Wellington College

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLEGE

Nestled in a stunning 400-acre parkland campus, Wellington College is situated in Crowthorne about 35 miles to the south-west of London.

Wellington College is one of the UK’s — and indeed the world’s — great coeducational 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 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 the ever-changing world of the 21st century. 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.

The College is celebrated not only for its academic achievements but also for its sporting, artistic and dramatic provision. Stellar examination results, a richly varied co-curriculum, and a raft of national accolades contribute to the College’s national and international reputation.

Wellington has won many awards for the pastoral support it offers its pupils. There are 17 boarding houses, each with its own dedicated team of HMs, Tutors, Matrons, and domestic staff. A newly built co-ed Sixth Form House will open in 2024. Pupil and staff-led Mental Health initiatives and 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 after school.

THE CURRICULUM

Pupils at Wellington College experience a rich and stimulating education offering both breadth and depth where the aim is to inspire and embed a deep love of learning.

Pupils choose two languages to study in the Third Form (from French, German, Spanish, Mandarin and Russian). They choose two humanities (from History, Geography, Philosophy and Religion, and Ancient History). They choose three elective subjects (from Art, Computer Science, Dance, Drama, DET, Music and PE). The rest of the Third Form curriculum comprises the core subjects of Maths, English, Science (as a single integrated discipline), and Classics. In addition, all pupils are taught our Wellbeing programme that is an essential element of the Wellington philosophy encouraging the pupils to reflect on their own personal, social, emotional and intellectual development. The Malim Prize is a rite of passage for all Third Form Wellingtonians. Pupils present a submission on a subject of their choosing, in a medium of their choosing. The endeavour promotes careful research, knowledge acquisition, and creative thought.

Pupils choose their subjects for the Middle School (Years 10 and 11) at the end of their first year at the College. A broad range of subjects is offered to ensure the curriculum balances core knowledge and expertise with an enhanced sense of specialisation. All pupils study Maths, English (Language and Literature), one or more sciences from Biology, Chemistry and Physics, one of the Humanities and a Modern Foreign (or Ancient) Language at GCSE. In addition, pupils choose up to three other subjects to study that may lead on to areas of study in the Sixth Form. The standard number of GCSEs taken is nine, whilst some pupils take ten. This allows a full six hours per cycle for instruction in each GCSE subject, allowing us to teach more than the basic specifications, thus embedding advanced understanding within each subject discipline. To demonstrate our commitment to breadth in education, all pupils will either take the Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) on two lessons per cycle or a new course (Fragments), a Wellington bespoke course which acts as ‘intellectual glue’to fill in the gaps between formal subjects. Finally, all pupils undertake two periods per cycle of Wellbeing in Year 10 and one period per cycle in Year 11.

In the Sixth Form, pupils may choose between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Detailed guidance, advice and information is given to both pupils and parents to facilitate this decision but ultimately the pupils are free to choose the appropriate programme of study for them. The IBDP provides a broad, balanced, international and socially engaged education, with depth and specialism provided by the Higher Level choices, whilst A Levels provide an intensive and rigorous education in a focused range of subjects. Both pathways are academically sound, internationally recognised and valued by universities and employers. Neither is inherently more or less difficult than the other; nor is one or the other more suited to strong or weak pupils. Both are assessed in a linear manner and pupils should therefore choose the form of education to which they feel most suited. In addition to their A Level programme, pupils will take the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and have one period per cycle of Wellbeing in the Lower Sixth. Those taking the IBDP also complete the core component of Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (ToK) and Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) and in addition, one period per cycle of Wellbeing in the Lower Sixth.

With outstanding exam results at both A Level and the IBDP, university outcomes are strong with approximately 20 pupils gaining places at Oxford or Cambridge each year, with the vast majority of the rest of the cohort going on to elite US and Russell Group universities. The curriculum at Wellington is designed to prepare them not just for their examinations but for life by inspiring their thirst for knowledge and creating an intellectual aspiration that will serve them well in the future.

ACADEMIC RESULTS

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, 74% A*A/76 and 95% A*AB/765. Remarkably of the 234 pupils in the Upper Sixth, 50% of the year group secured either Higher Level 7s and 6s at IB or A* and A at A-level, with 19 students achieving straight Higher Level 7s or A*s.

100 Wellingtonians have been offered Oxbridge places over the past five years, while 20-25 move on each year to American universities, including several to Ivy League universities.

FACILITIES

Wellington College is blessed with world-class facilities. Standing in its own enclosed 400-acre campus it offers the very best provision for academic study, musical, dramatic and artistic expression, and sporting choice and excellence. A new Sixth Form Centre will open in 2024.

ACADEMIC

As a Microsoft Showcase Schools all staff and pupils are equipped with Surface Laptops, enabling learning across Microsoft platforms such as OneNote and Teams, and ensuring that when necessary, lessons can be accessed virtually.

