Set within 400 acres of parkland in Berkshire and less than an hour's drive from London and Heathrow, Wellington College is one of the UK’s and the world’s great co-educational boarding and day schools. It seeks to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and character to serve and help shape a better world. Its innovative and interesting use of technology in the classroom, combined with its emphasis on pedagogical research, outstanding teaching, and pupil-centred learning, ensures that Wellington is at the forefront of educational advance.
An exciting fusion of heritage and modernity characterises our educational philosophy. Our curriculum, facilities and teaching methods are constantly adapting to the challenges of preparing young people for an ever-changing world. Wellington College is a school which is dynamic in every sense of the word, and yet all that we do is rooted firmly in our five College values – kindness, courage, respect, integrity and responsibility – values which underpin every aspect of life at Wellington.
Organisation. There are approximately 1,100 pupils, with 580 boys and 520 girls, spread across all age groups. All pupils belong to one of seventeen houses: seven within the main College buildings, ten in the grounds. An eighteenth House, a new co-educational sixth form house, will open in 2024. Fifteen of the houses accommodate the 80%+ who board at Wellington. There are two specific day houses, one each for girls and for boys. Year 9 boarders share rooms in their first year and may do so in a second or third year, but then move on to their own room. There is a central dining hall and meals are taken here on a cafeteria basis, although three houses have their own dining facilities. The V&A café is open during school hours for drinks and snacks. The school has its own medical officer and a 9-bed health centre constantly staffed by fully qualified nurses.
Pastoral. Wellington prides itself on its outstanding levels of pastoral support. Pupil and staff-led Mental Health initiatives, alongside our nationally recognised Wellbeing curriculum not only help our pupils successfully navigate their teenage years, but also prepare them for healthy, happy and successful lives. House life lies at the heart of each pupil's experience, and it comes as no surprise that every Wellingtonian is convinced that their house is the best. Housemasters and housemistresses, dedicated tutor teams, matrons and housekeepers all ensure that the House truly is a home away from home.
Academic. Wellingtonians study GCSEs, followed by the IB Diploma or A Levels and, whichever route they take, results are superb. In 2023, 37% of grades at GCSE were 9s (the most common grade for Wellingtonians) and 86% 9–7, with 10 students achieving a clean sweep of 9s. The combined total of IB and A Level grades was impressive: 31% of grades achieved were A*/7 and 74% A*A/76. 100 Wellingtonians have been offered Oxbridge places over the past five years, while 25–30 move on each year to American universities, including several to Ivy League universities.
Sport. In 2022/23 there continued to be over 20 different sports on offer at Wellington, involving 200 teams in around 1,500 fixtures, and it was yet another bumper year for Wellington Sport. Over 30 Wellingtonians were involved in national level sport, with 12 teams or individuals taking part in national finals.
Performing Arts. Music, Dance and Drama are stunning, with 60% of pupils taking instrumental or speech and drama lessons with some 1,000 lessons taking place each week and over 50 visiting teachers. 2022/23 was an outstanding year for the Arts at Wellington. Not only have we continued to provide a whole range of activities for our students, but we have been externally recognised by being awarded Artsmark Platinum and being nominated for a TES Excellence in Creative Arts Award for our Festival of Musical Theatre, the finale of our wonderful Arts Festival in October.
Co-curricular. Leadership, service to others and developing an international outlook are also central to the College’s core values which is why co-curricular activities include CCF, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and a pioneering Global Social Leaders scheme, in which pupils learn to create and run innovative social action projects, tackling local and global issues.
Clubs and societies range from Green Power Racing to the Field Gun team, from WTV (Wellington’s own television company) and its pupil-run radio station DukeBox, to a full range of more traditional pastimes such as Photography, Creative Writing, Debating and the Model United Nations society.
Admission to the School. Most pupils enter the school in September (at the start of Year 9) when they are between 13 and 14 years of age. There are occasionally places available for pupils at 14+ (Year 10). Around 50 pupils join the College for the Sixth Form (applications open at the end of Year 10). Registration (with £300 fee) is online. Those registered for 13+ entry (by the end of Year 5) sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the Michaelmas term of Year 6. Selection for a subsequent assessment day (usually in the Lent term of Year 6) is based in small part on the results of the Pre-Test and in much larger part on a school reference. Those who are successful are then offered a place conditional on a satisfactory reference from their current school at the end of Year 8. A waiting list also operates. Pupils who have missed the registration date for 13+ entry have the opportunity to go via a Late Admissions Route. All details and registration forms are to be found on the website.
Scholarships. Detailed information about the scholarships available on entry at age 13+ or 16+ can be found on our website. Scholarships at 13+ are only awarded in Academics and Music. The most prestigious, named Academic scholarships and scholarships in other disciplines (Art, Drama, Dance and Sport) are awarded at the end of Year 9 to reward not only ability but also scholarly attitude. Prospective scholars are invited to participate in Inspire Days in their areas of particular interest during Year 8.
For entry at 16+, scholarships are awarded in the above areas as part of the full application process.
As well as it being a great honour and accolade, pupils awarded scholarships upon entry to the College, and those awarded at the end of Year 9, are expected to be leaders and role models within their field of interest. They will also take part in a programme of extension activities and opportunities appropriate to their particular area of talent. Music scholars, for example, attend regular masterclasses with visiting professionals and Academic award holders partake in an extension programme of study designed by our Director of Academic Extension.
Scholarships do not carry any financial benefit. The only exception to this is Music Scholarships which allow for free tuition in two instruments and free composition and Alexander Technique lessons.
Fee-assisted places. Widening access to Wellington is at the heart of the Governors’ and Master’s vision for the future of the College. All financial aid in terms of fee reduction is therefore awarded via a means-testing procedure (details on our website and from the Chief Operating Officer’s office). Our aim is to enable an increasing number of families, who otherwise would not be able to afford the fees at Wellington, to send their son or daughter to the College. Means-tested bursaries may be up to 100% of College fees, depending on individual family circumstances.
Foundation places. Very generous remission, including free places based on means-testing, are available for the sons and daughters of deceased military servicemen and servicewomen and of others who have died in acts of selfless bravery, subject to entry requirement and according to the rules of the Foundation. Further details are available from the Chief Operating Officer's office.
The Prince Albert Foundation. The Prince Albert Foundation is a scholarship programme aimed at widening participation to families who would not normally consider or be able to access independent education, and for whom we can offer a genuine shift in opportunity. Currently there are 10-15 fully funded Prince Albert Scholarships awarded each year, predominantly at 16+. Children who are eligible for Prince Albert Scholarships are those whose families are at a socio-economic disadvantage; all families are means assessed by the Chief Operating Officer. There is often a further relevant need/desire for boarding. Candidates must meet our minimum academic criteria for entrance; we assess potential as well as current achievement, and actively encourage applicants who will maximise opportunities at the College – including academic, sporting, music and student leadership. The Prince Albert Foundation is not a programme designed to recruit pupils with a significant sporting talent.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Boarders: £16,310, Day: £11,920. Separate charges totalling £366 per instrument are made for musical tuition (10 lessons). The school runs an attractive fees in advance scheme for parents with capital sums available.
The Wellington Community. Our role is to build a supportive, global professional and social network of students, Old Wellingtonians, parents (current and past), grandparents, staff and partner schools. We deliver a diverse programme of engagement events and offer careers support, guidance and mentoring opportunities by drawing on our incredible resources within the Community; we truly champion the diverse skill sets our unique Community has to offer. We also run Wellington College’s own networking website, Wellington Connect, where all members of our Wellington Community can share expertise, find (or offer) mentoring opportunities, and make connections with friends past and present. To find out more please email the Wellington Community office on community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk or go to the Wellington Community website www.wellycom.net or sign up to Wellington Connect at www.wellingtonconnect.co.uk The Wellington Group. Wellington builds strong external partnerships to broaden its impact in education and continues to have mutually beneficial partnerships with a wide variety of schools, including Special Schools, Secondary and Primary schools. The Wellington family of schools includes Eagle House prep school and eight schools in China, India and Thailand, with new schools in development. This network supports opportunities for cultural dialogue and understanding and broadens access to world-class education including through bursaries and regional education initiatives.
Further information including details of Visitors Days can be found on the website, and the Admissions Office can be contacted on 01344 444013.
Charitable status. Wellington College is a Registered Charity, number 309093. It exists to provide education for boys and girls aged 13–18.
Governors & Staff:
President: HRH The Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO, ADC, DL
Vice-President & Chairman of Governors: Mr William Jackson, MA
Ex officio Governors:
The Archbishop of Canterbury, MA, BA, DipMin
Arthur Charles Valerian Wellesley, 9th Duke of Wellington, MA, Hon DLitt, OBE, DL
Governors:
Lord Karan Bilimoria, CBE, DL
Ron Dennis, CBE
James Garvey, BA, BAI, MA
Dr Emma Judge, CPsychol
Mrs Felicity Kirk, LLB
Dr Christie Marr, BA Hons, MSc, DPhil, MBA
Mrs Jill May, BA
Mrs Emma McKendrick, BA, FRSA
Mark Milliken-Smith, KC
Ms Virginia Rhodes, BA Hons
Ms Helen Stevenson, MA
The Rt Hon The Lord Strathclyde, CH
Lt Gen Sir Christopher Tickell, KBE, MA
Master: James Dahl, MA
Second Master: Mrs Cressida Henderson, BA
Director of Safeguarding: Mrs Delyth Lynch, BSc
Director of EDI & Social Responsibility: Mrs Naima Charlier
Director of Admissions: Phil Mann, BSc
Deputy Head (Academic): Benjamin Evans, BSc
Deputy Head (Co-curricular): Nick Creed, BA, MEd
Deputy Head (Pastoral & Wellbeing): Tom Wayman, BA, MPhil
Director of The Bridge: Iain Henderson, BA
Head of the Wellington Community & Director of Strategic Advancement: Murray Lindo, BA, MA, MSc, CIPD
Deputy Head (Teacher Development & Character Education): Mrs Katy Granville-Chapman, BA, MSc
Director of Academic Extension: Mrs Amanda Campion, MA
Director of Arts & Music: Simon Williamson, MA, FRCO
Director of Digital Learning: Dr Julian O’Loughlin, MSc, PhD
Director of HE, Careers & International Universities: Dr Emma Ramsey, BA, MA, PhD
Director of IB: Richard Atherton, BSc, MPhil
Director of Organisation: Dr Will Heathcote, MPhys, DPhil
Director of Performance: John Rawlinson, BSc
Director of Science, Technology & Engineering: Mrs Miranda Patterson, BSc
Director of Sport: Dan Pratt, MSc
Director of Teaching & Learning: Dr Rachelle Kirkham, MA, PhD
Director of Wellington Leadership & Coaching Institute: Mrs Emmie Bidston, BA
Heads of Department:
Art: Mrs Alice Carpenter, BA Hons
Biology: Mrs Astrid Edmunds, BSc
Business: Simon Roundell, MA
Chemistry: Dr Caroline Evans, MChem, PhD
Classics: Dr Matthew Johncock, MA, PhD
Computer Science: Stephen Barraclough, BSc
Dance: Mrs Caroline Kenworthy, BA; Mrs Clare Cooke, BA
Design, Engineering & Technology: Robert Winter, BSc
Drama: Nick Huntington, BA Hons
Economics: Dushy Clarke, BA, MSc
English: Ms Estella Gutulan, BA
EPQ & HPQ: Ms Cherry Briggs, MBiochem, MSc, MA
French: Mrs Sandra Aktas, BA, BSc
Geography: Timothy Rothwell, MA
German: Simon Kirkham, BA Hons
History: Ben Lewsley, BA
Mathematics: Paul Cootes, MA, MSc
Modern Foreign Languages: Dr Rachelle Kirkham, MA, PhD
Music (Academic): Sean Farrell, BA
Philosophy & Religion: Tom Kirby, BA, MSt
Physical Education: Mrs Kate Pratt, BSc
Physics: Adam Hicks, MEng
Politics: Paul Dunne, BA, MSc
Psychology: David Rea, BSc
Spanish: Mrs Catherine Willis-Phillips, MA
Theory of Knowledge: Dr James Tapley, BSc, MA, PhD
Wellbeing: Ian Morris, BA
Academic Support & SEND: Mrs Kam Opie, BSc, MSc, SpLD Diploma; Mrs Ellie Farrell, SpLD Diploma, PG Dip, GTCL
CC CCF: Sam Wilson, BSc
Chaplain: Fr Adrian Stark-Ordish, BA
Chief Operating Officer: Stephen Crouch, BA, ACA
Operations Bursar: Brian Cannon, MSyl, MCGI
Group Estates Bursar: Edwin Wai, BA Hons, MSc
Director of Finance: Mrs Laura Tamplin
Head of Prince Albert Foundation: Ms Sarah Miller
Legal & Compliance Director: Mrs Katherine Baker, MA
International Managing Director: Scott Bryan
Director of IT Services & Development: Tony Whelton
Medical Officer: Dr Helen Rutherford
Health Centre Nurse Manager: Mrs Tracey Coles
Head of Student Emotional Health & Wellbeing: Dr Jenny Griggs
Head of Marketing: Mrs Vicky Williams, BA
Registrar: Mrs Louise Peate, BSc
EA to the Master: Mrs Angela Reed
EA to the Chief Operating Officer: Mrs Lisa Thompson