Westminster School The Royal College of St Peter in Westminster
Motto	Dat Deus Incrementum
Established	1179 (Refounded in 1560)
Type	Public School
Head Master	Dr M. S. Spurr
Founder	Pope Alexander III (1179) Elizabeth I (1560)
Location	Little Dean's Yard Westminster London SW1P 3PF United Kingdom
Students	742
Gender	Boys; Mixed in Sixth Form
Ages	13 to 18
Former pupils	Old Westminsters
Website	www.westminster.org.uk
Coordinates: <span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "n" Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unexpected >= operator">Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unrecognised word "n" Expression error: Unexpected < operator°Expression error: Unexpected < operator′Expression error: Unexpected < operator″Expression error: Unexpected >= operator / 51.2954N, -0.740E

The Royal College of St Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading boys' independent schools and one of the nine public schools set out in the Public Schools Act 1868. The term public school has two distinct (and virtually opposite meanings depending on the location of usage in the United States, Australia and Dr Steven Spurr is currently the Head Master of Westminster School, one of the leading British Public schools in London, having taken over from Pope Alexander III (c 1100/1105 &ndash August 30, 1181) born Rolando (or Orlando) Bandinelli, was Pope from 1159 Westminster is an area of Central London, within the City of Westminster. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located An independent school is a school which is not dependent upon national or local Government for financing its operation and is instead operated by tuition charges gifts and The Public Schools Act 1868 was enacted by the British Parliament to reform and regulate nine leading English boys' schools It is located next to Westminster Abbey in central London, with a history stretching back beyond the 12th century. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The school traditionally encourages independent and individual thinking. The Head Master since 2005 is Dr Stephen Spurr, and there are currently 742 boys and girls, of whom around a third are boarders; most go home for the weekends, after Saturday morning school. Dr Steven Spurr is currently the Head Master of Westminster School, one of the leading British Public schools in London, having taken over from Boys are admitted to the Under School at age seven or eleven and the main school at age thirteen. Westminster Under School is a private preparatory school for boys aged 7 to 13 and is attached to Westminster School in London. Girls are only admitted to the two senior years of the school (ages 16–18).

Previous Head Masters include Tristram Jones-Parry, John Rae, Richard Busby, William Camden, Nicholas Udall, John Freind, and William Gunion Rutherford. Tristram Jones-Parry is a British former teacher of Mathematics and former Headmaster of Emanuel School and Westminster School, John Rae ( 20 March 1931 - 16 December 2006) was a British Novelist, writer and educator The Rev Dr Richard Busby ( 27 September 1606 - 1695 was an English clergyman and headmaster of Westminster School. William Camden ( 2 May 1551 &ndash 9 November 1623) was an English Antiquarian and historian Nicholas Udall (1504 &ndash December 23, 1556) was an British playwright and schoolmaster the author of Ralph Roister Doister John Freind (1675 &ndash 26 July 1728) English Physician, younger brother of Robert Freind (1667-1751 headmaster of Westminster William Gunion Rutherford ( 17 July, 1853 &ndash 19 July, 1907) was a Scottish scholar

History

Little Dean's Yard from Liddell's Arch

The School had become a public school (i. An independent school in the United Kingdom is a school relying upon private sources for all of its funding predominantly in the form of school fees e. a school available to members of the public, so long as they could pay their own costs) by 1179, when a decree of Pope Alexander III required the Benedictine monks of the Abbey at Westminster to provide a charity school. Pope Alexander III (c 1100/1105 &ndash August 30, 1181) born Rolando (or Orlando) Bandinelli, was Pope from 1159 Benedictine refers to the Spirituality and Consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church It is likely that schoolboys were taught by the monks well before then. Parts of the School's buildings date back to the eleventh century, older than the current Abbey.

This arrangement changed in 1540, when Henry VIII ordered the dissolution of the monasteries in England, but personally ensured the School's survival by his royal charter. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the formal process between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The College of St. Peter carried on with forty "King's Scholars" financed from the royal purse. Although during Mary I's brief reign the Abbey was reinstated as a Roman Catholic monastery, it was redissolved on Elizabeth I's accession, and neither of these events had a major impact on the School. Mary I (18 February 1516 &ndash 17 November 1558 was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death The School occupies a number of the buildings vacated by the monks.

Elizabeth I re-founded the School in 1560, with new statutes to select 40 Queen's Scholars from boys who had already attended the school for a year. Queen Elizabeth frequently visited her scholars, although she never signed the statutes nor endowed her scholarships, and 1560 is now generally taken as the date that the school was "founded", although legal separation from the Abbey was only achieved with the Public Schools Act 1868. The Public Schools Act 1868 was enacted by the British Parliament to reform and regulate nine leading English boys' schools There followed a scandalous public and parliamentary dispute over a further 25 years, to settle the transfer of the properties from the Canons of the Abbey to the School. Under the Act, the Dean of Westminster Abbey is ex officio the Chairman of the Governors; and school statutes have been made by Order in Council of Queen Elizabeth II. An Order-in-Council is a type of legislation in Commonwealth Realms. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II

