Westminster Academy has been awarded an Ofsted rating of ‘Outstanding’ following its inspection in March. This excellent news is testament to the recent successes achieved by the Academy, with 75% of students achieving 5 A*-C grades including English and Maths in 2012 compared to 17% of students in 2007.
Ofsted Inspectors spent two days at the academy, visiting a wide range of lessons and speaking to students and staff. They examined all aspects of Academy life and observed improvements in every area since the last visit two years ago when the Academy was graded Satisfactory (Ofsted 2010). The report states: “This is an outstanding school. (…) teachers have outstanding subject knowledge and plan interesting activities which motivate students”. Westminster Academy Principal Smita Bora was praised for the school’s commitment to ensuring every student is treated as an individual and given the support they need to achieve their potential.
The Sixth Form at Westminster Academy offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and a wide range of vocational courses. In recognition of the improvements students have been making and the generosity of the sponsors, the Academy is offering three Dangoor Challenge scholarships worth £15,000 each for the first three students to gain a university place at Oxford, Cambridge or Imperial College from August 2015.
Ofsted was also impressed by the variety of ways in which Westminster Academy prepares students for the future: “Students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is greatly enhanced by an outstanding range of extra-curricular activities. As a result, students have high aspirations for their futures”.
Ofstead 2013 report
