Westbourne School, Penarth

Westbourne School is a coeducational independent day and boarding school for pupils between the ages of 3 and 18 located in the commuter town of Penarth, in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales 5.2 miles (8.4 kilometres) south west from the Welsh capital city of Cardiff. Traditionally the school was strictly boys only. However, in the mid-1980s, the decision was taken to also accept girls and become a coeducational school. Westbourne School opened its 6th form for the Autumn term of 2008. The school introduced the speciality of the Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organisation in 2008. The school is housed on two main campuses, approximately half a mile apart. The first houses the Pre-School and Prep, the other the Senior School and Sixth Form. Additionally, the school's 'Innovation Hub' is located opposite the Senior School, and only a couple of minutes' walk from the Westbourne Boarding House. The school is now owned by the Montague Place Group of Independent Schools. History Foundation The school first opened in 1895 at Ebenezer House on Westbourne Road, Penarth. However, the school's foundation is deemed to be during the following year in 1896 under the headship of Mrs Caroline Ferris. Mrs Ferris renamed Ebenezer House as Westbourne House and the school was therefore retitled as Westbourne House Preparatory School for Boys. In 1901 the school relocated to the large corner property at 13 Stanwell Road, which still forms part of the current school building. Expansion In 1975 the adjoining property at 4 Hickman Road was also purchased and the combined properties were developed as Westbourne Senior School. The school opened a junior college for children aged between 9 and 11 years of age. It was decided to make the additional purchase of the struggling independent St Alma’s Girls School located in Victoria Road and, with the purchase, the combined school became coeducational. In recent years, the school has undergone significant expansion, evolving from a leading Penarth school to one of the most innovative, forward-thinking schools in the world, with sister schools across three continents. Westbourne's mission is bold and clear: to develop future-ready leaders with the curiosity, creativity and capability to shape a rapidly developing world. The school consistently ranks at the top of national league tables for academic excellence and results, and has won a suite of awards for innovation and edtech to accelerate and enrich learning for students of all ages. Notable Events In December 2025 Westbourne was named 'Independent Secondary School of the Year in Wales' by the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide. Westbourne is ranked #1 boarding school in the UK for results (ib-schools, co-ed, 2025). One of the most pioneering schools in the UK, in 2025 the school was also voted Independent School of the Year Winner for Best Use of Education Technology, following on from being ranked #1 in the UK for Innovation in 2024 by the ISA. These awards reflect an ambitious use of cutting-edge technology, including a proprietary one-to-one AI revision buddy, KnowVa Coach, as well as "holographic teacher" technology bringing world-leading experts into the classroom, no matter location or timezone. Early testing shows a 30% uplift in student grades. On 1 February 2024, news was released that one of Westbourne's full scholarship students, Illia Mitiushnikov, who was a Ukrainian refugee, had been accepted into the University of Oxford to study politics, philosophy and economics (PPE). The school today Organisation The Victoria Road facility houses the Pre-School and Prep School. The Senior School and Sixth Form are located in the main school building on the corner of Stanwell and Hickman roads. Westbourne School also benefits from occasional visiting teachers and tutors from local Cardiff schools, colleges and universities. School facilities include gymnasium, IT suite, library, science laboratories, sports hall as well as access to local sports facilities including athletics track, Penarth RFC rugby pitch and the International Sports Village in Cardiff Bay. The Pre-School accepts children from their third birthday. The only provision of its kind locally, it supports early learners to gain numeracy, literacy and communication skills to prepare them for the transition to primary education, with weekly sessions in the Westbourne Prep School Reception Class to build confidence and familiarity. Sixth form The Autumn term 2008 saw the establishment of the school's first sixth form, housed in a new Research and Media Centre with its separate sixth form common room and roof terrace, ICT and Computing Department. Today, Westbourne Sixth Form is a vibrant academic community attracting some of the world's brightest student minds. Students are treated as young professionals, gaining future-ready skills that set them apart for university admission and in their future careers. 90% progress to global Top 20 universities. Sixth Form students gain confidence and acumen through a myriad of exclusive initiatives including Future Leaders Lab, Westbourne's mini-MBA style programme running in Singapore led by INSEAD professors; global debating with peers in Westbourne's global campuses; international exchanges; and university & careers support that is second to none. Voted IB School of the Year 2019 by the Sunday Times, Westbourne is one of the best places in the world to study the IB Diploma Programme. From September 2025, the school announced the introduction of a suite of STEM and Business-focused A Levels, offering them a choice of the IB or A Levels depending on their personal ambitions for university and beyond. Inspection The school was last inspected in 2018 and was awarded the grade of Excellent in every inspection category by ‘’’Estyn’’’ Notable alumni Adrian Goldsworthy (born 1969) - is a British historian and military writer. References