Camden was the first internationally-famous headmaster, but Dr. Busby, himself an Old Westminster, established the reputation of the school for several hundreds of years, as much by his classical learning as for his ruthless discipline of the birch, immortalised in Pope's Dunciad. William Camden ( 2 May 1551 &ndash 9 November 1623) was an English Antiquarian and historian The Rev Dr Richard Busby ( 27 September 1606 - 1695 was an English clergyman and headmaster of Westminster School. Alexander Pope (21 May 1688 – 30 May 1744 is generally regarded as the greatest English Poet of the eighteenth century best known for his Satirical The Dunciad (ˈdʌnsiˌæd is a landmark literary Satire by Alexander Pope published in three different versions at different times Busby prayed publicly Up School^[1] for the safety of the Crown, on the very day of Charles I's execution, and then locked the boys inside to prevent their going to watch the spectacle a few hundred yards away. Charles I, (19 November 1600 &ndash 30 January 1649 was King of England, Scotland and Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution. Regardless of politics, thrashing Royalist and Puritan boys alike without fear or favour, Busby also took part in Oliver Cromwell's funeral procession, when a Westminster schoolboy succeeded in snatching the "Majesty Scutcheon" from the coffin (it was given to the School by his family two hundred years later). Oliver Cromwell (25 April 1599 Old Style &ndash 3 September 1658 Old Style) was an English military and political leader best known Busby remained in office throughout the Civil War and the Commonwealth, when the school was governed by Parliamentary Commissioners, and well into the Restoration.

In 1679, a group of scholars killed a bailiff, ostensibly in defence of the Abbey's traditional right of sanctuary, but probably because the man was trying to arrest a consort of the boys. Sanctuary has multiple meanings A sanctuary is the consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar Dr. Busby obtained a royal pardon for his scholars from Charles II, and added the cost to the school bills. Charles II (Charles Stuart 29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685 was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The King's picture in the sealed pardon keeps an eye on the Master of the Queen's Scholars in her sitting room.

During the sixteenth century the school educated writers including Ben Jonson and Richard Hakluyt; in the seventeenth, the poet John Dryden, philosopher John Locke, scientist Robert Hooke, composer Henry Purcell and architect Christopher Wren were pupils; and in the eighteenth philosopher Jeremy Bentham and several Whig Prime Ministers and other statesmen. Benjamin Jonson ( c 11 June 1572 &ndash 6 August 1637) was an English Renaissance Dramatist Richard Hakluyt (, or) (c 1552 or 1553 – 23 November 1616 was an English writer John Dryden (– was an influential English poet Literary critic, Translator and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England John Locke (29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704 was an English Philosopher. Robert Hooke, FRS (18 July 1635 – 3 March 1703 was an English Natural philosopher and Polymath who played an important role in the Henry Purcell (ˈpɜrsəl 10 September 1659 (? – 21 November 1695 was an English Baroque Composer. Sir Christopher Wren ( 20 October 1632 &ndash 25 February 1723) was a 17th century English Designer, Astronomer Jeremy Bentham ( IPA: or) (15 February 1748&ndash6 June 1832 was an English Jurist, Philosopher, and legal and Social reformer

Until the nineteenth century, the curriculum was made up of Latin, Greek, Arabic, and Hebrew, all taught Up School. The Westminster boys were uncontrolled outside school hours, and notoriously unruly about town, but the proximity of the School to the Palace of Westminster meant that politicians were well aware of the boys' exploits. After the Public Schools Act 1868, in response to the Clarendon Report on the financial and other malpractices at nine pre-eminent public schools, the School began to approach its modern form. The Public Schools Act 1868 was enacted by the British Parliament to reform and regulate nine leading English boys' schools Unusually among the leading public schools however, Westminster did not submit to most of the broader changes associated with the Victorian ethos of Thomas Arnold, such as the emphasis on team over individual spirit, and the school retained much of its distinctive character. The term public school has two distinct (and virtually opposite meanings depending on the location of usage in the United States, Australia and Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities Thomas Arnold ( 13 June 1795 &ndash 12 June 1842) was a British schoolmaster and historian head of Rugby School from 1828 Despite many pressures, including evacuation and destruction of the School roof during the Blitz, the school also refused to move out of central London along with other prominent schools such as Charterhouse and St. Paul's, and remains in its original location close by the centres of church and state. The Blitz was the sustained bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941 in World War II. Charterhouse, originally Sutton's Hospital in Charterhouse, is a prominent boys independent or public school as they're known in Britain between St Paul's School is a boys' Independent school, founded in 1509 by John Colet.

Westminster Under School was formed in 1943 at the evacuated school, as a distinct preparatory school for day pupils between the ages of 8 to 13 (now 7 to 13). Westminster Under School is a private preparatory school for boys aged 7 to 13 and is attached to Westminster School in London. Only the separation is new: for example, in the eighteenth century, Edward Gibbon attended Westminster from the age of 11. Edward Gibbon ( April 27, 1737 January 16, 1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament. The Under School has since moved to Vincent Square, overlooking the School's playing fields. Vincent Square is a large grass-covered square in Westminster, London, England, covering 13 acres (making it the largest privately owned square in London Its current headmaster is Mr. Jeremy Edwards.

