• Westminster School is intellectually adventurous, tradition aware and outward looking and aims to develop scholars who think deeply and act with confidence.

• Will suit academically strong pupils who want challenge, independence and a genuinely high-level senior-school environment.

Admissions at Westminster School should appeal to families seeking one of the country's most intellectually demanding senior schools, where academic stretch, independence of mind and opportunity in central London all come together. It should suit pupils who will relish a highly selective, high-octane environment rather than simply cope with it.

Scholarships and bursaries are important parts of the admissions landscape, but they are not the sole attraction. The larger draw is the school's intellectual culture, remarkable opportunities and the sense of joining a place with very high expectations.

The current picture is formidable, prestigious and in strategic transition, with the school maintaining its highly academic identity while publicly preparing for a broader co-educational future. Parents should still visit because the essential question is whether the culture feels exhilarating rather than overwhelming for the child involved.