Our approach

West House prides itself on providing a balanced approach to educating pupils for life in the middle of this century, recognising that education is about so much more than a narrow measurement of academic achievement alone.

We know that to get the best out of a child, both in terms of learning and their personal development, they need to feel supported, listened to and secure; and they need to enjoy learning.

At the heart of the school’s ethos lies the view that children should be allowed to be children and that they are at their most productive when an appreciation of the balance between work and play is achieved.

Once a balance is struck, academic success will follow, as you will see from our fantastic track record in securing selective grammar and independent school places.

This academic success does not come at all costs.

The West House Way is a belief that those who are active, fulfilled and decent people are happiest and most successful. We endeavour to see that every boy who leaves here is happy and confident in their individuality, with a strong sense of self-belief that enables them to fulfil their potential, in whatever arena they choose.

While there are compelling arguments for both single-sex and co-ed approaches to education, we vehemently champion children learning in a single-sex environment. We all know that boys and girls are very different and they mature, learn and approach many aspects of life differently. In a boys’ preparatory school, we successfully instil an attitude of it being ‘cool to learn’ – at West House, the most able boys are regarded as an inspiration to others and set the standard to which their peers aspire.

Pupils also have no perception of gender bias when it comes to specific subjects – they have a consistent attitude towards all curriculum areas. West House boys throw themselves into everything wholeheartedly, whether it’s dance or rugby, creative writing or science – and benefit hugely as a result.

Additionally, we know from our many years of teaching experience that boys tend to excel in more obviously accessible subjects such as maths and science before they develop their appreciation in areas such as creative writing. This means we can adapt our curriculum to meet the specific requirements that boys have, and tailor our teaching to suit their needs. We also take full advantage of the fact that boys can be extremely competitive and use this to foster an environment in which they will thrive.

Perhaps the greatest strength of the school lies in its teaching team. West House boasts a carefully selected team of loyal and experienced professionals dedicated to raising standards year-on-year.

Subject specialists manage and deliver a broad and thoughtfully designed programme of study to ensure that pupils access a rich variety of learning opportunities. The teaching of the core curriculum is supported by:

• A full-time head of Performing Arts
• Four dedicated Physical Education specialists, specifically qualified in coaching cricket, football, basketball, athletics and rugby
• Two dedicated music specialists supported by 13 peripatetic music teachers
• Experienced and well-qualified teaching assistants
• Extensive use of ICT and mobile technologies
• Rigorous 11-Plus preparation