Everything you need to know about applying for the 4+ at Westminster Under School

If you would like to send your son or daughter to Westminster to sit their 4+ Assessment, the first thing you must do it register. It really does not matter how early you register. What matters is that you register before the deadline and that you register before the school has 500 pupils registered. By that point, they will open a Waiting List and your child will not be guaranteed an invite to come to the Assessment.

I would encourage everyone who registers or who has an interest in sending their son or daughter to this school to attend an open day. At this point of writing this blog, very few places remain for open days at Westminster so book as soon as possible as they do have a limit. You must make sure that you like the school before sending your son or daughter there! Do you like their core values? Do you like the school itself? Do you like the children that you meet who are already at the school?

Next, you need to know exactly what Westminster Under School is looking for in their potential new students. They write that they are looking for students with ‘natural ability’ and who will ‘thrive’ in their environment. Take that to mean what you want but to me no child is born with a ‘natural ability’. Ability needs to be taught, nurtured and developed. No child is simply born a genius. Westminster use these two words over and over again on their website so clearly ‘natural ability’ is important to them.

There are 2 stages to their 4+ Assessment. Westminster write that Stage 1 will be a ‘play focused’ activity which will be ‘informal’. Well I should think so given the children are 3? They write that the atmosphere will be ‘fun and relaxed’ and that the children are ‘encouraged to participate to the best of their abilities’. Westminster write absolutely nothing about their Stage 2 Assessment. Only that it will be in January.

It’s very obvious to me what they will be assessing and how they will be assessing it in Stage 2. Is it obvious to you?

If you are preparing for the 4+ at Westminster Under School, book your Sample Lesson today.