Update on our Children's Services team

Children

The independent OFSTED inspectors have awarded the Westminster Children's Services team a clean sweep of 'outstanding' ratings. Ofsted recognised that this service, run jointly with The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, has improved since its last inspection in 2016 when 3 out of the 4 services were rated ‘outstanding’.

This year’s result is truly phenomenal when nationally these services have often been cut by other local councils.

The service, teams and leadership were described as 'excellent' by the assessors, especially our services for vulnerable children. Our congratulations to everyone!

You may also be interested in

Barbara Arzymanow

Barbara Arzymanow

Councillor for Marylebone Ward
Barbara Arzymanow has lived in Westminster for over 35 years and knows how much difference a strong local voice can make. A Ward Councillor since 2014, she has worked with local people and organisations on issues associated with air-quality, public protection, public realm and planning.
Tim Barnes

Tim Barnes

Councillor for West End Ward
Having moved to the area around Fitzrovia while a student at UCL, Tim now lives in Soho.
Melvyn Caplan

Melvyn Caplan

Councillor for Little Venice Ward
Melvyn has lived in the area and has served as a councillor for Little Venice Ward for over 30 years.
Lorraine Dean

Lorraine Dean

Councillor for Little Venice Ward
Lorraine has lived in Little Venice since 1983 and ran a family electronics business on Edgware Road for 17 years. She now works locally at the City of Westminster college as a teaching assistant to young disabled adults.
Tony Devenish

Tony Devenish

Councillor for Knightsbridge & Belgravia Ward
Tony Devenish represents the Knightsbridge & Belgravia ward on Westminster City Council.  Between 2016 and 2024, Tony served as a GLA Member to hold the Mayor of London accountable for policing, transport, housing, and our environment.
David Harvey

David Harvey

Councillor for Vincent Square Ward
David Harvey has lived locally for 25 years and been a councillor since 2010. He lives in the ward with his wife Angela. His priority is to continue to create opportunity within our local community.
Elizabeth Hitchcock

Elizabeth Hitchcock

Councillor for Knightsbridge & Belgravia Ward
Elizabeth has lived in London for over 30 years and in Westminster for the past 15 years. Elizabeth was first elected in May 2018. Elizabeth works closely with both local people living in Knightsbridge & Belgravia and businesses to improve what is a very special part of London.
Louise Hyams

Louise Hyams

Councillor for St James's Ward
Louise Hyams has had the honour and privilege of representing St. James's Ward since her election to the Council in 1998. She is totally committed to improving the quality of life for all the residents of this diverse ward in the centre of London.
Tim Mitchell

Tim Mitchell

Councillor for St James's Ward
Tim Mitchell has lived and worked in Westminster for over 30 years and is a self-employed computer consultant. He was first elected to Westminster City Council in May 1998 and has represented St.
Robert Rigby

Robert Rigby

Councillor for Regent's Park Ward
Robert Rigby has lived in St John’s Wood for over 30 years with his wife Emiko and has represented Regent’s Park Ward since 2010. He is committed to serving the community ensuring value for money and good services, working tirelessly to retain St John’s Wood unique character and appeal.
Rachael Robathan

Rachael Robathan

Councillor for Knightsbridge & Belgravia Ward
Rachael Robathan has been a ward councillor for Knightsbridge & Belgravia since 2010 and was the Leader of the Council from January 2020 till May 2022.
Ian Rowley

Ian Rowley

Councillor for Marylebone Ward
Ian Rowley has lived in Marylebone for 24 years with his wife. He has been a Councillor since 2007 and has a PhD in economics. In the Conservative administration he chaired the council’s Audit and Performance Committee and sits on a scrutiny committee and various operational boards.
Karen Scarborough

Karen Scarborough

Councillor for Marylebone Ward
Karen has lived with her family on the border of the Marylebone ward for over 24 years and has a legal and business background. Since being elected in 2014, she has striven to maintain clean safe streets in Marylebone, improve greening, air quality, planting  more trees, together with dealing
Mark Shearer

Mark Shearer

Councillor for St James's Ward
Mark Shearer is a Chartered Surveyor by trade. He also co-founded a social enterprise which enables businesses to connect with and fund charities / community projects.  Mark was first elected to Westminster Council in May 2018.
Selina Short

Selina Short

Councillor for Vincent Square Ward
Selina has lived in Vincent Square ward for 21 years.
Paul Swaddle

Paul Swaddle

Councillor for Regent's Park Ward
Paul lives in north Marylebone and runs a software company in central London. He has lived in the St John’s Wood and North Marylebone area for 7 years, serving as one of your local councillors since 2018.
Jacqui Wilkinson

Jacqui Wilkinson

Councillor for Pimlico North Ward
Jacqui Wilkinson has lived in Pimlico for 26 years, serving as a local councillor since 2015.

Abbey Road

Abbey Road is the northernmost ward in Westminster. It is bordered to the southeast by Regent's Park, Little Venice at its most southern point, and Maida Vale to the southwest.

Bayswater

Bayswater is on the western edge of the City of Westminster. It is bordered to the north by Westbourne, Lancaster Gate to the south and Hyde Park to the east.

Church Street

The ward of Church Street lies towards the northeast of Westminster.

Harrow Road

The ward of Harrow Road lies in the north of Westminster. It is bordered to the north east by Maida Vale, the south by Westbourne and the north west by Queens Park.

Hyde Park

Hyde Park Ward is home to Paddington Station, the development around Paddington Basin, St. Mary's Hospital (part of the Imperial College Healthcare Trust which is the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre) the only Hospital in the City of Westminster, and the bustle of Edgware Road.

Knightsbridge & Belgravia

Knightsbridge & Belgravia ward is at the western boundary of the Cities of London & Westminster constituency. As well as the Westminster parts of Knightsbridge & Belgravia, part of Hyde Park is also within the ward.

Little Venice

Little Venice is located in the northeast of Westminster. The ward is bordered by Church Street and Abbey Road to the east. Maida Vale to the north, Westbourne and Hyde Park to the south.

Maida Vale

Maida Vale is located to the northwest of Westminster. The ward is bordered to the northeast by Abbey Road, to the southeast by Little Venice, to the south by Westbourne and to the southwest by Harrow Road.

Marylebone

Marylebone ward stretches from Marylebone Road to Wigmore Street, north to south, and from Portland Place to Edgware Road, east to west.   The ward is currently represented by three Conservative Councillors; Barbara Arzymanow, Ian Rowley and Karen Scarborough.  To find out more abou

Queen's Park

Queen's Park ward is a largely residential area in the northwest of the City.

Regent's Park

Regent's Park lies in the north of Westminster. It is bordered to the south east by Marylebone, the west by Church Street and the north by Abbey Road.

St. James's

St James's is the largest ward in the city, stretching from Vincent Square to Chancery Lane, and from the river to Piccadilly and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Vincent Square

Vincent Square Ward covers an area of central London that is bordered by the River Thames to the south, the Palace of Westminster and St. James's to the east, Victoria Station to the north and Pimlico to the west.

West End

West End Ward covers the iconic areas of Mayfair, Soho, Fitzrovia and East Marylebone. Along Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street and the surrounding areas, it includes some of Britain’s busiest shopping streets and is home to large numbers of theatres, entertainment and cultural venues. 

Westbourne

The ward of Westbourne lies in the north of Westminster.