Westminster Under School
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| Motto | Dat Deus Incrementum |
|---|---|
| Established | 1943 |
| Type | Boys' independent school |
| Religion | Anglican |
| The Master | Mrs Elizabeth Hill |
| Founder | Westminster School |
| Location | 27 Vincent Square London Greater London SW1P 2NN United Kingdom |
| Local authority | Westminster |
| DfE URN | 101165 |
| Staff | 39 |
| Students | 267 |
| Gender | Male |
| Ages | 7–13 |
| Houses | 4 |
| Colours | Pink |
| Publication | The Vincent |
| Day or Boarding | Day |
| Unofficial Publication(s) | WUS Times, The US Magazine |
Coordinates: 51°29′32″N 0°08′03″W / 51.4923°N 0.1341°W
Westminster Under School is a private preparatory school for boys aged 7 to 13 and is attached to Westminster School in London.[1]
The school was founded in 1943[2][3] in the precincts of Westminster School in Little Dean’s Yard, just behind Westminster Abbey. In 1951 the Under School relocated to its own premises in Eccleston Square. Due to rising numbers of pupils in the 1960s and 1970s, the school moved again in 1981 to its present site (which was a former hospital[4]) overlooking the Westminster School playing fields in Vincent Square.[3][5][6] There are 267 pupils attending the school. The school has a strong musical tradition and provides choristers for St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey. Most boys attending the school move on to Westminster School after the completion of either Common Entrance or Scholarship examinations (The Challenge), although a number of boys each year go on to other schools, including Eton.
The Master is Elizabeth Hill; the Deputy Master is David Bratt.[7] There are currently 39 members of staff.[8]
The school fees for 2010-11 are £4726 per term.[9][10]
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[edit] History
The Under School was founded in September 1943[11] in 2 Little Dean's Yard (now known as Grant's House) by the former Headmaster of Westminster School, John Triall Christie.
There were only 6 teachers when the school was established and only 31 boys. Dean's Yard was used as a playing field for the boys and the roofless remains of the School, the bombed school hall were used as a playground. St Faith's Chapel in Westminster Abbey served as the school chapel.
After the war, the school moved to its own premises in Eccleston Square, and in 1981 moved to its present site in Vincent Square to cope with expanding numbers.
[edit] Entrance
Competitive entrance examinations for Westminster Under School can be taken at 7+, 8+ or 11+. Entry into Westminster Under School at 11+ attracts many pupils from the state sector. At this stage, the school also offers Academic & Music Scholarships and means-tested bursaries.[12]
[edit] Previous School Fees
| Date | Per term | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | £3,697 | £11,091[11] |
| 2006-07 | £3,900 | £11,700 |
| 2007-08 | £4,163 | £12,489 |
| 2008-09 | £4,412 | £13,236 |
| 2009-10 | £4,544 | £13,632 |
[edit] Campus
The school is housed with two buildings, one being Adrian House, a four-storey building in the South East corner of Vincent Square in Central London. It underwent a major rebuilding programme in 2001, when new classrooms, a new hall, Art Department and IT suite were built on the site of the old hall. In addition, all the classrooms and labs were refurbished.[13][14] The school uses the hall as a theatre for drama performances. The school has access to 2 science laboratories, an IT suite and the basement of the school is devoted entirely to the music department. The building opposite houses a canteen, many art studios, staff meeting rooms and staff accomadation. The school also hires facilities at the nearby Queen Mother Sports Centre and at Battersea Park and nets at The Oval to supplement the playing fields of Vincent Square. The school have bought a hall in Vincent Square which will be ready by September 2012 for use as a sports hall.
[edit] Customs
The school, being attached to Westminster School, sends the oldest year of the school to take part in the annual pancake greaze on Shrove Tuesday.This is watched by the year below in the Great Hall. The school is Anglican and has a Thursday service in St Stephens Church, Rochester Row.
