FAQs

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Here is a list of some of parents' most frequently asked questions. If you can think of any more, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to tell us - and we'll add the answers to this page!

How many pupils are there at Westonbirt?
Around 250 girls aged from 11 to 18, spread fairly evenly throughout the school but the year groups get bigger as the girls get older, because new pupils are joining at 11+, 12+, 13+ and 16+.

Do I need to register my daughter at birth to be guaranteed a place?
The earlier you register your daughter with us, the better. Birth is considered a little early by most schools but we certainly recommend you register her before she enters Year 5 at the latest, to ensure there are places available. Registration reserves her place subject to her passing our entrance examinations when she is the appropriate age.

What are the deadlines for applications for places?
There are deadlines for applying for scholarships and bursaries but no specific deadline for applications.

How much are the boarding fees? How much are the fees for daygirls?
Please see our 'Useful Downloads' section for a copy of our current fees which show you the various costs for daygirls and boarders. Please note that weekly boarders are charged at the same rate as full boarders.

Can I get help with my school fees? And if so, how much are scholarships worth?
There are several options to help with school fees including scholarships for special merit, bursaries for proven financial need, siblings discounts for families with more than one daughter at the school, and services bursaries to serving members of HM Armed Forces and the Clergy. We can also advise you on other sources of educational funding such as Livery Companies and educational charities. It is possible to combine different financial grants e.g. to add a scholarship and a bursary together to make a substantial reduction to your daughters fees. Please see 'help with school fees' for more information.

What percentage of girls are boarders? Will my daughter be the only daygirl?
Around 65% of girls are boarders (either weekly boarders or full boarders) and 35% are daygirls. This is our ideal balance and has been consistent for many years. Whether your daughter joins Westonbirt as a boarder or as a daygirl, she will fit in very well.

If my daughter joins as a daygirl, will she feel out of place?
There is absolutely no stigma attached to being either a boarder or a daygirl - all mix well together. Both boarders and daygirls belong to the same houses and many daygirls board occasionally so they integrate very well indeed.

How many overseas girls are at Westonbirt?
We have a healthy minority of around 25% of international students (i.e. not British nationals) who help broaden the outlook of the British girls and make us very aware of global issues. Unlike many top girls' schools, our international contingent is made up of a wide variety of nationalities, and we usually have girls from every continent in school, with no single country dominant. All girls are taught mainstream for all subjects and we have a school policy that only English must be spoken during the school day, which helps them integrate well.

When does the school day start and finish?
Girls must be in school at 8.20am and are free to leave at 5.45pm. This may seem like a long school day, but because they work long hours they have much longer holidays than state schools do - typically a month at Christmas, a month at Easter and two months in the summer. Most top private schools operate in this format.

I'd like to know the class sizes - will my daughter get the individual help she needs?
Westonbirt offers small class sizes to ensure all children gain personal attention and have a chance to contribute well to class discussion. Our average class size is 16 and we endeavour to have no more than 20 in a class. For many classes higher up in the school the class size will be much smaller, for example in some A-Level subjects there are just 6 students, ensuring each pupil gains support and tutoring to the highest of standards.

Is there Saturday morning school?
Like many leading independent senior schools, we operate Saturday morning school with classes finishing at 12noon. There are sometimes sports matches on Saturday afternoons. However there is no Saturday morning classes on exeat weekends, and taking these and half term breaks into account, your daughter will not actually have to attend school on too many Saturdays.

How many Westonbirt girls go to Oxford University or Cambridge University?
Our sixth form leavers choose a wide range of institutions for the next stage of their educaiton and we help them identify the most suitable for their ability and ambitions. In most years there are Oxbridge candidates and we help them with their applications to maximise their chance of success in gaining places at these very competitive universities.

How do you stimulate the most gifted and talented girls?
We run a special Gifted and Talented programme of activities, organised by Mrs Browne, offering them a wide range of extra projects and activities to encourage them to fulfil their potential.

Do you have many girls with Learning Difficulties?
We have an excellent Learning Support department which tests all applicants with special needs such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia. These are by no means indicators of reduced intelligence and the special needs experts in the department provide discreet coaching to enable the girls to compensate for their needs.

What is your pastoral care like?
We are a very happy school with excellent pastoral care. The relatively small size of our school ensures that everyone knows everyone else (including the Headmistress) and Housestaff work very closely with tutors and subject teachers to offer all the support and encouragement that any girl could wish for.

What is your policy on bullying?
We have a very effective bullying policy and any bullying issues are resolved quickly and discreetly. All our school policies may be accessed via the Parent Area of this website.

Who are your main feeder schools?
Girls come to Westonbirt from a wide range of private preparatory school, state primary schools, international schools and colleges, independent senior schools and state secondary schools, with or without sixth forms of their own. We have a significant intake from our own prep school, Rose Hill Westonbirt, but the majority of our pupils come from other sources.

Who are your most famous old girls?
Probably our most famous alumnus at the moment is Ruth Watson of "Hotel Inspectors" fame. Other welll-known ones are Lady Sybilla Hart, Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs, Lady Emily Compton. We have many old girls who are well-known high achievers in their field but are not necessarily household names.

Does the school transport cover my area?
Our school bus system serves a wide radius from the school encompassing Cirencester, Swindon, Wootton Bassett, Brinkworth, Chippenham, Stroud, Nailsworth, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Chipping Sodbury and North Bristol.