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Experience Westonbirt School

“The wow factor starts to build as soon as you turn in through the narrow gate and make stately progress along the long one-track drive.” Good Schools Guide

 Westonbirt School is set in a breath-taking mansion and stunning surrounds; but the environment incorporates so much more.  Spending time at Westonbirt promotes opportunity in experiencing the academic, physical, emotional, cultural, social, and environmental aspects of personal growth, which makes learning, living or working here such a unique experience.

Read on and discover why our award-winning school has such an appeal for students and their families.

Grounds and Heritage

Our community is incredibly lucky to have access to 210 beautiful acres of parkland. This is a huge space which accommodates our growing sports provision and large sports fixtures, as well as a nine-hole golf course for lessons and public play.  It also allows us to run activities such as field craft, navigation and mapwork for our popular Combined Cadet Force (CCF) and Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The physical environment also allows a focus on outdoor learning, especially in our Prep School.  At Westonbirt, increased exposure to nature and the outdoors encourages healthy lifestyles, aids student health and wellbeing, and allows the preservation of childhood – our children to remain children for longer.

It is a privilege to work, live and learn in the Victorian mansion in which the Main School is housed. The school works closely with The Holfords of Westonbirt Trust (HOWT) to enable the long-term conservation of the house and gardens and to make them accessible to a wider audience.

Find out more about our sports programme here
Discover more about our CCF
Find out more about HOWT

Teaching and learning environment

We offer a broad curriculum with the ability to tailor subject options to individual passions where possible. Class sizes are small and achievement is high, with over 90 % of students accepted by their preferred university, progressing to study subjects such as Medicine, Law, Architecture, Sports Science, Drama and more.
Pupils with additional needs are supported to achieve their potential through our dedicated Learning Support team and academic scholars benefit from extension activities, in addition to being stretched and challenged in lessons. Specific support is given to those intending to apply to Oxbridge, or for other specialist degrees such as Medicine.

Our Co-Curricular programme is an integral part of life at Westonbirt. We encourage breadth of experience, as part of a Westonbirt education, and this is achieved through a diverse range of clubs, societies and activities, encompassing sport, music, drama, creative arts, engineering, enterprise, debate, CCF, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, bee keeping and many other areas. Pupils are encouraged to build a programme which extends and enriches their academic programme, as part of our holistic approach to an all-round education.

Discover more about outdoor learning.
Find out about exam results and university destinations.

Social and Community Environment

There is a wonderful social environment at Westonbirt, for students, staff, parents and the general public. The presence of our boarding community means that there is always something going on. School events include dinners for students such as the Leavers’ Ball and Christmas Last Suppers; music concerts, dance and drama productions bring the pupils’ creativity to life and the annual fireworks, and Picnic in the Park on the last day of the summer term show our community at its best. Public events include the Westonbirt Flower Show, which the school’s sixth form students organise for the local area around Tetbury; the regular Westonbirt Lecture Series, with post-lecture suppers; a winter ball and HOWT Garden Tours.

The Westonbirt community and social activity extends far beyond this corner of the Cotswolds; our sixth formers undertake global service trips to countries such as Nepal, India and Kenya, immersing themselves in overseas cultures and doing volunteer work in communities. Our alumni association comprises members from across the globe, with reunion activities taking place at school, in London and overseas. The school also runs a large and popular international Summer School, which plays host to over 400 overseas students each summer. Westonbirt pupils also participate in and support this, forging links and friendships which last a lifetime.

Our Ethos

One of the most important aspects of the Westonbirt environment is the impact that the intangible has on the individual. Here, our approach is ‘Greenhouse not hothouse’ and our focus is on encouraging each child to fulfil their potential; nurturing and celebrating their success in any field. The encouragement of showing kindness, support and respect to others; the promotion of a diverse and inclusive community; the importance of giving back, through volunteering, fundraising and global service trips; as well as opportunities to develop leadership, all play their part in creating a wonderful environment which benefits everyone.

Feedback from parents, students and stakeholders all supports this:

Tatler Schools’ Guide 2024: “This ‘well-grounded’ seat of learning which is ‘fizzing with energy,’ works hard to instil good character in its charges – with an emphasis on kindness, thoughtfulness and commitment – and it turns out enthusiastic young adults.” 

Year 13 leaver: “I have had the most amazing experience and opportunities that have allowed me to truly develop and I am extremely grateful that I came here. There is such a great community and the staff are just incredible.”

Parent: “This is a place where students are properly known…The attention is personalised and each student is treated as an individual. I genuinely think that my children will have a better chance of withstanding the ups and downs of life, armed with the values, skills, courage and kindness, instilled in them by Westonbirt. It really is a special place.”

Interested in finding out more?

We’d always recommend a visit to Westonbirt in order to experience our wonderful environment for yourself and find out what makes our school so special.

Why not visit one of our upcoming Open Mornings? We’d love to welcome you in person.

Book a place at our Open Morning.
Book an individual visit.