In 1967, the first female pupil was admitted to the Upper School, with girls becoming full members in all houses from 1973 onwards. In 1981 a single-sex boarding house, Purcell's, was created again, for girls.

Location

The School is located primarily in the walled precincts of the former mediæval monastery at Westminster Abbey, its main buildings surrounding its private square Little Dean's Yard (known as 'Yard'), off Dean's Yard, where Church House, the headquarters of the Church of England, is situated, along with some of the Houses, the Common Room, the new humanities building Weston's, and College Hall. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church Little Dean's Yard, known to Westminster School just as Yard, is a private gated yard at the heart of the school within the precincts of the ancient monastery of Church House is the building that serves as the headquarters of the Church of England, occupying the south end of Dean's Yard next to Westminster Abbey The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican

Immediately outside the Abbey precincts on Great College Street is Sutcliff's (named after the tuck shop in the building in the 19th century), where Geography, Art and Classics (Latin and Ancient Greek) are taught. The Robert Hooke Science Centre is further away, just off Smith Square. Robert Hooke, FRS (18 July 1635 – 3 March 1703 was an English Natural philosopher and Polymath who played an important role in the Smith Square is a square located in Westminster, part of the City of Westminster in London, which is notable for St John's Smith Square, the As part of an expansion programme funded by a legacy from A. A. Milne, the school has added the nearby Millicent Fawcett Hall for Drama and Theatre Studies lessons and dramatic performances; the Manoukian Centre for Music lessons (both timetabled and private) and musical recitals; and the Weston Building (formerly known as '3 and 3A Dean's Yard'), which is situated near the entrance of Dean's Yard from Broad Sanctuary. Alan Alexander Milne (ˈmɪln (18 January 1882 &ndash 31 January 1956 was an English Author, best known for his Books about the Teddy bear

College Garden, to the East of Little Dean's Yard, is believed to be the oldest garden in England, under continuous cultivation for around a millennium. College Garden is a private garden of Westminster Abbey in London, open to the public on some Tuesday and Thursday afternoons Just beyond rises the Victoria Tower of the Houses of Parliament; the Queen's Scholars have special rights of access to the House of Commons. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords To the North, the Dark Cloister leads straight to the Abbey, which serves as the School Chapel. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church

The playing fields are half a mile away at Vincent Square, which Dean Vincent created for the School by hiring a horse and plough to carve ten acres out of the open Tothill Fields. Vincent Square is a large grass-covered square in Westminster, London, England, covering 13 acres (making it the largest privately owned square in London William Vincent (1739–1815 was the dean of Westminster Abbey in London from 1802 The boathouse is now some way from the school at Putney, where it is used for the famous Oxford and Cambridge boat race; although the school's First Eight still returns annually to exercise its traditional right to land at Black Rod Steps of the Palace of Westminster. Putney is a district of south-west London in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Notable buildings

Westminster, situated in the middle of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Westminster Abbey, St. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Margaret’s, and the Palace of Westminster, has several buildings notable through unique qualities, age, and history.

'College Hall', the 14th century Abbot's state dining hall, is one of the oldest and finest examples of mediæval refectory in existence, and in use for its original purpose every day in term-time; outside of term it reverts to the Dean, as the Abbot's successor. Queen Elizabeth Woodville took sanctuary here in 1483 with 5 daughters and her son Richard, but failed to save him from his fate as one of the Princes in the Tower. Elizabeth Woodville or Wydeville ( 3 February 1437 &ndash 7 June / 8 June 1492) was the Queen consort of The Princes in the Tower, Edward V of England ( November 4 1470 &ndash 1483? and his brother Richard of Shrewsbury 1st Duke of York ( In the 1560s, Elizabeth I several times came to see her scholars act their Latin Plays on a stage in front of the attractive Elizabethan gallery, which may have been first erected especially for the purpose.

'College', now shared between the three Houses of College, Dryden's and Wren's, is a dressed stone building overlooking College Garden, the former monastery's Infirmary garden which is still the property of the Collegiate Church of Westminster Abbey. College Garden is a private garden of Westminster Abbey in London, open to the public on some Tuesday and Thursday afternoons College dates from 1729, and was designed by the Earl of Burlington based on earlier designs from Sir Christopher Wren (himself an Old Westminster). Lord Burlington redirects here Lord Burlington most frequently refers to the architect and patron Richard Boyle 3rd Earl of Burlington. Sir Christopher Wren ( 20 October 1632 &ndash 25 February 1723) was a 17th century English Designer, Astronomer

'School', originally built in the 1090s as the monks' dormitory, is the School's main hall, used for Latin Prayers (a weekly assembly with prayers in the Westminster-dialect of Latin), exams, and large concerts, plays and the like. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. From 1599 it was used to teach all the pupils, the Upper and Lower Schools being separated by a curtain hung from a 16th century pig iron bar, which remains the largest piece of pig iron in the world. Pig iron is the intermediate product of Smelting Iron ore with coke, usually with Limestone as a flux The stone steps and entranceway to School have been attributed as the work of Inigo Jones, and are engraved with the names of many pupils who used to hire a stonemason for the purpose. Iñigo Jones ( July 15, 1573 &ndash June 21, 1652) is regarded as the first significant British architect, and the first to bring The panelling "up School" is similarly, but officially, painted with the coats of arms of many former pupils. The shell-shaped apse at the North end of School gave its name to the Shell forms taught there and the corresponding classes at many other public schools. An independent school in the United Kingdom is a school relying upon private sources for all of its funding predominantly in the form of school fees The current shell displays a Latin epigram on the rebuilding of School, with the acrostic Semper Eadem, Elizabeth I's motto. The classroom door to the right of the Shell was recovered from the notorious Star Chamber at its demolition. For the online trading card game see Star Chamber The Harbinger Saga.

