Westminster School

Westminster School (in full, The Royal College of St. Peter at Westminster, but almost always referred to as Westminster School, or even just Westminster, for short) is an ancient English public school, located by Westminster Abbey in Westminster, in central London, and with a history stretching back to the 12th century. Its A-level results over many of the past 20 years, including both 2004 and 2005, have been the highest in the country. The Head Master up to July 2005 was Tristram Jones-Parry, who has been replaced by Dr. Stephen Spurr.

Houses

The School is split into 11 Houses, some which are 'day Houses' (and only admit day-pupils; those who go home after school), the others having a mix of day-pupils and boarders. The Houses are named after people connected to the house or school in various ways - mainly prominent Old Westminsters but also former Head Masters and House Masters. Grant's is the oldest house not only of Westminster but of any public school.

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Houses are a focus for pastoral care and social and sporting activities, as well as accommodations for boarders. All the day houses are mixed-sex, and all houses admit day girls, however only Busby's and Purcell's provide boarding accommodation for girls.

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Day houses:

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• Ashburnham
• Dryden's
• Hakluyt's
• Milne's
• Wren's

Boarding houses:

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• Grant's
• Rigaud's
• Liddell's
• Busby's (mixed)
• Purcell's (girl boarders only: formerly Barton Street)

There is also 'College', the House for the Queen's Scholars (all of whom board), but which has assigned to it some of the (non-boarding) girls who enter the School in the VIth form.

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