school. Hard to quantify…it’s just a feeling you get whenever you are there."
Parent of two children educated at Westbourne
"Moving our children to Westbourne has been life changing and life affirming. The school has a creative and facilitative approach that seeks to give children an environment that helps them thrive in their own unique way. There is a great balance of academic work, sport, forest school and arts based subjects. The teachers super dedicated and supportive to the students and parents. I only wish all children could have the opportunity to go to a school like Westbourne."
Carly Mountain, Parent of two children educated at Westbourne
"I cannot recommend this school highly enough!
Moving our daughter to Westbourne School was a big decision but one that we have never regretted. When our daughter joined Westbourne School, she had very little confidence, was miserable and didn’t engage in school life. She has been nurtured, encouraged, and supported within the school environment and is now a happy young woman, this happiness has resulted in a growth in confidence where learning and development naturally follows.
Thanks to the support and encouragement from the staff at Westbourne we have got our caring, funny, positive girl back."
Current parent
"Westbourne school provides a friendly and caring environment. The teachers are passionate to see their students succeed. They are great about sharing moments of pride they see within your child. Westbourne school has been home for our family for the last seven years and our son enjoyed every minute. We are very grateful for the hard work and dedication of the staff."
Current parent
“As a family, and after careful consideration, we made the decision to move our son to Westbourne towards the end of Junior School in preparation for a transition to the Senior School. It has proved to be the best decision we could have made for his education, his confidence in learning and his wellbeing. The small class sizes and excellent facilities are an obvious benefit, but it is the personal care and individual nature that he has received from a very committed and caring staff team that has made the most difference to him. We would recommend Westbourne to any family considering a similar move for their child.”
Rebecca Nex - current parent
“After careful consideration, we made the decision to move our son to Westbourne. It has proved to be the best decision we could have made for his education, his confidence in learning and his well being. The small class sizes and excellent facilities are an obvious benefit, but it is the personal care and individual nature that he has received from a very committed and caring staff team that has made the most difference to him. We would recommend Westbourne to any family considering a similar move for their child.”
Parent of a Year 10 Pupil
"I really like Westbourne for many reasons, one of the main ones is that it is really friendly, in the way that the teachers will always listen when you need them to and constantly help in any way they can. They are always trying to improve the knowledge you have and teach you how to do any tricky work. The staff consistently explain things really well and regularly check on the pupils to see how they are doing, and if anyone is struggling, either socially or with work. The students are also quite friendly, but if anyone is being rude or mean then the teachers always do their best to sort things out."
Year 6 pupil
"The teachers are kind and they make lessons fun. The trips are as fun as they can be."
Year 2 pupil
I love school because I do swimming - it's the best! I love the lessons in Computing. They're so fun & we laugh a lot. I enjoy play time with fun games to play, like Connect 4 or Jenga. Basically, I love it all. I just loved Prize Giving
Year 3 pupil
“Westbourne to me and all other pupils is a family, full of opportunities, encouragement and passion. Whether it be participating in a fixture or playing in a concert, pupils can get involved as much as possible, making us all so close and confident.”
Year 10 pupil
"I adore numerous aspects; too many to list! However, what truly holds a special place in my heart is our strong sense of unity and togetherness, like a family! We genuinely care for one another and go out of our way to make newcomers feel embraced and at ease. Our school has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it effortlessly approachable for anyone seeking support or interaction."
Year 10 pupil
"The opportunities for trips, sports, music and drama is what I love about this school. There is something for everyone to enjoy."
Year 9 pupil
"At Birkdale, we’ve been privileged to welcome many Westbourne students who arrive with the confidence, leadership skills, and work ethic that sets them apart. They integrate seamlessly into our Sixth Form, contributing to a vibrant and motivated community. The smooth transition from Westbourne to Birkdale is a testament to the excellent preparation students receive, and we are proud to continue this partnership as many Westbourne pupils go on to succeed in their academic and career pursuits.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with Westbourne, supporting their students in reaching their fullest potential in the years to come."
Janet Grant - Head of Careers at Birkdale
“King Ecgbert School is proud to be associated with Westbourne School. Over the years, we have been proud to complete the schooling of many students who sat their GCSEs at Westbourne. They come to us with fine qualities of scholarship and interpersonal skills which means they fit in very quickly with us and we are proud to enable them to follow their dreams post-18.”
Paul Haigh, Headmaster, King Ecgbert School
“At Westbourne School, pupils emerge well-rounded, well-prepared and academically ambitious. The commitment to small class sizes fosters a nurturing environment where each child can thrive and reach their full potential. It’s like being part of an extended family.”
Dan Harrison, Headmaster, Sedbergh School
"The students that join us are of the highest calibre and without exception some of the brightest, most talented and hardest working students in our sixth form; they are always of good character and settle quickly into our Notre Dame learning community. They come with a broad range of skills, including excellent communication, resilience and perseverance to be the best they can be. Unsurprisingly, Westbourne students leaving us at year 13, enjoy a variety of progression routes that include some of the most competitive courses at the country’s highest regarded universities. We are blessed to enjoy a continued close relationship with Westbourne School, and look forward to welcoming their fantastic students to our Sixth Form long into the future."
Martyn Birch, Head of Sixth Form at Notre Dame High School
An Education Like No Other
"We chose Westbourne for its excellence in teaching, its small class sizes, and its family-friendly appeal. My girls always love coming to school."”
Claire Tallis
Parent
60%
As a non-selective school, 60% of our pupils achieve outstanding grades of 6-9 across their GCSE subjects.
