Best secondary schools in Westminster: A complete 2026 guide

Westminster is a small inner London borough with a distinctive secondary school landscape. The borough holds some of the oldest and most prestigious independent schools in the country, alongside a compact state sector of around 11 secondaries.

Westminster has no state grammar schools. The borough's character means independent schools are unusually prominent, and demand for the most popular state schools means catchment competition is intense. This guide covers schools across the private, grammar, and state sectors so families weighing up Westminster can shape a realistic shortlist.

We have based this list on schools with strong Ofsted reputations, consistent results, and long-standing demand from local families. We have grouped them by sector so you can quickly see the independent, grammar, and state options at a glance.

We have not invented Ofsted ratings or specific exam results. Where we describe a school's strengths we have used qualitative language drawn from widely reported information. Always check the most recent Ofsted report, the school's own results, and the Department for Education's compare-school-performance service before making a final decision.

Westminster's independent sector includes several of the most historic schools in the country. Entry is highly competitive and typically by 11+, 13+, or 16+ assessment. The borough also includes a number of smaller specialist independents serving the central London market.

Westminster School is an independent day and boarding school at the heart of Westminster, next to Westminster Abbey. It is among the oldest schools in the country, with a recorded history going back to the medieval period. From September 2026 the school is co-educational at 11+, having already been co-educational at sixth form for many years.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a notable record of Oxbridge and US university progression, and a culture that takes academic depth particularly seriously. Entry is now at 11+ for both boys and girls (using the ISEB Common Pre-Test and the school's own assessments), at 13+ for boys via the school's own assessments, and into the co-educational sixth form at 16.

Westminster Cathedral Choir School is a Roman Catholic boys' school in the heart of Westminster, attached to Westminster Cathedral. It takes pupils from age 4 (Reception) to 13, with the choristers entering between ages 8 and 13, combining academic education with the cathedral's choral tradition.

The school is known for its choral programme, a strong academic record at 13+, and a focus on the whole child within a clear Catholic ethos. Entry is by assessment and voice trial, with choristers receiving a substantial bursary in return for their commitment to the cathedral choir.

Francis Holland School Regent's Park (NW1) is an independent girls' day school in the City of Westminster, on Ivor Place near Regent's Park. It serves girls from Year 7 through to sixth form.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a focus on the whole child, and an active co-curricular offer. Entry is via 11+ assessment, with sixth-form entry by application and predicted grades.

Queen's College London is an independent girls' day school on Harley Street. It has a long history and was one of the earliest girls' schools to offer a fully academic education.

The school is known for steady academic results, a focus on individual learners, and a central London location that gives easy access to museums and cultural institutions. Entry is via 11+ assessment, with sixth-form entry by application and predicted grades.

Sussex House is a boys' preparatory school in Chelsea, close to the Westminster boundary. It takes pupils from age 8 to 13 and is a well-known feeder for top boys' independents in London.

The school is known for strong 13+ Common Entrance preparation, a traditional academic curriculum, and consistent placement into top boys' senior schools. Families typically combine Sussex House with senior school applications during Year 6 or Year 8.

Westminster has no state grammar schools. Families looking for academically selective state education usually look further out to Sutton, Kingston, or to the wholly selective system in Buckinghamshire. The pan-London admissions system means you can apply across boroughs, but you need to register for the relevant selective tests separately and well before the October application deadline.

Westminster's state sector is small but well-known. The borough has a high-profile academy, single-sex faith schools, and some of the most oversubscribed CofE girls' schools in London. Most state schools admit primarily on faith or distance, and the small number of places means effective catchments can be tight. Many Westminster families end up looking across into Camden, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham as well.

Pimlico Academy is a co-educational state secondary in Pimlico. It is among the more high-profile state schools in central London and serves the wider Westminster catchment.

The school is known for a focus on academic ambition, a structured curriculum, and an active sixth form. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance, with the central London location making the effective catchment particularly tight.

Westminster City School is a state boys' school in Westminster. It is among the few state boys' schools in central London and serves a wide local catchment.

The school is known for an academic ethos, an active extra-curricular programme, and strong music provision. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance, with banding used to ensure a mix of abilities.

Grey Coat Hospital is a Church of England state girls' school in Westminster. It is among the more oversubscribed CofE girls' schools in London and has historically been chosen by some high-profile families for their daughters' education.

The school is known for strong academic results, a clear CofE ethos, and an active sixth form. Admission uses CofE faith criteria alongside distance, with a supplementary form required for faith-based places.

St George's RC is a co-educational Roman Catholic state secondary in Maida Vale, on the western side of Westminster. It serves a wide diocesan catchment across central and west London.

The school is known for a clear Catholic ethos, steady GCSE results, and an active pastoral programme. Admission gives priority to baptised Catholic pupils, with supplementary information forms required alongside the main Westminster application.

St Marylebone is a Church of England state girls' school in Marylebone. It is among the more oversubscribed girls' schools in London and has a strong reputation for the performing arts alongside academic strength.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a particularly strong music and drama offer, and a confident academic culture. Admission uses CofE faith criteria alongside distance, with a supplementary form required for faith-based places. A small number of places are also offered via a performing-arts route.

Westminster's mix of historic independents and high-demand state schools means parents often face a choice between very different options at very different price points. Be realistic about which schools are actually accessible from your address rather than only looking at headline reputations.

Think about non-academic factors carefully. Single-sex versus co-educational is a meaningful question for some children. Faith schools have a particular ethos that suits some families and not others. SEND provision varies between schools and is worth asking about specifically. The sixth form matters, particularly if you are choosing a single-sex school for Year 7 to 11 but might want co-educational study at 16. Visiting on a normal weekday rather than only on open evenings gives a much more honest picture.

Westminster is part of the pan-London admissions system. You apply through the Westminster online portal, listing up to six schools in order of preference. The deadline is 31 October in Year 6, with national offer day on 1 March.

For faith schools you also need to complete a supplementary information form and submit it directly to the school, usually with proof of baptism, a certificate of practice, or a signed clergy reference. For independents, each school runs its own admissions process with separate registration deadlines and assessments, usually in the autumn of Year 6 for 11+ entry. Most leading independents in central London now use the ISEB Common Pre-Test plus their own assessments rather than the older Common Entrance papers.

If your child is not offered a place at any of your six preferences, Westminster will offer the nearest school with availability and you can join waiting lists. You also have the right to appeal, although appeals at oversubscribed schools rarely succeed without unusual personal circumstances. Many Westminster families plan a mix of borough preferences and cross-borough applications into Camden or Kensington & Chelsea given how small the state sector is.