Founded in 1837, Wellington School is a co-educational, academically selective school providing a friendly, disciplined environment and a wide range of co-curricular opportunities. The School was this year shortlisted for several awards and was the winner of the Boarding Schools Association for Best Community Work.
Situation. Located on the southern edge of Wellington, at the foot of the Blackdown Hills, this fully co-educational School is equidistant from Tiverton Parkway and Taunton Railway Stations. The M5 approach road (Junction 26) is within a mile. Currently there are 600 pupils in the Lower and Upper Schools (11–18 years), of whom 20% board.
Buildings. The School has witnessed an extensive building programme over recent years with a state-of-the-art study centre in the Duke's Building, brand new floodlit all-weather hockey pitch, refurbished Sixth Form Centre and cafe.
The John Kendall-Carpenter Science Centre has state-of-the-art laboratories and lecture theatre, a multimillion pound sports complex, a purpose-built Prep School and a new classroom block and examination hall. Major improvements to Performing Arts facilities, includes a new theatre space. In 2017 a new junior girls’ boarding house with en-suite rooms was opened.
Grounds. There are 35 acres of playing fields as well as a new floodlit all-weather hockey pitch, squash court, an indoor swimming pool and an indoor and outdoor climbing wall.
Houses. There are mixed School Houses including Day and Boarding pupils, with many inter-house competitions. In addition, there are 5 boarding houses in total.
There is a central Dining Hall and all meals are served on a cafeteria basis. The School also has its own well equipped laundry.
There is a fully equipped Health Centre, with a trained staff under the direction of the School Medical Officer.
Academic Organisation. The School is divided into the Lower School (Year 7–9), Upper School (Year 9–Year 11) and the Sixth Form. The Prep School (Nursery–Year 6) is on a separate, adjoining campus.
Most pupils enter the Senior School at Year 7, 9 or 12. The curriculum in Years 7, 8 and 9 is designed to allow pupils to develop the skills needed to succeed at GCSE and features a good range of practical and more academic subjects including Latin. At GCSE all pupils study English, English Literature and Mathematics and a further six subjects. Pupils have a free choice of studying three sciences separately or as Dual Award Science. The Mathematics and Science courses lead to IGCSE qualifications. The most able mathematicians take IGCSE at the end of Year 10 before taking Additional Mathematics in Year 11. Students have a free choice from a wide range of subjects in the Sixth Form as well as the Extended Project Qualification. A system of grades every term and tutor groups ensure that academic monitoring of pupils is supportive and effective.
Religious Education is part of the curriculum in the Lower School and is an option for study at GCSE and A Level. The School is Christian in tradition and there is a short Act of Worship in the School Chapel on each weekday with a longer Sunday service. The content and form of these services are based on contemporary Anglican procedures. Attendance is expected although sensitivity is shown towards pupils of other faiths for whom alternative provision can be made.
Music. Tuition is available on all orchestral instruments, as well as piano, organ, drum kit and percussion, classical and electric guitars and voice. The department consists of 2 full-time, 1 part-time and 25 specialist instrumental staff. The School is equipped with Bosendorfer and Yamaha pianos. There is a large Rodgers Digital Organ in the Chapel. Some 30 ensembles rehearse each week, giving plentiful opportunities to performers of all ages and all instruments. The department currently runs a wide range of choirs of various genres including the renowned Chapel Choir. Concerts of all kinds take place throughout each term and world class musicians to the School to give recitals and masterclasses. Pupils are entered for ABRSM, Trinity Guildhall and Rockschool exams each term.
Physical Education and Games. Pioneering Sport and Wellbeing Department with all pupils playing games regularly, unless exempt for medical reasons. Wellbeing, which is also part of the curriculum for Years 7 to 11, takes place in the Sports Complex and includes nutrition, psychology and mental health with the aim of embedding physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. All pupils learn to swim and are given the opportunity to take part in as many sports as possible. In the winter term, rugby and hockey are the main sports; in the spring term hockey, netball and cross-country running; in the summer term athletics, girls and boys cricket, tennis and swimming. Team practices take place throughout the week with matches on Saturday afternoons.
Out of School and CCF Activities. All pupils from Year 10 upwards either join the large CCF contingent, with army, naval and RAF sections, or are engaged in Citizens Wellington with volunteering activities on a weekly basis, ranging from community services and conservation, to music, art and creative activities such as producing school radio podcasts. Outdoor Education, both within the CCF and as part of the School’s extensive programme to introduce all students from Year 7 upwards, includes camping trips, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and climbing and caving clubs are very popular, with many trips organised for all year groups. The CCF also has a highly respected Corps of Drums, which frequently features in local ceremonial events. Societies, in addition to the above, include art, chess and drama at various levels, STEM, computing and others.
Careers. A careers and higher education coordinator offers a guidance service including visits to and from employers and universities, a careers speed-dating event, careers talks, a careers networking dinner and careers fair with local schools.
Entry. Entrance exam for Year 7, 9 and Sixth Form. There is a registration fee of £100 for all pupils and a refundable deposit of £400.
Scholarships and Bursaries. A number of academic and sport, drama, performing arts and art and design scholarships are offered each year for entry at 11+ and 13+. Music scholarships are awarded for entry at 11+, 13+ and above. Awards may be increased by an income-related bursary. A small number of awards are offered for the Sixth Form.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Boarders: £10,120–£13,329, Weekly Boarders: £8,425–£10.420, International Boarders: £10,930–£13.895. Fees include tuition, board, laundry, medical attention and Health Centre and books. Day pupils: £6,295–£7,240 (excluding lunch).
