The Westminster School, Rowley Regis
The Westminster School is a special school for pupils aged 7 to 19 in Rowley Regis. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024.
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
The Westminster School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Westminster School are Coombswood Special School (1.2 miles, Requires improvement); Halesbury School (1.5 miles, Requires improvement); The Orchard School (1.7 miles, Requires improvement); and The Meadows School (2 miles, Requires improvement).
Coombswood Special SchoolHalesbury SchoolThe Orchard SchoolThe Meadows School
Where pupils go next
Of the 31 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
61.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (59%), Asian (21%) and Black (8%).
Almost every pupil at The Westminster School has an education, health and care plan (306 of 306 in 2026). The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
The Westminster School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Rowley Regis Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Lukes Close (before), 120 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Westminster School issued 18 suspensions, 6.6 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
The Westminster School is a calm, friendly and happy school. Everyone is welcome. The school's 'SHALT' approach of 'safe, happy and learning together' shines through. Pupils overwhelmingly say that they like being at school.
The personal development programme is exemplary. This helps pupils learn valuable skills for life. Pupils learn how to keep themselves safe and how to form lasting relationships. They learn how to cook and manage money. Visits in the local community help pupils to understand their role in society.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has developed an ambitious curriculum which is interesting and engaging. Pupils, including those in the sixth form, like to be in lessons learning new things. The curriculum is organised so that pupils build important knowledge over time. Practical experiences are woven into everyday learning. This helps pupils to practise applying the knowledge they have learned.
The school prioritises the well-being of its pupils by providing a team of experts who can support their mental health. This ensures that pupils receive the necessary emotional support when they need it and that any concerns they have are effectively managed. The school ensures that pupils receive helpful support and information as they move through different phases of education. Parents value this very much. Staff quickly gain the confidence of pupils and parents. This positive approach continues through school into the sixth form. One parent reflected the voice of many by saying that the school was 'like family to them'.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Sixth form.
Rated Good for
Quality of education.
At a Glance
61.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 11% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Westminster School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Westminster School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Westminster School is in Sandwell; for families living there:
Apply to Sandwell for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 16 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Sandwell is 26.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Rowley Regis
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rowley Regis
Across Sandwell council
Places available
5,146
Applications
4,404
Got 1st preference
80.8%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All secondary applications across Sandwell council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
306
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Westminster School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
306
Total Pupils
199
Boys
107
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
49
Teachers
6.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,791
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.4%
Overall absence
31.9%
Persistent absence
191
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Westminster School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Westminster School
What are SATs results like at The Westminster School?
Of the pupils at The Westminster School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Westminster School's Ofsted rating?
The Westminster School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024. At its previous graded inspection in 2017 it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Westminster School?
No fixed boundary. When The Westminster School is oversubscribed, Sandwell allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Westminster School?
The Westminster School has around 306 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Westminster School have specialist SEN provision?
The Westminster School provides for pupils with moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at The Westminster School?
10.4% of sessions were missed at The Westminster School in 2024/25. 31.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Westminster School?
Apply through Sandwell's coordinated admissions process, naming The Westminster School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near The Westminster School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 16 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 7 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Sandwell is 26.5 (the median across 134 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Westminster School?
The Westminster School is at Hawes Lane, Rowley Regis, B65 9AL.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)