Both School and College had their roofs destroyed during the Blitz by incendiary bombs in 1941. The buildings were re-opened by George VI in 1950.

Ashburnham House, which today houses the library and the Mathematics Department, was built by Inigo Jones or his pupil John Webb around the time of the Restoration, as a London seat for the family who became the Earls of Ashburnham. Ashburnham House is a building on Little Dean's Yard in Westminster, London, United Kingdom, and is a part of Westminster School It incorporates remains of the mediaeval Prior's House, and its garden is the site of some of the earliest sittings of the House of Commons. The House of Commons' is the Lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords In 1721 when Ashburnham housed the King's and Cottonian libraries, which form the basis of the British Library, there was a disastrous fire and many of the books and manuscripts still show the marks. The British Library ( BL) is the National library of the United Kingdom. After the Public Schools Act 1868 there was a scandalous parliamentary and legal battle between the Abbey and the School, until the School eventually obtained Ashburnham under the Act for £4000. The Public Schools Act 1868 was enacted by the British Parliament to reform and regulate nine leading English boys' schools In 1881 William Morris conducted a public campaign which succeeded in preventing its demolition but failed to save the neighbouring mediaeval buildings. William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896 was an English Architect, Furniture and Textile designer artist writer and socialist associated During the Second World War, the library was used for very senior military purposes, and the ground floor as an American officers' club. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including In 1969 it was used as one of the locations for the film The Magic Christian.

Customs

Pupils fight for the pancake (left), watched by the Dean of Westminster Abbey and the Head Master (right). The set of scales will determine the winner.

The 'Greaze' has been held "up School" on Shrove Tuesdays since 1753: the head cook ceremoniously tosses a horsehair-reinforced pancake over a high bar, that was used in the sixteenth-century to curtain off the Under School. Members of the school fight for the pancake for one minute, watched over by the Dean of Westminster Abbey (as Chairman of the Governors), the Head Master, the whole School and distinguished or even occasionally Royal visitors. The pupil who gets the largest weight is awarded a gold sovereign (promptly redeemed for use next year), and the Dean begs a half-holiday for the whole School. A cook who failed to get the 'pancake' over the bar would formerly have been "booked", or stoned to death with Latin primers, although that tradition has long lapsed.

The privilege of being the first commoners to acclaim each new sovereign at their coronation in Westminster Abbey is reserved for the Queen's (or King's) Scholars. Their shouts of "Vivat Regina" ("Long Live the Queen") are nowadays incorporated into the Coronation Anthem.

Despite the split from the Abbey, the school remains an Anglican one, with services in the Abbey attended by the entire school at least twice a week, and many other voluntary-attendance services of worship. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The school was expressly exempted by the Act of Uniformity, to allow it to continue saying Latin prayers despite the Reformation. Over the course of English parliamentary history there were a number of acts of uniformity. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time Every Wednesday there is an assembly Up School known as Latin Prayers, which opens with the Headmaster leading all members of the school in chanting prayers in Latin, followed by notices in English. The School's unique pronunciation of formal Latin is known as 'Westminster Latin', and descends from medieval English scholastic pronunciation: Queen Elizabeth I, who spoke fluent Latin, commanded that Latin was not to be said "in the monkish fashion", a significant warning upon loyalties between Church and State. A service called 'Little Commem' is given in Latin each year, in which the Queen's Scholars commemorate the School's benefactors, laying pink roses on the tomb of Elizabeth I in Westminster Abbey. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church Every third year a much larger service called 'Great Commem' is given in its place.

Since the monastic Christmas revels of mediæval times, Latin Plays have been presented by the Scholars, with a prologue and witty epilogue on contemporary events. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Annual plays, "either tragedy or comedy", were required by the school statutes in 1560, and some early plays were acted in College Hall before Elizabeth I and her whole Council. However, in a more prudish age Queen Victoria did not accompany Prince Albert and The Prince of Wales to the Play, and recorded in her diary that it was "very Improper". Today, the play is put on less frequently, any members of the school may take part, and the Master of the Queens Scholars (currently a female historian) gives the Latin prologue.

The Queen's Scholars have privileged access to the House of Commons gallery, said to be a compromise recorded in the Standing Orders of the House in the nineteenth century, to stop the boys from climbing into the Palace over the roofs.

