“Set to rival some of the more established through schools in the south-west”: Westonbirt School receives great new review from the Good Schools Guide

The Good Schools Guide,  which reviews 1,300 schools, covering state and independent, boarding and day, mainstream and special sectors, has provided impartial reviews for parents for the last 35 years.

In December 2024, a reviewer from the Guide spent an immersive day at Westonbirt School, talking to staff and pupils, viewing facilities, experiencing the food and observing lessons. She also conducted interviews with parents to gain insights into their opinions. The result has now been published; an extremely positive review, highlighting the developments that have taken place over the last five years since the School went co-ed and the enthusiastic response of the Westonbirt community.

The Prep School was praised for: its ‘clever allocation of expertise‘ resulting in specialist subject teaching for pupils in Year 3 and above; the fact that ‘STEM has firmly been put on the map‘; and the enthusiasm of the Prep Head, Rebecca Mitchell for using data with the school ‘now tracking academic attainment against wellbeing.’ The review also discussed the innovative Personalised Learning Programme, which allows pupils to attend a daily session that acts as a booster, academic extension or to develop sporting and creative skills. There is also mention of the Prep School’s 40 clubs, from knit and natter to archery, pony care to poetry.

The Senior School was described as having ‘an increased focus on encouraging ‘aspiration and challenge’ in the classroom’, with mention of both the Scholarship programme and the Performance Pathway. However, the review also highlighted how Westonbirt caters for children of all abilities, including offering such initiatives as support classes. As one parent described it “It’s a nurturing school that also challenges those that want to do well.”  The investment in Sports facilities was also flagged, along with the impressive quality of drama, art and music provision and achievements.

Parent feedback was also very evident within the review, with praise for the knowledge that teachers have of each child: “The teachers are phenomenal, they are so dialled in” and for the breadth and diversity of the co-curricular programme: “My son can be doing bee club one day, then CCF another and photography the next. I mean, what a week!”

And the final few sentences of the review really summed up the hard work and investment that the School has put in: ‘Westonbirt’s historic buildings and bucolic grounds have always lent a quiet, quintessentially English, glamour to its educational offering. Now, with the move to co-ed in full swing, there’s a new energy about the place. Definitely one to watch, it seems set to rival some of the more established through schools in the south-west.’

Access the whole review here.