Westminster Under School facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Westminster Under School
Address
27 Vincent Square London , Greater London , SW1P 2NN United Kingdom
Coordinates	51°29′31″N 0°08′03″W / 51.491867°N 0.134261°W / 51.491867; -0.134261,
Information
Type	Independent preparatory school
Motto	Dat Deus Incrementum (Classical Latin: "God Gives Increase")
Religious affiliation(s)	Church of England
Established	1943
Founder	Westminster School
Local authority	Westminster
Department for Education URN	101165 Tables
The Master	Kate Jefferson
Staff	47
Gender	Boys
Age	7 to 13
Enrolment	285
Houses	4
Colour(s)	Pink
Publication	The Vincent

Westminster Under School is a special private school for boys aged 7 to 13. It is connected to Westminster School in London. The school was started in 1943 near Westminster Abbey.

The school moved a few times before settling at its current spot in Vincent Square in 1981. This new location overlooks the playing fields of Westminster School. About 285 boys attend the school. Westminster Under School is well-known for its music, sports, drama, chess, and Latin programs. Many boys go on to Westminster School after finishing their studies here. Some also go to other famous schools like Eton.

The current head of the school is Kate Jefferson. There are 47 staff members who help teach and support the students.

School History

Westminster Under School began in September 1943. It was founded by John Traill Christie, a former headmaster of Westminster School. The first location was at 2 Little Dean's Yard, which is now called Grant's House.

The Under School first started at 2 Little Dean's Yard, known as Grant's House (right).

When the school first opened, it had only 6 teachers and 31 boys. Dean's Yard was used as a playing field. Even the damaged parts of the school from World War II were used as a playground. St Faith's Chapel inside Westminster Abbey served as the school's chapel. For many years, the final year (Year 8) was called the Upper Remove. The year before that (Year 7) was known as the Remove.

After the war, the school moved to its own building in Eccleston Square. Then, in 1981, it moved to its current home in Vincent Square. This move helped the school welcome more students as it grew.

How to Join the School

Boys can try to get into Westminster Under School at ages 7, 8, or 11. Many students from public schools join at age 11. At this age, the school also offers special Music Scholarships. These scholarships help talented musicians attend. The school also provides bursaries, which are financial aids for families who need help with fees.

School Fees Over Time

Here's a look at how the school fees have changed over the years:

School Buildings

The school uses three main buildings. It also has access to the playing fields in Vincent Square. The school also uses facilities at the Queen Mother Sports Centre in Victoria and at Battersea Park.

Adrian House

The side gate of Adrian House.

Adrian House is located at 27 Vincent Square. It's a four-story building in central London. It first opened in 1951. In 2001, it was rebuilt to add new classrooms, a new hall, and an IT room. All the classrooms and labs were also updated. The hall is now called the Performing Arts Studio. It is used for plays and drama shows. Adrian House also has two science labs. The basement is completely dedicated to the music department.

George House

George House is across from Adrian House on 21 Douglas Street. It was opened in 2011 by the Dean of Westminster. In 2014, it was officially named "George House." This building holds the school's dining room, art department, and meeting rooms for staff.

Westminster School Sports Centre

In September 2012, the Royal Horticultural Society's Lawrence Hall became the school's Sports Centre. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it in 2015. The building is on Elverton Street, very close to Vincent Square. The Under School uses it for sports like PE and games.

School Traditions

The School holds its annual carol service at St Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey.

Since the school is linked to Westminster School, the oldest boys (Year 8) take part in the yearly pancake greaze. This event happens on Shrove Tuesday. The younger boys watch this tradition in the Great Hall. The school is part of the Anglican church. It holds a service every Thursday at St Stephen's Church.

The school also has an annual Music Competition each summer. All boys can enter with one piece of music. Winners and some runners-up from Years 7 and 8 get to play in the school's Summer Concert. This concert takes place at St John's, Smith Square. The school's Senior String Orchestra and Senior Choir also perform.

There is also a yearly reading competition. Each boy chooses a short piece of writing or poem to read. This competition is held in the Lent term, and all boys must enter. These competitions are house events. Points are given to houses for their results. These points add up for trophies.

The art department holds photography and model competitions. These are optional to enter. The school's students also regularly compete in the Townsend-Warner History Prize. This is a history competition for private schools.

What Boys Learn

Years 3 and 4

In Years 3 and 4, students learn most subjects from their main teacher. However, they have special teachers for French, Music, Art and Design, IT, PE, and Games. There is only one class for Year 3, usually with about 22 boys. Year 4 has two classes, as the school usually accepts 22 new students at each entry point.

Years 5 and 6

In Year 5, students are taught by specialist teachers for all subjects. These include Mathematics, English, Science, French, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Music, Art, Drama, IT, PE, and Games. In Year 7, boys are placed into different groups for Maths. This depends on how well they did in their Year 6 exams or 11+ entrance exams.

Year 7

Two new classes are created for boys who join at the 11+ entry point. The subjects taught in Year 7 are mostly the same as in Year 6.

Year 8

In Year 8, the boys are divided into groups. Some prepare for the Common Entrance exam for their next school. Others join the "Scholarship Course." This course helps them get ready for scholarship exams to their chosen future schools. In Year 8, boys are split into four classes for humanities, science, languages, and maths. Two classes are for Common Entrance students. The other two classes are for boys on the "Scholarship Course." One scholarship class mainly prepares for "the Challenge," which is the scholarship exam for Westminster School. The other class prepares for scholarship exams to other schools.

Greek is also added as a new subject in Year 8.

School Houses

The school has four houses. Their names come from symbols on the school's coat of arms. These houses are:

• Tudors (Red)
• Lions (Blue)
• Fleuries (Green)
• Martlets (Yellow)

There are regular competitions between the houses throughout the school year. These include music, Scrabble, and Chess. Each house has a House Captain and Vice Captain. These roles change every term. Up to 12 prefects are chosen from Year 8 throughout the year. This means most Year 8 boys will be a House Captain, Vice Captain, Head Boy, or Prefect at some point.

After-School Activities

The school offers many "Extras" or clubs for boys to join. These activities happen after school hours. Some of the clubs include:

• Bridge
• Chess
• Swimming
• Fencing
• Judo
• Karate
• Mandarin
• LAMDA (drama)
• Indoor and outdoor cricket
• Indoor football
• Cooking
• Photography
• Climbing
• Table tennis
• Outdoor tennis

Famous Former Students

• Adam Buxton (journalist and comedian)
• Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer)
• Julian Lloyd Webber (cellist)
• Jason Kouchak (pianist and composer)
• George Benjamin (composer)
• Alfred Enoch (actor)
• Luke McShane (chess player)
• Dan McKenzie (academic)
• Ben Adams (singer)
• Hilary Benn (Member of Parliament)
• Jacob Rees-Mogg (Member of Parliament)

Future Plans

Updated January 2024

The school plans to become a school for both boys and girls by 2030. It is also expanding into a nearby building called Chapter House. Boys at the school have recently been asked to share their ideas for how this new building should look.

See also

• Westminster School