Entry

There are 4 main points of entry for prospective pupils:

• For the Under School, at ages 7 and 11, judged by a combination of internal exam and interview. Westminster Under School is a private preparatory school for boys aged 7 to 13 and is attached to Westminster School in London.
• For the Lower School, at age 13, judged by either Common Entrance, a standardised, national set of exams for entrance to independent schools, for standard entry, or the Challenge, an internal set of exams, for scholarship entry, as well as interview. The Common Entrance Examinations are set by the Independent Schools Examination Board, for entry at age 11+ (normally for girls and boys in year six or at age 13+ (normally
• For the Upper School, at age 16, judged by subject-specific exams and interviews and conditional upon GCSE results. The General Certificate of Secondary Education ( GCSE) is the name of an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject generally taken in a number of subjects by This is the only point of entry for girls, and only a handful of boys join at this point each year.

As well as the Queen's Scholarships which pay from endowment one half of boarding fees, and of which there are normally eight in each year, there is a small number (usually two) of Honorary Scholarships for boys who pass the Challenge and could have been scholars but do not want to board. Stephen Hawking was entered for the scholarship in 1952, but fell ill on the day of the Challenge examination. Stephen William Hawking CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA (born 8 January 1942 is a British theoretical physicist.

Those entering the Lower School also have the opportunity to obtain scholarships based on musical talent, and bursaries for those whose parents are not able to fund their tuition. Ignoring scholarships and bursaries, annual fees are as follows:^[2]

University applications

According to a report by the Sutton Trust, Westminster School has the highest Oxbridge acceptance rate of any school at 49. The Sutton Trust is an educational charity in the United Kingdom which aims to provide educational opportunities to young people from non-privileged backgrounds 9% (5 year average) with 76 pupils achieving Oxbridge places in 2005. Furthermore, it also has an 85. 6% (5 year average) acceptance rate into the Sutton 13 elite list of the top 13 universities for research in the UK. League tables of British universities which rank the performances of universities in the United Kingdom on a number of criteria have been published every year by The The report claimed that, in general, independent schools achieve 16. 3% more places at Sutton 13 universities than would be expected on merely from A-level grades. ^[3]

Westminster jargon

Year names

Westminster has an unusual system for naming the school years, which can cause confusion to those not familiar with the system. Education in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the countries of the United Kingdom with power over education in Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland being devolved

• Year 9: Vth Form
• Year 10: Lower Shell
• Year 11: Upper Shell (GCSE)
• Year 12: VIth Form (AS)
• Year 13: Remove (A2)

The Lower and Upper Shell years are named for the shell-shaped alcove up School where they were originally taught; the name has been adopted by several other schools with a Westminster connection.

The word "up" is used instead of "in" or "to. " "Shag clothes" means "casual clothes. " Formerly "to muzz" meant "to study hard" or "swot;" "mill" (noun or verb) meant "fight" and "satty" was the equivalent of the modern "cool. " "Station," originally meaning any duty, now means "sport" and "water" means "rowing. "

Houses

Rigaud's House (far right), Grant's House (right), residence of the Master of the Queen's Scholars (centre), College (far left, top floors) and Dryden's House (far left, ground floor)

The School is split into 11 Houses, some of 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 house system is a traditional feature of British Schools and schools in ex- British colonies, similar to the collegiate system of a University 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. Other than College, Grant's is the oldest house, not only of Westminster but of any public school.

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

Each House has associated colours, which are worn on ties awarded for various (usually sporting) achievement while representing the House. There are also pink-striped ties awarded for achievement while representing the whole school, with the amount of pink denoting the level of achievement.

At inter-house sporting events, pupils can wear house t-shirts, which are in house colours and feature the name of the house (except the College t-shirt which has no text).

College, the House of the Queen's Scholars (all of whom board), has assigned to it some of the non-boarding girls who enter the School in the VIth form. The Rev Dr Richard Busby ( 27 September 1606 - 1695 was an English clergyman and headmaster of Westminster School. Henry George Liddell ( February 6, 1811 – January 18, 1898) was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, Dean (1855-91 of Christ Henry Purcell (ˈpɜrsəl 10 September 1659 (? – 21 November 1695 was an English Baroque Composer. The title Baron Ashburnham (pronounced "Ash- burn -am" of Ashburnham in the County of Sussex, was created in the Peerage of England Sir Christopher Wren ( 20 October 1632 &ndash 25 February 1723) was a 17th century English Designer, Astronomer John Dryden (– was an influential English poet Literary critic, Translator and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England Richard Hakluyt (, or) (c 1552 or 1553 – 23 November 1616 was an English writer Alan Alexander Milne (ˈmɪln (18 January 1882 &ndash 31 January 1956 was an English Author, best known for his Books about the Teddy bear

Sport ("Station")

Westminster School Boat Club's boathouse in Putney

The School has three of only a few Eton Fives courts in the world, located behind Ashburnham House. Putney is a district of south-west London in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Eton Fives, one derivative of the British game of Fives, is a hand-ball game similar to Rugby Fives, played as doubles in a three-sided court Ashburnham House is a building on Little Dean's Yard in Westminster, London, United Kingdom, and is a part of Westminster School The school frequently fields pupils as national entries in international competitions in rowing, or "Water", and fencing at which they do very well. GB coxless pair of Toby Garbett & Rick Dunn at Henley Royal Regatta 2004 Fencing is the art of armed Combat involving Cutting, Stabbing, or slapping bludgeoning Weapons directly manipulated by hand

