Westbourne House School
Westbourne House School is a co-ed boarding and day school in West, Sussex, educating pupils aged 2 - 13 and founded in 1907. Boarding fees are £11,100 - £13,350 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 7 - 13
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Westbourne House
The story, ethos and character of Westbourne House.
- Setting
- Rural
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Head
- Mr Martin Barker

Westbourne House has an outstanding reputation for all-round excellence and well over 100 scholarships in the last five years in a variety of disciplines bear testament to that. We offer a superb preparation for children going to senior schools, including Bedales, Benenden, Brighton, Bryanston, Canford, Charterhouse, Cranleigh, Eton, Harrow, Hurstpierpoint, Lancing, Marlborough, Portsmouth Grammar School, Portsmouth High School, Radley, Wellington, and Winchester.
However, the overriding ethos of the school is to be inclusive wherever possible, so that each child has the opportunity to make the most of all that is available to them - after all, if this rich variety is not experienced at this age, when will it be?
There are some amazing facilities and open space for the children to enjoy here, although these would count for little without an exceptional group of staff.

What the school is known for? Westbourne House is known for its pupils' academic success (123 scholarships to senior schools achieved in the last five years), its sportiness and its musical and dramatic performances, as well as its sense of community.
The school stimulates and encourages every child to maximise his or her potential in mind, body and spirit through a broad and varied curriculum. Throughout the school, pupils are expected to follow the 'Westbourne Way': Be gentle Be kind and helpful Listen to people Share Be honest and truthful Forgive others Work hard Be patient Look after property School history In 1900, a Mr Bibby engaged Miss Hare as a governess for his children.
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Academics at Westbourne House
What pupils study at Westbourne House — and where it takes them.
This section provides information on: The curriculum, performing and creative arts, English as an additional , and special educational needs (SEN). About the curriculum At Westbourne House, we offer all our pupils, from Pre-Prep upwards, an appropriate 21st century curriculum: broad, balanced and creative.
Our core principle is to ensure an exciting curriculum, promoting natural inquisitiveness and a thirst for knowledge. Our approach develops a firm foundation of basic skills and is appropriately challenging. Our teachers create a vibrant, stimulating environment: promoting deep, dynamic learning and enabling children to grow in confidence and, most importantly, encouraging children to love learning.
Programmes offered
Where our leavers go
Westbourne House pupils go on to a variety of the leading senior schools in the Southeast of England, including Benenden, Brighton College, Canford, Eton, Harrow, Marlborough and Wellington. An exceptionally high number of our pupils receive scholarships from their chosen senior school.
In the past five years, pupils have been awarded over 120 scholarships to senior schools. These scholarships are awarded for academic, drama, music, sport and all round excellence.
A full list of destination schools for the last several years can be found below, and more information can be found at http://www. westbournehouse. org/Leavers-Scholarships .
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Westbourne House
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Westbourne House.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 3, Boys 4, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- No
Boarding community aims to create a safe, supportive and fun environment for the children, in order for them to develop into caring, self reliant, confident individuals. We believe that a child's education at Westbourne House is significantly enhanced when they board - be it for one night in Year 4 or full boarding in Year 8.
It is often a child's first taste of true independence. The children are responsible for the work they need to do, and need to be prepared for the next day. They choose how to spend their free time and have to look after their belongings. Along the way, they become more organised, they learn to motivate themselves and start believing in their own abilities.
The boarding houses at Westbourne House are uniquely small in size, enabling a real home away from home feel. Younger boarders live in Main House, which is just at the top of the stairs above the Inner Hall. The children congregate on the landing or in the 'Snug' in the evenings before bed.
Boys and girls are both accommodated in Main House, with a boys landing and a girls landing. As pupils get older, they move to one of our smaller boarding houses - historically called 'outhouses'. Nearly all of these houses have been renovated in the last few years, and the accommodation is bright and spacious.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Westbourne House admissions
How children join Westbourne House, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Special notes to agents about entry to the school We are happy to accept applications for pupils at any time of the year and will inform you of the availability of places. We are a non-selective school but do require students to have a reasonable knowledge of English: Early B1 and above for Years 3, 4 & 5; Mid B1 and above for Years 6, 7 & 8.
Application procedure and entrance tests The first step is to complete a Registration Form, available from the Admissions Officer. This will be followed by an Acceptance Form. Despite being a non-selective school, students are required to sit assessments in English and maths in order to assist planning and setting.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Westbourne House fees & funding
What Westbourne House costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Westbourne House.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Westbourne House against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Westbourne House location & travel
Where Westbourne House is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Coach Road, Shopwyke, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 2BH, England Airport transfer Direct train from London Gatwick to Chichester. Taxi service also available. Travel time to London by train Less than 2 hours Telephone + 44 (0)1243 782739 Website https://www.
westbournehouse. org/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. London Gatwick 45 60 2. London Heathrow 60 90 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Chichester 1 10 Local accommodation Close to the city centre, there is plenty of accommodation in Chichester, as well as a selection of hotels in the countryside and near the sea.
Westbourne House — frequently asked questions
Where is Westbourne House?
How much are Westbourne House boarding fees?
What ages does Westbourne House take?
Is Westbourne House co-educational?
When was Westbourne House founded?
Does Westbourne House require a UK guardian?
How many pupils study A-levels at Westbourne House?
What qualifications does Westbourne House offer?
Does Westbourne House support SEN or EAL students?
How many boarding houses does Westbourne House have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Westbourne House?
Does Westbourne House have Saturday lessons?
How do I apply to Westbourne House?
Does Westbourne House accept international students?
How much does Westbourne House cost?
What's included in Westbourne House's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Where exactly is Westbourne House?
Considering Westbourne House for your child?
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