Welcome to our weekly update, where we celebrate the breadth of school life at Westonbirt. Each edition offers a snapshot of the learning, achievements and wider opportunities that define our community. We hope you enjoy reading this week’s highlights.
Cadets take to the trees and say goodbye!
Westonbirt’s Combined Cadet Force is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop teamwork, and build leadership and perseverance skills. They are led, supported and inspired by a fantastic team. This week was the last time Contingent Commander Plt Off Watkins paraded with our Cadets before heading off to pastures new. It was also an opportunity to bid farewell to Fg Off Anna Darlington, who also leaves the school at the end of the year.
The event was a chance for some fun and practical leadership tasks using the school’s fantastic new low ropes kit bought by the Combined Cadet Force Association. The Cadets enjoyed taking on some practical tasks and challenges moving around the new kit.
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With GCSEs barely behind us, we are already looking ahead with excitement to the next step! This week, our September 2026 Year 12 cohort gathered at Westonbirt for the annual Welcome to Sixth Form event, meeting the Sixth Form team, getting to know future classmates and beginning to envision themselves as Westonbirt Sixth Formers. They met their teachers and received summer preparation tasks, and started their journey into this exciting next academic chapter.
The fun continued with Westonbirt’s very own Taskmaster challenge, putting teamwork and problem-solving skills to the test, before rounding off the day with a BBQ on the terraces.
We look forward to welcoming our new Sixth Formers back in September and seeing all they achieve as part of the Westonbirt community.
This week, pupils in Years 7, 8 and 9 wowed audiences with their production of Thirteen, showcasing months of hard work, creativity and dedication.
Reflecting on the production, Miss Smith said, ‘Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have worked incredibly hard to show what it’s really like to be thirteen years old at Dan Quayle Junior High, whether you’re in with the cool kids or not, and wow, they did not disappoint. The audience provided exceptional feedback, with some rating the production 10/10! From the singing, dancing, cheerleading and characterisation to the hard work that went into the set, lighting, costumes and props, this production has been a phenomenal team effort. It has been such a wonderful journey for us as staff to work with a group of students who are genuinely passionate about performing arts and musical theatre.’
Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing Thirteen to life on stage. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
Over the weekend, Westonbirt was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colour as our annual Boarders’ Colour Run returned to school.
Pupils spent the afternoon throwing brightly coloured powder paint and emerged covered from head to toe in rainbow hues! A much-loved annual tradition, the event is always a highlight of the boarding calendar and a wonderful way to celebrate our boarding community.
Imagine learning English from a successful published author! Tuesday saw Westonbirt host a special evening celebrating the launch of The Life I didn’t Plan, the latest novel by much-loved English teacher and popular author, Charlotte Butterfield.
Charlotte sat down with fellow author Elizabeth Drummond and literary agent Hannah Schofield for a discussion on writing, editing and the publishing industry. Guests heard about the realities of the creative process, from overcoming writer’s block to finding inspiration in the most unexpected places, including saunas!
They explored how stories can emerge from the world around us, including the rich history and character of Westonbirt itself. One reflection considered the stories held within a single grand doorway and the countless characters who may have passed through it over the years. It was a wonderful evening celebrating Charlotte’s achievement and recognising the creativity that exists within our community, enriching the experience of our pupils. We are incredibly proud to celebrate the successes of our staff both within and beyond the classroom.
Congratulations to all of our KS4 athletes on another exceptional year of Sport. Throughout the year, pupils have represented Westonbirt with dedication, resilience and enthusiasm, embracing every opportunity to develop skills, compete, and contribute to their teams. Their commitment, determination and sportsmanship have been a credit to both themselves and the wider school community.
We would also like to congratulate those pupils who were awarded their Colours in recognition of their outstanding contribution to school sport, and celebrate the recipients of our annual sporting awards, which recognise excellence in performance, leadership, commitment and teamwork across a range of disciplines:
Y9 & 10 Endeavour Award: Freya T, Azriel A
Y9 & 10 Most Improved Sportsperson: Clemency SH, Harvey R
Y9 & 10 Sportsperson of the Year: Lucy W and Harry G
Well done to all involved on a fantastic year of sporting achievement. We look forward to celebrating even more success, growth and memorable sporting moments next academic year.
Sports Day brought sunshine, house pride and plenty of excitement to the front fields, as athletes threw themselves into track events, field competitions and team races, embracing every challenge with determination and teamwork, while supporters cheered on their houses from the sidelines.
A highlight of the school calendar, Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of participation, perseverance and Westonbirt community spirit. We look forward to sharing the results soon!
With our equestrian teams going from strength to strength, we were delighted to attend this year’s Beaufort International Polo event, a highlight of the summer social calendar and a wonderful celebration of sport, community and international partnership.
It was an incredibly exciting match, with the England and New Zealand players and their ponies demonstrating extraordinary skill and athleticism at high speeds. It was a fantastic opportunity to host international agents and school leaders, strengthening relationships and showcasing the unique opportunities available to Westonbirt pupils, and in particular through our partnership with Beaufort Polo Club, developing skills, confidence and experiences that extend far beyond the classroom.
We also ran a competition for young equestrians during the event, with the winner set to be announced soon – watch this space!
It’s been another action-packed week in sport at Westonbirt, with fixtures across a range of teams. You can view the full set of fixtures and results here.
It’s been quite the week for our boarders! Alongside our much-loved annual Colour Run, they took a trip to 270 Climbing in Cheltenham, where they worked together, supported one another and pushed themselves beyond their comfort zones.
Back at Westonbirt, boarders in Sedgwick House got creative decorating T-shirts and preparing to support their chosen teams during the World Cup. Across the boarding houses, pupils have been coming together to cheer on their teams and enjoy the matches as a community.
We always love to hear about achievements and moments of teamwork or collaboration. If you would like to share something, please email marketing@westonbirtschool.uk.
