A blast from the past echoes through Westside School’s halls. Opened in 1982 Westside School initially provided education for girls previously scattered across three different sites. These girls attended four different schools: Loreto High School St Joseph’s Secondary School St Margaret’s School and St David’s Commercial School.
Westside School stands as a testament to Gibraltar’s educational evolution. It’s not just bricks and mortar it’s a living archive. The school’s curriculum weaves together global and local history. Students delve into Britain’s Industrial Revolution exploring the stark realities of life in 18th and 19th century factories. They investigate the sinking of the Utopia a tragic event that shaped Gibraltar’s history.
Year 7 students at Westside School become factory inspectors crafting reports for a fictional government. Imagine them poring over documents researching conditions. Year 8 students transform into diarists chronicling the harsh lives of enslaved people. They explore the Civil Rights Movement and the lingering effects of slavery.
The Evacuation Project is another unique element of the Westside School experience. It focuses on the evacuation of Gibraltar during World War II. Students create projects using their artistic creative or writing skills. They delve into this critical period of Gibraltar’s past creating visual or written narratives.
Westside’s curriculum progresses to Key Stage 4 and then to the Sixth Form. The A-Level History curriculum delves deep into twentieth century Europe exploring the rise of Hitler and the impact of his foreign policy on the Second World War. Students study Spain’s dramatic transition from a republic to Francoism and finally to a modern democracy. They also explore the British experience of warfare covering a long period from 1790 to 1918.
Westside School isn’t just a school it’s a journey through time. It fosters critical thinking and historical appreciation. It’s a place where the past resonates strongly with the present a place where history comes alive. The past is not simply recalled it is re-imagined and re-interpreted. The students of Westside School are active participants in this process.