The Oxford University Boat Club use Westminster's boat house at Putney as their HQ for the annual Oxford and Cambridge boat race on the Thames. The Oxford University Boat Club ( OUBC) is the rowing club of the University of Oxford, England, located on the River Thames at The Boat Race, also known as the University Boat Race and The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University The boathouse was remodelled in 1996, and won a Wandsworth design award in 1999. The school's colour is pink and one rumour for this colour is that it was derived from washed-out red shirts worn by rowers. Another rumour is that Westminster rowers raced Eton College for the right to wear pink. Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British Independent school for boys founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. The story goes that on one running of the annual Eton-Westminster rowing race both crews arrived wearing the same colour pink, which was fashionable at the time. The Eton crew bought some light-blue ribbon (which later became the standard Eton colours) to differentiate themselves, but the Westminster crew won the race and the right to wear pink in perpetuity. The premier Leander Club at Henley, which was founded in London by a number of Old Westminster rowers, later adopted by although they call the colour cerise. The Leander Club, founded in 1818 is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world This unusual colour for sportsmen has occasionally provoked violent incidents in recent times- such as stones being thrown at rowers from the bank - but usually removes any need for away kit; the only problems arise when racing against Abingdon School, which also wears pink.

The School's main sports ground is nearby at Vincent Square, but it is limited to football and cricket on the main area and tennis and netball on the courts, it also hosts a playground for Westminster Under School. It is not large enough for all the pupils doing these sports to use simultaneously (the football pitches are made into cricket pitches for the summer). Therefore the school hires and owns other sporting facilities near the school. These include the oldest boating club in the world, an astroturf ground in Battersea, and a fencing centre. AstroTurf is a brand of Artificial turf. Though the term is a Registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind 'Green' (Dean's Yard) is also used, as are the 2 school gyms (one in the Abbey Cloisters and one in the Weston's school building) and the three Fives courts, as well as informal "yard cricket", "yard football" and "Scuba Football" played in Little Deans Yard.

Westminster has an historic joint claim to a major role in the development of Association Football, which remains the school's largest sport. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered During the 1840s at both Westminster and Charterhouse, pupils' surroundings meant they were confined to playing their football in the cloisters, making the rough and tumble of the handling game that was developing at other schools such as Rugby impossible, and necessitating a new code of rules. Events and trends Technology First use of General anesthesia in an operation by Crawford Long. A cloister (from Latin claustrum) is a part of Cathedral, Monastic and Abbey architecture Rugby School, located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, is a Co-educational Boarding school and one of the oldest public schools During the formulation of the rules of Association Football in the 1860s representatives of Westminster School and Charterhouse also pushed for a passing game, in particular rules that allowed forward passing ("passing on"). Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Other schools (in particular Eton College and Harrow) favoured a dribbling game with a tight off-side rule. Eton College, or just Eton, is a world-famous British Independent school for boys founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. By 1867 the Football Association had chosen in favour of the Westminster and Charterhouse game and adopted an off-side rule that permitted forward passing. The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey ^[5] The modern forward-passing game was a direct consequence of Westminster and Charterhouse Football.

• See also Old Westminsters F.C.

Former pupils

See also: List of former pupils of Westminster

The following people were educated at Westminster, amongst about 1000 others listed in the ODNB:

