My raw, honest thoughts about the Westminster 4+ Assessment.

4/32 of the students who were offered a place at Westminster to start their Reception year were prepared by us! Simply amazing!

Westminster Under School claim that they are looking for children who can ‘demonstrate potential’. They claim that they are looking for children who have a ‘natural ability’.

I don’t believe that ‘potential’ is something that any of us naturally have. I believe that potential is something that is nurtured and something that is fully supported.

I do not believe that any child is born with ‘natural ability’ and how absolutely absurd to even think such a thing.

A child develops ‘ability’ through hard work, effort, consistency and dedication.

Do you really think that the 4 children who we prepared and who were offered a place at Westminster came to us with ‘natural ability’? Obviously they were very able. That is obvious. But ‘natural ability’ is actually not a thing. What went on behind the scenes to prepare them to be ready to be offered a place at a school like Westminster is something only we will know about.

They write that ‘pupils joining at 4+ will usually progress to 7+…

I do not like the wording of that sentence at all. And if I was a mother sending my child to Westminster in 2026, I would be making sure that my child continues to be at the level they need to be if I would want him to be in with a chance of continuing at the school at 7+. I definitely wouldn’t be leaving it solely to the school to do that.

Clearly if they are writing this, there will be some children who devastatingly will not make the cut. Children who will be told to leave at 7+?

How heart breaking.

Personally, I know I wouldn’t want to be in that position. What would I tell my son? How would he feel? Oh my goodness!

Listen carefully. If you are preparing for the 4+ at Westminster you’d better be lazer sharp aware that this will not be ‘easy’. You’d better know that your child will need to cover a broad and vast curriculum before setting foot into this school (nursery or pre-school will not even scratch the surface). And never leave it purely up to a Nursery or a Prep-School to prepare your child. It will only lead to disappointment.

Preparing for the 4+ at Westminster? You still have time to join our 3 month Intensive Programme.