King's Scholar (Westminster School)


The Kings's Scholarships are currently forty-eight scholarships at Westminster School, founded in 1560 by Queen Elizabeth I. The scholars take part in each coronation in Westminster Abbey, acclaiming the new monarch by shouting "Vivat". They also have the right to observe the House of Commons. Their house is "College", and they have the abbreviation KS on school lists.
Twelve- and thirteen-year-old boys annually compete for eight of the annual scholarships in a competitive entrance examination known as the Challenge. Fifteen- and sixteen-year-old girls compete for the other four scholarships, which are awarded to the top four students in subject-specific Sixth Form entrance exams. For 400 years the best of the scholars were elected to closed scholarships at Christ Church, Oxford, and Trinity College, Cambridge; since the early 1970s, Westminster School boys and girls must win open Oxbridge scholarships by public examination.
Prior to 2017, only 40 scholarships were awarded to boys sitting the Challenge examination. The four Sixth Form girls' scholarships were added in 2017.
During the reign of a queen, the King's Scholars become Queen's Scholars, in contrast to the King's Scholarships at Eton College who retain that title in honour of their royal founder even when the current monarch is a queen.

Notable King's or Queen's Scholars