Extras. Apart from purely personal expenses, the termly extras are private music lessons from £34.00 per 40 minutes; EAL lessons at various rates depending on need.
Charitable status. Wellington School is a Registered Charity, number 1161447. It aims to provide a happy, caring co-educational day and boarding community, where pupils are provided with the opportunity of making best use of their academic experience and the School enrichment activities, in order to enhance their overall preparation for life after the age of eighteen.
Governors & Staff:
Governing Body:
Chairman: Mrs A Govey, MSc
Vice Chairman: Mr R Palfrey, MA, PGC
Mrs S Page, MA, PGCE
Rear Admiral R Harding, CBE, FRAeS
Mr D James, MEng, CEng, MiMechE, MBA Ess
Mr M Rowe
Mrs S Merry, BSc, RGN
Mr K Wheatley, LLB, PGCE, NCTJ
Mrs Helena Grant
Mr Chris Reah
Headmaster: Mr Alex Battison BSc Hons, PGCE, MSc Oxon
Academic Deputy Head: Dr H Barker, BA Hons, PhD, PGCE
Deputy Head (Pastoral): Mr A Kemp, BSc, PGCE
Deputy Head (Co-curricular): Mr N Renyard, BA Hons, MSc, PGCE
Head of Sixth Form: Mrs L MacAlister, BA Hons
Head of Lower School and Co-curricular: Mr J Swarbrick, BEd, BSc
Head of Upper School: Mrs S A Dean, BA, PGCE
Head of Boarding: Mr S Costello, BA Hons, PGCE
Academic Staff:
Mr C A Askew, BA, PGCE
Miss I Askew, BA
Dr H Barker, BA Hons, PhD
Mrs J Berron
Mr J Bird, MSc, MA, PGCE, BSc
Mrs K Bishop, BA Hons, MA, PGCE
Mr D Brammall
Mr P J Buckingham, MA, PGCE
Mrs G Burtchaell, BA, PGCE
Mr S Campbell, CELTA, MBA, BA, PGCE
Mr J Caulfield, BA, QTS, NPQSL
Mrs D Clarke, BA Hons, PGCE
Mrs N Clewes, BEng Hons, PGCE
Mr D Cole, BA
Miss M Collins, BA, MA, PGCE
Mr S Costello, BA Hons, PGCE
Mrs V Daley, BSc, PGCE
Mrs C Davies, BA, PGCE
Mrs S A Dean, BSc, PGCE
Mr M E Downes, BSc, PGCE
Mr G Durston, BSc Hons
Mrs H Durston, BA, PGCE
Mr B Elkins, BD Hons, PGCE
Mr T Fasham, BSc, PGCE
Mr L Foot, BSc
Dr P T Galley, BSc, DIC, PhD, PGCE
Mr W Garrett, BA, PGCE
Mr A Gerolemou, BA, MA
Mr E Gillett, BA, MSCi, PGCE
Mr D Goodchild, BSc Hons, MSc
Mr L Greany, BSc Hons, PGCE
Miss E Greenway, BSc Hons, PGCE
Mrs E Gumbrell, FdA, BA, PGCE
Mrs L Gurney, BSc
Mr C Hamilton, MChem, ACA, PGCE
Mrs I Hare, BA Hons, PGCE
Mrs S Harrod-Booth, BEng, PGCE, MA
Mrs L Hayward, BSc
Mr D Healey
Dr K A Hodson, BA, MA
Mr B Hopgood, BSc
Mr B House, BSc
Mrs L Howe, BSc Hons, MRAC
Mr J Ilett, BA, PGCE
Miss R Isdell-Carpenter, BA, PGCE
Mrs C James, BA Hons, PGCE
Mr T Johns, MBA, PGCE, BSc
Dr A R Jolliffe, BA, MA, DPhil
Mrs T Kaya, BA, TESOL
Mr A Kemp, BSc, PGCE
Mr P Lawrence
Mr J-M Legg, BA, PGCE
Mrs L E Leonard, BA
Mrs L MacAlister, BA Hons
MIss L Marref
Miss R L Marsden, BA, PGCE
Mr R Marsh, BA, PGCE
Ms K McClelland, BA
Mrs C Merrett, PGCE, BA
Mrs G Michael, LAMDA, BA Hons, PGCE
Miss S Middleton, BA, PGCE
Mr M Milne, BA, PGCE
Mr A Moy, BSc Hons, PGCE
Mr S Nash
Miss E Paget, PGCE, MSc, BSc
Ms H Payne
Mr A Phillips, BSc, PGCE
Mr H Phillips, BEd
Ms G Redman, BA Hons
Mr N Renyard, MSc, BA, PGCE
Mrs T Robertson, BA Hons, MPhil, PGCE
Mr C J Sampson, BMus
Mr T Sampson
Mrs A Sands, MA Hons, PGCE
Miss K Sass, BA Hons, PGCE
Mr I Schmidt, BA, PGCE
Miss E Scott, BSc, PGCE
Mr A C Shaw, BA, MSci, PGCE, LCGI
Mrs R Shaw, LTCL, GTCL
Mrs K Stent, BA, PGCE
Mr R E Stevens, BSocSc, PGCE
Mrs R Stratton, BA
Mr J Swarbrick, BSc, QTS
Miss S F L Toase, BSc, PGCE
Mrs E Trace
Mr A J Trewhella, BA, ARCO, PGCE
Miss C Walker, BA
Miss R Watson, MSc Hons, PGCE
Mr B Wilkinson, BMus, PGCE
Mr A Wilson, BA
Mr J Wright
Head of Admissions: Mrs R Debenham, BA, FCIPD
Medical Officer: Dr R Yates