Westminster Academy

About Westminster Academy

Westminster Academy is rated Good overall by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2023, a change from its previous Outstanding rating in 2013. The school’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year sits at -0.05, which is below the Westminster local authority average of 0.51. This places the school 11th out of 11 secondary schools in the borough, in the bottom 50 nationally by this metric. However, the picture is more nuanced when you look under the hood. The school’s Attainment 8 score is 48, and 67% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 94%, with 44% of pupils achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. The sixth form, by contrast, was rated Outstanding in the same inspection, suggesting a strong post-16 offer even if the main school’s headline figures lag behind local peers.

Digging deeper into the Progress 8 breakdown, the school’s performance varies by subject area. Pupils made progress in EBacc subjects of +0.16, which is above the national average, and maths progress was exactly in line with the national average at 0.00. English progress was slightly negative at -0.16, and open subjects (those not in the EBacc) showed a more significant dip at -0.23. The EBacc average point score was 4.65. In the local context, Westminster Academy is 0.6 km from Paddington Academy, the nearest Outstanding-rated school, and sits well behind the top-performing local schools like Ark King Solomon Academy (Progress 8 of 1.18) and The Grey Coat Hospital (1.04). For a family weighing up options, the data suggests a school that is strong on EBacc take-up and sixth form quality, but where overall academic progress is below the local average.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, there were 429 applications for 171 places, a ratio of 2.51 applicants per place, with 96 first-preference offers made. This reflects strong local demand despite the middling Progress 8 score. Facilities include an Astro Turf pitch, swimming pool, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include swimming, rugby, badminton, tennis, football, and basketball, while clubs range from Eco Club and Gardening to Model UN, DofE, Coding, and Debate. The school has a broad SEND offer, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 51.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, Westminster Academy serves a diverse and disadvantaged intake. It will suit families who value a strong sixth form, a wide range of extracurriculars, and a school that is central to its community, even if its headline academic outcomes are not the strongest in the borough.

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