This prestigious accolade solidifies Westbourne’s status as one of the UK’s most consistently high-achieving and future-focused schools, recognised for exceptional academic results, pioneering pathways, and academic innovation across three continents.
The award marks a decisive moment in Westbourne’s mission to deliver world-class, globally connected education, following its recognition as a Triple National Award Winner this year:
Sunday Times – Independent School of the Year in Wales – 2026
Academic Results – #1 for Results Co-Ed IB Boarding – 2025
EdTech Innovation – WINNER Best Use of Education Technology – 2025
The Sunday Times ranking reflects Westbourne’s unmatched GCSE and Sixth Form provision. 2025 was a landmark academic year for the Penarth school, with results that placed Westbourne among the very best:
- GCSE Success: 91% A*-B, with almost 70% achieving 9 or more A*-A grades—the highest grades in the school’shistory.
- Sixth Form Prowess: 95% of students attained the very top grades (A*-B). Students choose between the “gold standard” IB Diploma or A-Level pathways, with Westbourne ranked among the best globally for the IBDP for over a decade.
Principal Rachel Rees commented: “We are beyond proud to be ranked Independent School of the Year in Wales by the Sunday Times—our third national award for academic and innovation excellence this year. This achievement reflects consistently outstanding teaching and student attainment across the school, particularly at GCSE and Sixth Form.”
Westbourne operates differently from any other school in the UK. The Sunday Times ranking cements its position as one of Britain’s most forward-driving schools, built on a model that combines technology, neuroscience, and global collaboration to transform learning and consistently deliver exceptional outcomes.
Among the first UK schools to adopt AI, Westbourne is the only school nationwide to use a bespoke, proprietary AI learning platform.
- The personalised AI revision tutor, KnowVa Coach, developed with Cardiff University, uses Socratic questioning to deepen understanding.
- Early results show a 30% uplift in attainment, the equivalent of nearly two grades.
Sixth Form student Igor said, “KnowVa Coach makes it easy to revise. It expands your answers, showing you what a perfect response looks like, and really helps you deepen your knowledge.”
Operating across three continents, Westbourne uses advanced EdTech to connect students and teachers worldwide, ensuring students gain an unrivalled real-world advantage.
- Holographic Teacher technology allows global subject specialists from Singapore and Sydney to teach students ‘live’ in Penarth, expanding access to world-class expertise.
- “Our students work across continents—from Singapore business experts teaching GCSE classes to international Sixth Form project teams,” Principal Rees added.
Westbourne’s Sixth Form mirrors a professional working environment, combining Oxbridge-style tutorials with direct access to leading experts in STEM and Business. This model has seen 90% of students’ progress to Russell Group universities or elite international equivalents.
Alumna Izzy, now a cybersecurity analyst at Airbus, credits Westbourne with setting her on a future-focused career path:“The professionalism I learned at Westbourne… really set me up for success.”
Photography by Eeson Education
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