WESTBOURNE School is an independent co-educational school which was established in 1896 and caters for children aged three to 18-years-old.

It has two sites in Penarth, including the nursery and prep school, up to year five, based in Victoria Road and the senior school for years six to 13 based in Hickman Road.

It has a reputation for academic excellence with more than 90 per cent of last year's graduates having gained places at the highly prestigious Russell Group universities and equally elite international institutions

The school has a number of international students and chooses its own curriculum, using the International Baccalaureate programme in years 12 and 13 aimed at preparing students for university alongside a mixture of GCSEs and international GCSEs from year nine to 11.

They were recently named top small school in the UK by the Daily Telegraph for their International Baccalaureate results.

The school has been a boarding and day school since 2010 and the boarding house is currently full.

Ken Underhill, the current head teacher, has been at the school since 1975.

He said the school is recognised worldwide and that they get applications from across the world which means the demographic of the school is an international one.

Students sit a common entrance exam which has an independent academic curriculum.

Mr Underhill said: "It is a privilege to see the students grow. We are a family orientated school and I know all the students' names.

"The community here is a happy one. If children are happy and secure then they make progress.

"Staff turnover is minimal and they enjoy working here.

"Success in education is about the quality of the relationship between pupils, staff and staff and pupils."

In terms of class sizes, the school prefers to have smaller groups.

Mr Underhill said: "Class sizes do matter. We have a maximum class size of 20.

"The International Baccalaureate is driven by students with their own ideas and they give presentations to assembly about what they are doing.

"It helps them develop their leadership skills."

Pupils are given a free choice of subjects as the school's approach is based on a personal route or "individual path" because each child is different.

The school has announced exciting plans to open three sixth form colleges in Sydney, Singapore and either Hong Kong or Moscow in 2019.

This will mean Mr Underhill will be leading this expansion as director of Westbourne International.

In the mean time, Alun Millington will take over at the Penarth sites.

Mr Millington was previously head teacher at St Michael's School in Llanelli and is confident he will be able to provide progression and continuity of excellence to take the school to the next level.

The school has a focus on an educational approach to the nursery for three to five year olds.

Speaking about the atmosphere at the school, Mr Underhill said the tone at the school is "industrious".

"Students work hard in a relaxed and safe environment. We have a cohesive community where everyone is secure and content," he said.

"They get lots of attention and support and it is a good place to work.

"We believe students improve by industry and that we develop them as people."

He said the school's international environment makes it second nature for students to become used to working with people from across the world from a young age.

There is one example of a Russian student and Ukrainian student who have become good friends in their time a the school and Mr Underhill said the aim of the International Baccalaureate is to promote peace and harmony.

Between 3.45pm and 4.30pm each day there is time for extra curricular schemes which include intellectual activities such as chess and hobbies such as photography and computer games.

There is also a busy sports section at the school with football, netball, table tennis and golf on offer.

There is also a homework class where staff are available to provide extra support for pupils who want it.

The school also engages in a lot of charity work and pupils attended the recent Barry Island colour fun run to raise funds for Ty Hafan.

Mr Underhill said the school's approach is all about the end goal and that they have control over what is taught.

He added: "The children here are well behaved and we have had children who have made progress having not achieved elsewhere."

Factfile

School motto: Gesta non verba (Actions not words)

Chairman: Mark Peters

Head teacher: Ken Underhill

Number of pupils: 191

Age of pupils: Three to 18

Last inspection: October 2012 - Good