Age Range. 2–18.
Number in School. 360.
Boarding. From Year 7 upwards.
Day fees per term (2024-2025). £3,537–£6,216.
Boarding fees per annum (2024-2025). Year 7-9 £39,450, Year 10-IB2 £47,290 (Boarding House accommodation); £47,290 (local home stay accommodation); both fully inclusive of tuition, accommodation during term time and half term breaks, all meals (including weekends) and guardianship costs, with no exeat weekends.
Westbourne Nursery accepts children from 2 years and is open for 51 weeks a year at a cost of £73 per day from 7.30am until 6.00pm, or £44 per half day session.
Big Ideas, Infinite Possibilities
Westbourne develops globally-minded, well-rounded young scholars who progress to the best universities in the world (90% graduate entry rate to elite Russell Group universities and international equivalents). Graduates possess the skills, knowledge, confidence and character to become the STEM and business leaders of the future, securing careers in competitive fields including medicine, law, engineering and business.
#1 for Innovation, #2 IB Boarding School
Westbourne is one of the UK’s leading academic schools for children aged 2-18, ranked #1 for Innovation by the ISA, #2 IB Boarding School 2024 (#4 overall) in the best-schools league tables (smaller schools), and called “one of the most consistently high-achieving independent schools in Britain” (Sunday Times Best School Guide). With a 38 IB Point Global Average in 2024, Westbourne graduates rank in the top 1-2% worldwide.
Boasting an illustrious 126-year history of academic excellence, Westbourne is recognised as an innovator in education, leading the way with a cutting-edge approach that not only nurtures students academically, but also offers them the best global learning opportunities thanks to privileged links with leading global academic organisations including professors from INSEAD Business School and top universities. In addition to virtual collaboration with their peers across the global schools, students develop advanced computing skills, with an impressive grasp of high-level programming and robotics.
In addition to winning the 2024 ISA Award for Innovation in independent schools, in 2023 the school was honoured with the Global EdTech Award for Best School Digital Transformation for a world-leading use of technology, and was one of the first schools in Wales to use artificial intelligence to enhance classroom learning. 2024 also delivered three Pearson National Teaching Award wins for Early Years Team of the Year, Digital innovator of the Year, and Headteacher of the Year.
Leading the global education frontier - now on 3 continents
The UK school is the hub of a groundbreaking international network of academically elite schools - the world’s first truly global network of leading IB schools - which has grown to Westbourne College Sydney, ranked 1st in Australia with its first graduating class, and Westbourne College Singapore in August 2023. Mumbai launches imminently.
A visionary approach sees students collaborate across continents, working together to solve problems and discuss global issues, supported by cutting-edge technology that allows real-time interaction. Students benefit from unmatched learning and personal development opportunities, participating in global webinars, lessons and international exchange trips.
A home-away-from-home
Westbourne offers boarding from Senior School upwards, either in the school’s Boarding House or via homestay with friendly local families. Westbourne’s Boarding House accommodation is safe, secure and comfortable, with options for single or shared rooms, as well as dining, quiet study and socialising spaces. The boarding community is small, supportive, family-like and multicultural, providing the opportunity to meet and make friends with students from all over the world. Westbourne prides itself on being a distinctly British school complemented by a student body representing over 25 different nationalities.
Smaller class sizes, with a focus on wellbeing
Students benefit from smaller class sizes than at other schools, allowing personalised attention and one-to-one support. Offering a small, friendly community where every student is known by name by every teacher, Westbourne is described as having a family feel, blending traditional values with outstanding teaching and the latest technology.
Westbourne offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Sixth Form, and GCSEs from Year 9, which allows students opportunity to study a wider range of subjects as excellent preparation for the IB. A broad co-curricular programme enhances the competencies learned in class, with opportunities to engage in a wide range of leadership roles, student council, music and drama, and an exhilarating programme of after school clubs making use of the best facilities in the local area including climbing, sailing, horseriding, kayaking, skiing, yoga, ice skating and more.
Prep School pupils also benefit from a diverse curriculum, including early exposure to foreign languages, the arts, mathematics and science, as well as a range of excellent sporting opportunities, including a thriving Saturday Sports fitness club and team sports. All children participate in regular immersive STEM sessions and attend Westbourne's FaB (Forest and Beach) School half termly – a dynamic outdoors learning and wellbeing initiative set in local coastal and countryside settings, including the school’s private forest site on a 20-acre farm - in addition to an equally wide range of after school clubs and personal development opportunities.
One of the best places to live in the UK
Westbourne is located in Penarth, an affluent seaside suburb voted one of the best places to live in 2021 for health and wellbeing (The Times) and one of the Top 10 best places to live in the UK (Sunday Times). Ten minutes from vibrant, historic Cardiff (ranked by the EU Quality of Life Survey as the 3rd best European capital city) Westbourne offers the perfect blend of modern metropolis, suburban safety, seaside and countryside.
The school enjoys excellent transport links, with easy access to the M4. There is a convenient train service from Penarth to Cardiff Central, which offers direct trains to London and across the UK. The school has minibuses running each day across the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff.