One World Week at Westminster is a much looked-forward-to entry in the School’s social calendar. Organised largely by senior pupils, the whole community was invited to a wide range of activities.

At Abbey, an address by Deputy Heads of School Emily (Remove, PP) and Raaghav (Remove, CC) encouraged the gathered school to consider what home is – whether a day pupil or a boarder, with family in the UK or overseas. On being raised in Singapore before coming to Westminster, Emily said: “I’m beginning to see that home isn’t a fixed point on a map or even a single identity. It’s okay that home feels scattered. Maybe that’s what makes it so precious – because no matter where I go, a piece of home will be there in my heart.”

Raaghav added: “Westminster is a home in its own right, even though it feels different to my other homes. Yet adapting to this has meant blending parts of my identity – adjusting to new environments, people, and ways of life. It’s a reminder that home is fluid, changing as we age and navigate different life stages.”

They concluded that One World Week “reminds us that those who call Westminster ‘home’ also carry homes across cultural, national, and ethnic boundaries. It’s a celebration of the diversity that makes this place so unique. We’ve all started here at Westminster at different stages, and we will all eventually leave. Yet, like homing pigeons, Westminster will always remain one of our homes.”

The theme of ‘home’ was continued into Latin Prayers, where Juno (Sixth Form, BB) contemplated the meaning of identity and spoke about not wanting to let go of her Chinese heritage and the customs and values her parents were taught when they were young. “Just because you don’t live the same lives as someone from your background doesn’t make you any less deserving of participating in the culture,” she said. “As we celebrate One World Week, it serves as a reminder that my cultural identity comes from the customs of my parents who raised me and grandparents who raised them, and it’s through these seemingly trivial gestures that reminds my family of this connection I still have with them, despite being thousands of kilometres away. And to me, that’s reason enough.”

On one day, the School’s hall became an international food market. Societies were out in force to serve up delicacies from France, Greece, India, Japan, Korea and the Caribbean; there were croissants, bagels, Jamaican patties, dals, gyoza, miso soup, olive breads, tea eggs, dips and more. Sami (Sixth Form, PP), representing the School’s newest Hellenic Society, said: “It is only on a week like One World Week where dipping halloumi into gochujang seems to make sense. This year’s One World Week was the best one yet, especially given the arrival of the School’s newest society. Amidst the vibrant chaos of music and chatter, one sound rang out unmistakably — the powerful voices of society members belting out the Greek national anthem. All in all, One World Week wasn’t just a festival; it was a whirlwind of cultures, flavours, and friendships that showcased what makes the school so special!”

Pupils wanting to cook up a taste of home also contributed to a Westminster School Recipe Book. Japanese Society’s Kazu (Remove, HH) said: “These recipes have been a source of strength for students when they’ve needed it and are a reminder of family and home, which maybe so far away. We hope to make the emotions embedded in the dishes accessible to everyone, and perhaps we can share the experience of belonging, together.”

Later in the week, a special Music Society featured performances of music from Europe and beyond, with a Hindustani ensemble, a soloist singing Schumann, and violinists covering genres from Japanese folk to the Blues. There were international film nights too, hosted by the African-Caribbean and Japanese Societies.

The main event, as ever, was cultural dress day. Pupils streamed in wearing traditional clothing, such as Ethiopian dresses and Moroccan robes, and Paddington Bear made an appearance too.

Raaghav said: “One World Week was a fantastic opportunity for the Westminster community to come together and celebrate its diverse heritage and culture. The highlight was undoubtedly cultural dress day, where people showcased their traditional clothing. Beyond admiring the unique outfits, the day inspired meaningful conversations about identity and culture. Overall, I think One World Week was a great success, bringing people together in a spirit of celebration and connection.”

Emily added: “One World Week celebrates Westminster’s vibrant multicultural community and is a great platform for students to share more about their background. As an international student, it gave me the opportunity to teach people more about the country that I’m from… and I was really proud to be able to share some of that in my Abbey Address. One World Week is just one of the ways that Westminster has been working towards greater integration of international pupils, and I am proud to have played a part in its planning.”