Westminster Under School is one of the most sought-after prep schools in London. As the junior school of Westminster School — consistently ranked among the top three boys' schools in the country — a place at Westminster Under is both a destination in its own right and the start of a pathway to one of the most academically demanding senior schools in the world. Entry is at 7+ for Year 3, and competition is exceptionally intense: typically around 200 boys are assessed for approximately 20 places.
About Westminster Under School
Westminster Under School (WUS) sits at the heart of Westminster, on Adrian Street near Smith Square, SW1. It is an all-boys school educating around 270 pupils from Year 3 to Year 8. The school is academically rigorous but also exceptionally broad — sport, music, drama and the arts all receive serious attention alongside a curriculum that is notably demanding for junior-age children.
Most boys who join at 7+ progress to Westminster School at 13+, subject to passing the school's own internal assessment. The relationship between the two schools means that the culture — intellectual, curious, debate-oriented — is consistent across the age range. For families who want Westminster School at 13, gaining a place at Westminster Under at 7 is by far the most reliable pathway.
The 7+ assessment
The assessment takes place in January of Year 2 (when boys are aged 6–7). Registration opens in the September of the year of assessment, and places fill quickly; families should register as soon as the window opens.
The assessment is not a single written exam. Westminster Under uses a combination of individual and group activities designed to observe how boys approach tasks, interact with peers, and respond to challenge. The specific activities include:
- Reading — boys are asked to read aloud and to discuss what they have read. The school is looking for fluency, comprehension and engagement with the text, not just decoding.
- Writing — a short written task, typically creative or descriptive. The school values imagination and an ear for language; grammatical accuracy matters, but so does a child's ability to express something distinctive.
- Number and reasoning — mathematical activities and number tasks appropriate for Year 2. Boys should be fluent in mental arithmetic and comfortable with number patterns and simple problem-solving.
- Group activity — candidates work in small groups. The assessors are observing how each boy listens, collaborates, takes initiative and communicates with others.
Shortlisted boys are invited to a second visit before offers are made. The school is explicit that it is looking for academic potential — not merely a child who has been drilled in exam technique.
How selective is it?
Westminster Under is among the most competitive 7+ assessments in London. Roughly one in ten boys who are assessed receives an offer. Most of those offered places have been reading fluently for 12 to 18 months, are confident with numbers well beyond the Year 2 national curriculum, and can hold a sustained conversation with an adult on a range of topics.
Boys who receive offers typically combine strong natural ability with genuine enthusiasm for learning — this is not a school where drilling alone will get a child through. The group activities in particular are designed to surface real intellectual engagement and social maturity.
When to start preparation
Preparation should begin in earnest by September of Year 1 — approximately four months before the January assessment. For some families, an earlier start (spring or summer of Reception) makes sense, but this should be gentle and exploratory rather than intensive.
At this age, the most valuable preparation is not exam practice but the habits and passions that genuine education builds: reading widely (and talking about books), playing with numbers in everyday life, and encouraging a child to ask questions about the world. A child who arrives at the assessment genuinely curious and enthusiastic is far better placed than one who has been rehearsed to perform.
What to work on
The following areas make the biggest practical difference in the Year 1 term before the assessment:
- Reading fluency and comprehension — read together every day. Choose books that are slightly above your child's comfort level, and pause to discuss what is happening, why a character made a choice, or what a word might mean. The goal is active reading, not passive consumption.
- Writing stamina and expression — encourage your child to write short stories, descriptions and lists. Focus on ideas and language rather than spelling (though spelling practice is valuable too). Boys who write with pleasure at home almost always write with pleasure in an assessment.
- Mental arithmetic — number bonds to 20, times tables up to 5 or 6, and simple addition and subtraction of two-digit numbers should feel automatic. Puzzles, games and informal maths conversations are at least as valuable as worksheets.
- Oracy — Westminster Under places high value on how boys express themselves verbally. Encourage your child to explain their thinking, to argue a point politely, and to ask questions. Dinner-table conversations, museum visits and extracurricular activities all contribute to this.
What a 7+ tutor can offer
A specialist 7+ tutor who knows Westminster Under's assessment format can provide structured practice that mirrors what the school actually uses, identifies specific gaps in a child's number or reading skills, and — crucially — helps a child feel calm and confident going into the assessment rather than anxious.
Sessions at this age should typically be no more than 45 minutes and should feel engaging rather than pressured. Look for a tutor who is experienced specifically with the 7+ — and ideally with Westminster Under's format in particular — and who has a warmth and patience suited to working with 5 and 6 year-olds.
Browse tutors with 7+ experience in Central London, or run a full personalised search on the parent portal to filter by exam type, location and year group.