WELCOME TO SENIOR

Unrivalled Holistic Excellence

When you first visit Westholme School you immediately sense the warm, family atmosphere from the students and staff. This wonderful, vibrant community is a fabulous place to learn and achieve. The magnificent rural setting and first-class facilities provide a stimulating environment that is simply inspirational.

For a hundred years, Westholme has provided a distinctive educational approach. We place an equal importance on the performing arts, creative arts and technology, academia and sport through a plethora of experiences inside and outside the classroom; this fosters happy, confident and well-rounded young people. Our students are at the heart of everything we do: they love coming to school, are fulfilled, purposefully aspirational and form life-long friendships. Small acts of kindness are valued in equal measure alongside achievements in national competitions.

We warmly invite you to visit us soon and experience for yourself our innovative educational philosophy that fully prepares each individual student with the required skills for success in the rapidly evolving 21st century workplace. Please do get in touch with our admissions team who will schedule a tour and answer any queries you may have.

 

 

HOLISTIC EXCELLENCE

All Round, Balanced

Our all-round educational philosophy is the raison d'être of Westholme. We pride ourselves in ensuring that equal value is placed on subjects, clubs, societies, activities and experiences inside and outside the classroom to provide a total education experience for all students.

 

Our unique Holistic Enrichment Programmes provide opportunities from real-life business enterprise opportunities to founding national charities. Students acquire the 21st century essential skills alongside top academic accolades.

 

ACADEMIC RIGOUR

Personalised 1:1 Support

We are proud to be one of the highest achieving schools in the North West. A unique approach to inspirational teaching and personalised programmes ensure our academic outcomes are simply exceptional.

We are committed to providing the highest quality of education with 1:1 support and help each individual student requires to excel in their academic studies. Teachers go over and above inside and outside of lessons to support students with the help they need to achieve and at the same time, stretch and challenge academically gifted students all the way to the top and attain national recognition. There are opportunities to apply to become an Academic Scholar when joining Year 7 and Year 12.

 

PERFORMING ARTS

Confidence, Collaboration And Communication

At the heart of Westholme is our professional theatre providing an amazing, real-life West End experience for all students to develop their confidence and essential communication skills.

Equipped with state-of-the-art stage lighting and incredible sound, students regularly have the opportunity to study all aspects of theatre: perform; learn technical skills; stage manage; design sets and make costumes. The theatre is breath-taking and our students are fortunate to utilise it every day.

Our Music Department, equipped with a new recording studio, enables students to study Music Technology up to A Level. Our stunning ensembles include our impressive swing band, orchestra and multiple choirs alongside a variety of smaller ensembles bespoke to individual talents. We also partner with the National Youth Orchestra, National Youth Theatre, industry leading musicians and vocalists and performers in London's West End.

 

SCIENCE, MATHS AND ENGINEERING

Curiosity, Problem-Solving And Enterprise

Students at Westholme experience practical, hands on Science lessons every week. They are encouraged to be curious, test hypotheses and apply their investigative skills in our outstanding laboratories.

STEM opportunities are vast at Westholme. Students enter national Maths competitions and many take Further Maths at GCSE and A Level. Students immerse themselves in our popular Medical Society, Engineering Club and Greenpower Society, alongside regular stimulating, educational trips. A favourite destination is CERN, one of the world's largest and most respected centres for scientific research.

SPORTS AND OUTDOOR PURSUITS

Resilience, Determination And Strategy

We challenge all students to excel physically as well as socially through Sport. We are renowned for our excellent facilities including our impressive 20m swimming pool, 7 hard courts for tennis and netball, floodlit astroturf, sports pitches, sports hall and exciting new strength and conditioning gym coming soon. From fell running to Olympic hopeful equestrian riders - we truly encapsulate 'Sport for All' at Westholme!

We employ ex-professional athletes on our staff as full-time coaches in a variety of sports to ensure we are able to compete nationally throughout the year. A number of our Sports Scholars access elite pathways and we support every student with professional ambitions by utilising links with representative teams, professional coaches, scholarship programmes, personalised support alongside sports leadership opportunities and qualifications.

 

CREATIVE ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY

Creativity, Imagination And Adaptability

At Westholme, we passionately believe in our students developing the 21st century essential skills of imagination, adaptability and creativity.

The Creative Arts, including Photography, Food & Nutrition, Product Design and Textiles, are all taught to A Level as our holistic philosophy ensures they have equal status within the curriculum. Life skills are honed through the application of practical artistry at Westholme, stimulating professional artists are welcomed regularly and students become technologically advanced as they are prepared for the 21st century workplace.

WORLD LANGUAGES

Global Citizenship, Networking And Critical Thinking

World Languages at Westholme are vibrant, flamboyant and gregarious! We know that knowledge of languages develop the 21st century essential workplace skills such as improving critical thinking, becoming culturally aware and increasing resourcefulness.

Westholme students are provided with the opportunity to learn French, Spanish, German, Mandarin and Latin to GCSE and A Level. Throughout the year there is the option to take part in exciting international trips to hone their language skills and make memories for life! In English, students are encouraged to take a central role in the lessons, and equally, our extensive co-curricular provision encourages students to be debaters, journalists and poets. Classics is the jewel in our crown and our students love showcasing their understanding of classical civilizations.

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Explore, Discuss and Debate

Students are encouraged to explore both the physical and spiritual worlds in Humanities and Social Sciences at Westholme.