[edit] Uniform
The school uniform consists of a grey shirt, grey trousers, grey or black socks and black shoes. A grey jumper with a pink v-neck may also be worn and, in the summer, grey polo shirts may be worn without a tie. Unless a pupil is wearing a polo shirt, a tie must be worn. The school tie is pale grey with pink stripes; a house tie (Year 8's only), may be either Blue, Red, Yellow, or Green; half colours are pale grey with pink stripes and the colours tie is plain pink. Colours are awarded for sporting achievements. Boys in the Senior Choir ( Years 6,7&8) are awarded a very navy blue tie with pink and pale grey. Boys also have games kits, consisting of blue shorts and socks, and a white or blue top. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs and the U11A team, however, have specialised football clothes, which are pink shirts with black embroidery, blue shorts and blue socks.
[edit] Curriculum
[edit] Years 3 & 4
In Years 3 and 4, pupils are taught in most subjects by the same teacher (usually their form teacher), however they have specialist teachers in French, music, art, IT, PE and games. There is only one form of 20 boys in Year 3, and only 2 forms in Year 4 as the school only accepts 20 pupils per entry point.
[edit] Years 5 & 6
In Year 5, the following subjects are taught, all by specialist teachers: mathematics, English, science, French, history, geography, religious studies, music, art, drama, IT, PE and games. Year 5 are also taught Roman and Greek mythology to prepare for when they start Latin in Year 6. In Year 7, the boys are split into sets for Maths according to their performances in their Year 6 summer exams.
[edit] Years 7 & 8
A third form is created for the 11+ entrance and there are Saturday morning classes for the new Year 7 class, during which they study Latin and French, so as to reach the standard of their fellow classes when they join the school. The curriculum remains the same in Years 7 and 8, however, Greek is added to the curriculum and the year is split into 4 forms of 15 boys each, usually with 2 preparing for Common Entrance and 2 preparing for scholarship examinations.[15]
[edit] Houses
The school is organised into 4 houses, based on the charges on the Westminster coat of arms; Tudors (Red), Lions (Blue), Fleuries (Green) and Martlets (Yellow[16]). There are regular inter-house competitions during the school year, including music, Scrabble and Chess. All the houses have a House Captain, Vice-Captain and 2–3 monitors.
[edit] Extras
The school has many extras (or clubs) boys can take part in. These extras range from Bridge and Chess to Swimming and Fencing. From Judo and Karate to Bookshop and Singing at St. Margerets Church, Westminster Abbey. Most extras take place after school time.
[edit] Notable alumni
- Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer)
- Julian Lloyd Webber (cellist)
- Jason Kouchak (pianist/composer)
- George Benjamin (composer)
- Alfred Enoch (Actor)
- Luke McShane (Chess player)
- Dan McKenzie (professor)
- Ben Adams (singer)
[edit] Images
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The side gate of the school.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.isc.co.uk/school_WestminsterUnderSchool_Westminster.htm
- ^ "History". Westminsterunder.org.uk. http://www.westminsterunder.org.uk/about.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ a b . Britannica Online Encyclopedia. http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9076689. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ "Buildings". Westminster Under School. http://www.westminsterunder.org.uk/buildings.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ "Westminster Under School". Westminsterunder.org.uk. http://www.westminsterunder.org.uk/about.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ "Entry Levels - Entry at 7/8+". Westminster School. http://www.westminster.org.uk/entrylevels/7-8plus.asp. Retrieved 2009-01-04.[dead link]
- ^ "Staff". Westminster Under School. http://www.westminsterunder.org.uk/staff.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ "Westminster Under School". Westminsterunder.org.uk. http://www.westminsterunder.org.uk/staff.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ "Registration and Admission Procedures". Westminster Under School. http://www.westminsterunder.org.uk/admissions/fees.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ "School Fees". Westminster School. http://www.westminster.org.uk/fees.asp. Retrieved 2009-01-04.[dead link]
- ^ a b http://www.isbi.com/isbi-viewschool/1051-Westminster_Under_School.html
- ^ "Entry Levels - Entry at 11+". Westminster School. http://www.westminster.org.uk/entrylevels/11plus.asp. Retrieved 2009-01-04.[dead link]
- ^ Westminster Under School Propectus, page 1
- ^ "Westminster Under School". Westminsterunder.org.uk. http://www.westminsterunder.org.uk/buildings.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ "School Organisation and Curiculum". Westminster Under School. http://www.westminsterunder.org.uk/curriculum.html. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ Westminster Under School Propectus, page 7