• Ben Jonson (1573 – 1637), poet and dramatist
• George Herbert (1593 – 1633), public orator and poet
• John Dryden (1631 – 1700), poet and playwright
• John Locke (1632 – 1704), philosopher
• Sir Christopher Wren (1632 – 1723), architect and scientist, co-founder of the Royal Society
• Robert Hooke FRS (1635 – 1703), British scientist
• Henry Purcell (1659 – 1695), composer
• Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788), Methodist preacher and writer of over 6,000 hymns
• Edward Gibbon FRS (1737 – 1794), historian
• Jeremy Bentham (1748 – 1832), lawyer, eccentric and philosopher
• Thomas Pinckney (1750 – 1828), American soldier, politician, and diplomat. Old Westminsters FC is an Association football club comprised of former pupils of Westminster School, London, England. The following people were educated at Westminster School, and are sometimes listed with OW ( Old Westminster) after their name (collectively OWW) There The Dictionary of National Biography ( DNB) is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history published from 1885 Benjamin Jonson ( c 11 June 1572 &ndash 6 August 1637) was an English Renaissance Dramatist George Herbert ( April 3, 1593 &ndash March 1, 1633) was a Welsh Poet, Orator and a Priest. John Dryden (– was an influential English poet Literary critic, Translator and playwright who dominated the literary life of Restoration England John Locke (29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704 was an English Philosopher. Sir Christopher Wren ( 20 October 1632 &ndash 25 February 1723) was a 17th century English Designer, Astronomer The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 Robert Hooke, FRS (18 July 1635 – 3 March 1703 was an English Natural philosopher and Polymath who played an important role in the The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 Henry Purcell (ˈpɜrsəl 10 September 1659 (? – 21 November 1695 was an English Baroque Composer. Biography Charles Wesley was the son of Susanna Wesley and Samuel Wesley. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Edward Gibbon ( April 27, 1737 January 16, 1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament. The Royal Society of London for the Improvement of Natural Knowledge, known simply as The Royal Society, is a Learned society for science that was founded in 1660 Jeremy Bentham ( IPA: or) (15 February 1748&ndash6 June 1832 was an English Jurist, Philosopher, and legal and Social reformer Thomas Pinckney ( October 23, 1750 November 2, 1828) was an early American statesman diplomat and veteran of both the American Revolutionary
• A. A. Milne (1882 – 1956), author and journalist
• Robert Southey (1774 – 1843), poet, historian and biographer
• Sir Adrian Boult (1889 – 1983), conductor
• Sir John Gielgud (1904 – 2000), actor and director
• Sir Andrew Huxley (b. Alan Alexander Milne (ˈmɪln (18 January 1882 &ndash 31 January 1956 was an English Author, best known for his Books about the Teddy bear Robert Southey ( August 12, 1774 &ndash March 21, 1843) was an English Poet of the Romantic school one WikipediaWikiProject Classical music#Biographical_infoboxes --> Sir Adrian Cedric Boult CH ( 8 April 1889 Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH ( 14 April, 1904 – 21 May 2000) known as Sir John Gielgud, was an Sir Andrew Fielding Huxley, OM, FRS (born 22 November 1917, Hampstead, London) is an English physiologist 1917), Nobel prizewinning physiologist
• Sir Peter Ustinov (1921 – 2004), actor, writer, director and raconteur
• Tony Benn (born 1925), politician
• Peter Brook (born 1925, LL 1937-1938), theatre director
• Nigel Lawson (born 1932, WW 1945-1950), former Chancellor of the Exchequer, father of Nigella Lawson
• Simon Gray (born 1936, WW 1949-1954), playwright and diarist
• Andrew Lloyd Webber (born 1948, QS 1960-1965), composer and producer
• Martin Amis (born 1949), novelist
• Stephen Poliakoff (born 1952, WW 1966-1970), director, playwright and television dramatist
• Timothy Winter (born 1960), Shaykh Zayed Lecturer in Islamic Studies, Faculty of Divinity, Cambridge University
• James Robbins (GG 1968-1972), BBC Diplomatic Correspondent
• Shane MacGowan (born 1957, AHH 1972-1973), musician
• Matt Frei (born 1963, RR 1978-1981), BBC Washington Correspondent
• Helena Bonham Carter (born 1966, LL 1982-84), actress
• Noreena Hertz (born 1967, CC 1983-85), economist and campaigner
• Nick Clegg (born 1967), Liberal Democrat leader
• Joe Cornish (born 1968), comedian
• Ruth Kelly (born 1968, DD 1984-86), Cabinet minister
• Marcel Theroux (born 1968), novelist and broadcaster
• Adam Buxton (born 1969), comedian
• Tobias Hill, (born 1970), poet and novelist
• Louis Theroux (born 1970), broadcaster
• Jonathan Yeo (born 1970), artist
• Dido Armstrong (born 1971, WW, 1987-89), British musician under the name "Dido"
• Martha Lane Fox (born 1973), internet entrepreneur
• James Reynolds (born 1974), BBC Beijing Correspondent
• Conrad Shawcross (born 1977), artist
• Pinny Grylls (born 1978), documentary film-maker
• Benjamin Yeoh (born 1978), playwright
• Max Vergara Poeti (born 1983), novelist and translator

Victoria Cross holders

Six former pupils of Westminster have won the Victoria Cross:

