20 Years of Success

Westminster Academy is excited to be celebrating its 20 year anniversary in 2026-2027!

"The school has been through an exciting journey over those 20 years. GCSE outcomes have more than tripled since opening, and our Sixth Form has gone from strength to strength with its world class IB provision.

Our cohort has remained the same: we are a committed community school and it’s really special to us that our relationships with families in the community have lasted so many years, with siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and even children of former students progressing through the school. We are proud to have retained strong links with former students, several of whom we have welcomed back to work with us. We are looking forward to celebrating 20 years of success with them and with all those who have supported us and contributed to making Westminster Academy what it is today." 

Numera Anwar, Principal and CEO

A quick journey through 20 Years of Success

2006-2007	Westminster Academy opened, with the support of our local sponsors, the Dangoor family. We spent the first year in a temporary building while the Academy was still under construction, led by Principal Alison Banks. Our new building opened in 2007.
2007-2008	The building was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize, and won various RIBA architecture awards.
2008-2009	Following the retirement of Alison Banks, Ms Smita Bora became the Principal of Westminster Academy. The Princess Royal visited WA for a Women into Science event.
2009-2010	Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown met WA students following an event at Westminster Academy.
2010-2011	The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was launched at Westminster Academy. The first expedition took place in the Chilterns.
2011-2012	Westminster Academy was ranked among the top 40 most improved schools in the country after more than doubling attainment at GCSE. Many WA students were given tickets to the London 2012 Olympics.
2012-2013	Westminster Academy was the recipient of several awards, including TES Secondary School of the Year.
2013-2014	Westminster Academy was visited by Hollywood Royalty; none other than Harrison Ford, Sir Ben Kingsley, Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld (the cast of Ender’s Game). On a separate visit, WA hosted Eddie Redmayne, who took questions from WA students. Professor Robert Winston also visited to give a talk to WA scientists. WA was invited to the London Schools Gold Club.
2014-2015	WA began to offer students opportunities at Imperial College Reach Out Lab, sponsored by the Dangoor family. These sessions continue to have a great impact to this day: they allow students to access world-class facilities and resources, they give students insight into the university environment and they inspire academic curiosity and ambition.
2015-2016	Dr Saima Rana became Westminster Academy Principal. WA became the only secondary school in Westminster to again win a London Schools Gold Club Award, a scheme that championed best practice in exceptional London schools.
2016-2017	The Academy launched a new uniform and website. It was ranked in the top 50 schools nationally for progress made by our GCSE cohort. We celebrated our 10 year anniversary.
2017-2018	Students interviewed Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, at a Prince’s Trust Iftar held at Westminster Academy. Westminster Academy was recognised in the Schools for Success Awards for high levels of progress. Pudsey Bear visited WA for a BBC Children in Need event.
2018-2019	Westminster Academy launched its Combined Cadet Force.
2019-2020	WA launched ‘WA Online’, allowing students to access their full timetable of learning, via Zoom and Google Classroom, every day while the country was in lockdown during the Covid pandemic.
2020-2021	WA was joined by a new Principal, Dr Paul Wood, who began his headship while the school was closed due to the lockdown.
2021-2022	Our Year 12 students were featured on BBC Countryfile, as they explored the realities of careers in agriculture at Harper Adams University.
2022-2023	WA selected a popular new House Hero: Sir David Attenborough. We launched the Subject Prefect leadership programme.
2023-2024	WA’s Sixth Form was graded Outstanding. Students raised over £9,000 for charities, including The Passage, Comic Relief, The Avenues Youth Club and the British Red Cross.
2024-2025	Numera Anwar became the fifth Principal of Westminster Academy. Over 60% of students received offers to Russell Group universities, including four students who achieved places at Oxford or Cambridge.
2025-2026	Grammy award winner Jacob Collier filmed music sessions at Westminster Academy with WA students as part of the BBC’s Get Singing campaign.
2026-2027	WA proudly celebrates its 20 year anniversary.