Humanities and Social Science opportunities at Westholme are diverse and exciting. In areas such as Geography, students are able to go on termly and annual off-site educational trips and visits to external sites of interest, ranging from local to international (the most recent being Iceland!). These opportunities are also available to those students  studying other subjects within the faculty. Those studying religion, philosophy and ethics, for example, may find themselves on a visit to a Buddhist Temple as part of their studies.

 

To compliment the trips on offer as part of the curriculum, extra-curricular activities are also available throughout the week.

Our Facilities

 

Our swimming pool, tennis courts and full-sized astro turf are all situated together on our Wilmar Lodge campus. We have a professional theatre - perfect for drama, public speaking and performing. Our recording studio, photography infinity wall, science laboratories, 3D Computer Aided Design technology and Food Preparation and Nutrition Rooms provides facilities and experiences like no other!

 

Our extensive and diverse facilities help to create a unique educational environment in a magnificent rural setting. Our specialist teachers and fully qualified coaches help our students to achieve their potential whatever the pursuit throughout their time at Westholme.  

 

View the gallery below to see our range facilities. If you are interested in hiring our facilities then please find more information here. 

 

The Croston Theatre

Swimming Pool

3D Computer Aided Design Technology

Aerial Photo of Wilmar Lodge

Astroturf and Hardcourts

Dining Hall

Food Technology

Learning Resource Centre

Photography Studio and Infinity Wall

Recording Studio

Science Laboratories

Sports Field

Westies

Find Out More

Fees

Fees and charges are reviewed annually by the Board of Governors. Any annual surplus is returned to the School to finance both improvements and bursaries so that a Westholme education remains outstanding and is as widely accessible as possible.

Fees and Charges

Bursaries and Scholarships

Payment Options for New Starters

 

For further information please contact the Westholme Finance Department on finance@westholmeschool.com or call 01254 506070.

 

 

School Policies

Behaviour Management Policy

Complaints Procedure

Discipline, Exclusions and Required Removal Policy

Keeping Children Safe in Education

Safeguarding Policy

Safer Recruitment Policy

Staff Code of Conduct

Statement of Ethos, Aims and Objectives

Whistle-Blowing Policy

 

The following policies are available to parents, on request, from school:

  • Admissions Policy

  • SEND and EAL Policy

  • Curriculum Policy

  • Anti-Bullying Policy

  • Health and Safety Policy

  • First Aid Policy

  • Complaints Policy

  • A copy of the latest ISI inspection report

Our designated Privacy Compliance Officer is Mrs Jo-Ann Tierney.

If you have any queries regarding this or would like more information about any of our other policies, please do not hesitate to contact the School on 01254 506070.

Inspection Reports

Westholme School complies with all the relevant statutory and regulatory requirements regarding school inspections.

The school is regulated by the Independent Schools' Inspectorate - a body approved by the Department for Education for the purpose of inspecting independent schools in the Independent Schools Council (ISC) under Section 162 of the Education Act 2002.

Westholme School was inspected by ISI on 23rd January 2024. Download Inspection Report

Westholme School was inspected by ISI on 13th, 14th and 15th October 2021. Download Inspection Report

Westholme School was inspected by ISI on 8th, 9th and 10th May 2019. Download Inspection Report

Old Westholmians

We are proud to have a strong alumni community and regularly invite our wider Westholme family back to school to join us for events, for talks or to contribute to our careers events.

We are delighted to have a dedicated alumni website where Old Westholmians (OWs) can connect with fellow alumni and other members of the Westholme Family community; keep up-to-date with exclusive OW news and events and business networking opportunities.

 

We also have a dedicated Westholme Family alumni Facebook group:

Join us on Facebook

 

Once a Westholmian, always a Westholmian!

BOOK YOUR VISIT MORE INFORMATION

News & Events

Year 8 students visit Chester Zoo

10/06/2024

General News,Seniors

Towards the end of May, Year 8 students travelled to Chester Zoo as part of their Biology course, to study Evolution and Adaptations.

Chester Zoo is the most visited zoo in the UK and is also a conservation and education charity committed to the prevention of extinction. Fortunately, the skies were blue as students and staff enjoyed walking around the zoo. There was always more to see with the huge variety of animals, plants, and habitats, including many species that are endangered. 

The zoo is home to over to 20,000 extraordinary animals, and students got the opportunity to see many different species from all over the world. From the plains of Africa there are the lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras. The amazing aquarium features beautiful animals such as the piranhas, tropical fish, as well as sea otters, penguins, and so much more. There really was an incredible array of climates and habitats on show.

The photos below were taken by the students and staff and show off the variety of the animals that are at the zoo. As well as observing some of their favourite animals during the day, students were able to enjoy various refreshments such as ice-cream as well as being able to visit the gift shop. 

Overall, a great day was had by all, and we were very impressed with Year 8 students’ enthusiasm and behaviour.

 
 
 
 

READ MORE

Open Evening 2024

20/05/2024

General News,INSPIRED Sixth Form,Seniors

Looking at secondary school options?

We welcome you to our event of the year!

Our Annual Open Evening is an opportunity to discover what makes Westholme different.

A holistic experience is instilled at Westholme and we provide the most fulfilling opportunities for students in an inspiring environment. Young people leave Westholme equipped with their individual passions, ready for the workplace with 21st essential skills.

You can register for this event using the link below: 

REGISTER HERE

We hope to see you on the evening! 

 

 

READ MORE