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Winners of Independent Schools Of The Year

Westbourne WINS at the 2025 Independent Schools of the Year Awards

Westbourne received the 2025 Best Use of Education Technology award, recognition for a pioneering approach to learning via AI in education.

Posted: 22nd October 2025

WINNER: Best Use of Education Technology

We are delighted and honoured to announce that Westbourne School has been awarded the prestigious title of Independent School of the Year for Best Use of Education Technology at the 2025 Independent Schools of the Year Awards.

This outstanding achievement reinforces our reputation as a leading independent school and celebrates our innovative approach to embedding advanced technology in education. It highlights our commitment to placing students at the center of their learning journey every step of the way.

Delivering infinite practice questions, instant feedback, and deeper learning through Socratic questioning, early trials have already shown an impressive 30%+ improvement in grades

Meet KnowVie, our AI revision buddy

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At the heart of Westbourne’s drive for innovation is KnowVa Coach – or KnowVie, as our students fondly know him. Born from a groundbreaking collaboration with Cardiff University’s Neuroscience Department and Qinect, the company founded by INSEAD Associate Professor Adrian Johnson, KnowVie embodies the spirit of curiosity and progress that defines Westbourne. This one-of-a-kind AI exam tutor is transforming how our students prepare for the IB Diploma, offering our learners a truly personalised, empowering journey toward success.

How KnowVa Coach Was Born: A Journey of Innovation and Imagination

Every big idea starts with a simple question: How can we help our students learn better?

For Westbourne, that question sparked a journey in 2023 led by our UK Vice Principal Stuart Ayres, later named Pearson’s Innovator of the Year (2024). Teaming up with Cardiff Univ ersity’s Neuroscience Department, Stuart explored the science behind great learning — discovering three key ingredients: 1:1 tutoring, Mastery Learning, and the Testing Effect, where practising recall boosts long-term understanding.

At the same time, Adrian Johnson, Associate Professor at INSEAD and founder of Qinect, was developing an AI simulation for business students at the world’s top business school. When our team at Westbourne connected with him, an exciting idea took shape: what if we could adapt that technology to support school students?

And so, KnowVa Coach was born — or KnowVie, as our students like to call him!

KnowVie is our friendly AI exam tutor, guiding students through personalised questions, offering Socratic-style prompts that deepen understanding, and sharing model answers built around IB assessment standards.

Launched first in Computer Science and Business Management, KnowVie now supports over 10 IB Diploma subjects, with plans to expand into iGCSE learning.

At Westbourne, KnowVie isn’t just technology — he’s a reflection of what we believe in: curiosity, innovation, and putting every student at the heart of their learning journey.

“KnowVa Coach is really helping me to revise for my IB exams. It provokes me to think more and to delve into all the details. KnowVa Coach works with a pool of IB resources, so it directly uses IB materials and past papers and mark schemes. I know that the information is valid and can be trusted, moreso than the Internet, for example, which always needs to be checked.”

Illia, Westbourne UK student

“Westbourne is one of the most consistently high-achieving independent schools in Britain” Sunday Times Best School Guide 2021

A Comparison for Business Students

IB vs A-Levels vs Polytechnic Diploma

Programme	Academic Focus	Skills Developed	Global Recognition	Ideal For
IB Diploma	Broad and balanced	Critical thinking, research, leadership	High	Students seeking university/business school abroad
A-Level	Specialised	Subject-specific depth	High	Students with clear subject focus
Polytechnic Diploma	Applied learning	Job-readiness	Moderate	Students focused on entering the workforce early

For students from the GCE O-Levels, GCE N-Levels or IGCSE, progressing to the IB Diploma in Singapore offers a more well-rounded and internationally competitive edge, especially for business pathways.

"I loved my time at Westbourne! The staff are so friendly and supportive and the smaller class sizes mean that it really feels like a family. I could really push my limits whilst there and achieve my full potential because I knew all the help was there whenever I needed it. I made some amazing friends while I was at Westbourne and the memories and relationships that it gave me will always have a special place in my heart." Hannah, Westbourne School graduate and medical student - 44 IB Points (2015)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the IB Diploma accepted by business schools in the UK, US, Australia, and Singapore?

Yes. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is recognised globally, including by top business schools such as Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, NUS and many more.

Can I take the IB diploma in Singapore if I’ve just completed GCE O-Levels, N-Levels, or IGCSE?

Absolutely. The IB is a natural next step after GCE O-Levels, N-Levels, or IGCSE, especially for students seeking an internationally competitive pre-university programme.

How can the IB Diploma help students gain admission to top business schools?

IB students stand out for their ability to write, research, and analyse. The Extended Essay, for instance, is often cited by universities as excellent preparation for business degrees.