• Edmund Henry Lenon VC (1830 - 1893) (at Westminster June 1851-1855). Sir Peter Alexander Ustinov (ˈjuːstɪnɒf or /ˈuːstɪnɒf/ 16 April 1921 – 28 March 2004) born Peter Alexander Baron von Ustinow Anthony "Tony" Neil Wedgwood Benn (born 3 April 1925 formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate, is a British Socialist Politician. Peter Stephen Paul Brook CH, CBE (born 21 March 1925) is a British theatre and Film director and innovator Nigel Lawson Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC (born 11 March 1932 is a British Conservative Politician who was Chancellor of the Exchequer between Nigella Lucy Lawson (born 6 January 1960 is an English food writer, Journalist and broadcaster Simon James Holliday Gray CBE ( October 21, 1936 – August 7, 2008) was a prolific postwar British playwright whose work was performed Andrew Lloyd Webber Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948 is a British Composer of Musical theatre, the elder son of William Lloyd Webber Martin Louis Amis (born 25 August 1949 is an English Novelist, Essayist and Short story Writer, the son of writer Kingsley Stephen Poliakoff CBE (born 1 December 1952 in Holland Park in West London, England) is an acclaimed British playwright Tim (Timothy John Winter (born 1960 aka Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad is a British Muslim thinker professor and translator James Robbins (born January 19, 1954) is the BBC 's Diplomatic Correspondent a post he has held since January 1998 Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan (born 25 December 1957 is a musician and singer best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues. Matthias Frei (born 26 November, 1963) is the BBC 's Washington D Helena Bonham Carter (born 26 May 1966 is an Oscar and Golden Globe -nominated English actress. Prof Noreena Hertz (born September 24, 1967, London) is an English Economist, author and campaigner Nicholas William Peter Clegg (born 7 January 1967 known as Nick Clegg, is Joe Cornish (born Joseph Murray Cornish 20 December 1968) is an English Comedian who along with his long-time comedy partner Ruth Maria Kelly (born 9 May 1968 is a British politician, currently Member of Parliament for the Bolton West Constituency representing Marcel Raymond Theroux (born June 13 1968) is a British Novelist and broadcaster Adam Offord Buxton (born 7 June 1969 is an English Comedian, who together with his comedy partner Joe Cornish wrote and presented the Channel 4 Tobias Hill (born London, England 30 March 1970) is an award-winning British Poet and Novelist. Louis Sebastian Theroux (born 20 May 1970) is a British broadcaster holding both British and US citizenship best known for his television Jonathan Yeo (born 1970 is a British artist known for his distinctive portraits that combine "photographic realism with a painterly touch" Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong, (born 25 December 1971 professionally known as Dido, is an English BRIT Award -winning and Martha Lane Fox (born February 10 1973) is a British E-commerce business woman charity trustee board member James Reynolds (born 1974) is part of the BBC 's Beijing bureau where he has served as Beijing Correspondent since November 2006. Conrad Shawcross (born 1977, London) is a British artist the son of the writers William Shawcross and Marina Warner. Pinny Grylls is an award winning British filmmaker In 2001 Grylls co-founded Invisible Films with Rachel Millward Benjamin Yeoh (1978 - aka Ben Yeoh is one of the first British Chinese Playwrights to have his plays performed and recognised in the UK Max Vergara Poeti (complete name Massimo Christian Vergara Poeti-Marentini) (born March 4 1983 is a Colombian Italian Writer, Essayist See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since Edmund Henry Lenon VC ( 26 August 1830 - 15 April 1893) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
• William George Hawtry Bankes VC (1836 - 1858) (at Westminster April 1850-1856)
• Nevill Maskelyne Smyth VC (1868 - 1941) (at Westminster June 1882-1885). William George Hawtry Bankes VC ( Wimborne Minster, Dorset September 11 1836 - India 1858 was an English recipient of the Victoria See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since Year 1836 ( MDCCCXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Year 1858 ( MDCCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Nevill Maskelyne Smyth VC KCB Croix de Guerre (Belgium Legion d'Honneur (France ( 14 August 1868 – 21 July[[ See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since Year 1868 ( MDCCCLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He served in the First World War, later Sir Nevill Maskelyne Smyth VC, KCB, (Croix de Guerre (Belgium), Legion d'Honneur (France))
• Arthur Martin-Leake VC and Bar (1874 - 1953) (at Westminster June 1888-1891), one of only three to receive twice. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath) is a British Order of chivalry founded by George The Croix de Guerre (sometimes lowercase in French Croix de guerre, meaning "Cross of War" is a military decoration of both France and Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake, VC and Bar (4 April 1874 &ndash 22 June 1953 was an English double recipient of the Victoria Cross See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since Year 1874 ( MDCCCLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[6]
• William Hew Clark-Kennedy VC, CMG, DSO & Bar (1879 - 1961) (at Westminster June 1893-1896). William Hew Clark-Kennedy VC, CMG, DSO & Bar ( March 3, 1879, Scotland - October 25, 1961) was a See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George Prince Regent (later George The Distinguished Service Order ( DSO) is a Military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other Commonwealth countries awarded for Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• Richard Wakeford VC. Richard Wakeford VC ( 23 July[[ 921]]- 27 August 1972) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross during World War See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since (1921 - 1972) (at Westminster June 1934-1940). Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

References

Further reading

• Tony Trowles (2005). A Guide to the Literature of Westminster Abbey, Westminster School and St. Margaret's Church 1571-2000. Boydell Press.  
• John Rae (1994). Delusions of Grandeur: A Headmaster's Life. HarperCollins.  
• John Field (1986). The King's Nurseries: The Story of Westminster School (2nd edition). James & James. ISBN 0-907383-01-7.  
• Lance Bertelsen (1987). The Nonsense Club: Literature and Popular Culture, 1749-1764. Oxford: Clarendon Press.  
• John Dudley Carleton (1965). Westminster School: A History (revised edition). R. Hart-Davis.  
• Lawrence Edward Tanner (1934). Westminster School: A History. Country Life.  
• Reginald Airy (1902). Handbooks to the great Public Schools: Westminster. George Bell & Sons.  
• John Sargeaunt (1898). Annals of Westminster School. Methuen.  
• Westminster School Almanack (http://intranet.westminster.org.uk/almanack/index.asp)

See also

• List of the oldest schools in the world
• List of Victoria Crosses by School

External links

• Westminster School website
• Westminster School Boat Club website