Separate and fully resourced teaching blocks for Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Design Engineering ensure our STEM provision is second to none.

A standalone Modern Foreign Languages building with fully equipped sound laboratory and a variety of small and large teaching spaces.

A unique four classroom Mandarin Centre at the heart of the College.

A Humanities teaching block for Economics, Business, History and Geography – with a separate, six classroom Classics Department.

A brand-new teaching block for English, Philosophy, Psychology and Wellbeing.

A newly refurbished and spacious Learning Support Department.

All departments are equipped with the latest in AV technology – and all boast unique Harkness tables that promote the growth of independent research and study.

The Mallinson Library lies at the very centre of the College and is equipped with university-level digital research facility, eight private study rooms and pods and a large selection of contemporary and traditional fiction.

ARTS

With the two tier 900-seat Annenberg Auditorium, the more intimate Christopher Lee Theatre, five other performance spaces, two separate Music buildings (which contain over 20 practice rooms), a dance studio, a recording suite, TV station and radio studio, and the uniquely designed Grimshaw Art School, few schools worldwide are able to match Wellington College’s provision for the Arts.

SPORT

In 2022/23 there continued to be over 20 different sports on offer at Wellington, involving 200 teams in around 1500 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.

Boys’ sport continues to be an integral part of a Wellington education, with Rugby yet again proving a real strength, seeing not only success at First team level in prestigious Festivals, but also international call ups for four boys and a professional contract for one of the leavers. Boys’ hockey is enjoying a real renaissance with success at First team level and both Under 15 and 15 sides reaching national finals. The cricketers had a fine season, capped by the 1st XI lifting the Cowdrey Cup, a competition that brings together the strongest schools on the southern circuit. There is no doubt whatsoever that Wellington Football goes from strength to strength, and this is highlighted by more pupils - both boys and girls - playing football than ever before in the Lent term, which has also seen more grounds at Wellington made available for Football than at any point in its history.

The strategic focus to raise the profile of girls’ sport saw the continuation of Friday evening showpiece sporting events in Hockey and Netball: matches under lights, street food for spectators, live commentary and music created a brilliant atmosphere that saw the girls take centre stage. The girls also celebrated national successes in Netball, Tennis, Hockey, Rackets, Shooting, and Equestrian. More girls than ever before are playing cricket, with the 1stXI recording a memorable victory over the MCC and then going on to shine (alongside the boys) in their first BOWS festival.

Over 400 pupils play tennis regularly in the summer months, the golf team were victorious at the HMC Strokeplay Championships, and on the Rackets and Real Tennis courts many pupils shone at Queen’s. It was an incredible year for the shooting team, with 11 members of the Smallbore squad being selected for England and the Fullbore team excelling at Bisley. Basketball is a popular option, as is Athletics, Cross-country, Squash, Swimming, Sailing, Triathlon and Polo.

In 23/24 we hope to continue to deliver a world-class sporting experience for all pupils, ensuring both challenge and support at all sporting levels: Wellington remains committed to adding to its reputation as one of the UK’s strongest and most diverse schools on the sporting front.

PASTORAL

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.

A focus on Mental Health with both staff and pupil ambassadors, a unique Mental Health Day for parents and pupils, several national awards for Safeguarding, a recent educational initiative on Sex and Consent, and a newly appointed Head of EDI and Social Responsibility help ensure that Wellington provides a safe and healthy environment for pupils and staff.

Our nationally recognised Wellbeing curriculum (we were the first school to introduce happiness lessons) focusses on embedding growth mindsets and building grit and resilience: the positive coping strategies that our pupils learn not only allow them to make the most of all the opportunities available to them at Wellington, but also prepares them for healthy, happy, and successful lives after school.

PERFORMING ARTS

Performing Arts are equally strong. Music, Dance and Drama are stunning, with 60% of pupils taking instrumental or LAMDA lessons with some 1,000 lessons taking place each week and over 50 visiting teachers. 22/23 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 Arts Mark 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 back in October.

Music has a well-structured routine of activities and events, with flagship ensembles performing regularly at high-profile concerts; with regular recitals every Tuesday evening; regular concerts featuring the Symphony Orchestra, the Concert Band and Big Band; and weekly services featuring the Chapel Choir, who also sang at Exeter Chapel, Oxford and Chichester Cathedral. The Concerto Concert, which saw three pupils perform Mozart, Saint-Saëns, and Barber backed by a full orchestra, emphasised our pupils' aspiration to perform concerti – no surprise given the successes at Diploma level, with 13 Diplomas awarded this year. Singer-songwriter concerts, a recording studio, the Jazz Orchestra, and the a cappella group, the Wellingtones, all provide a range of opportunities for our musicians.

Wellington Drama’s strength in depth and ingenuity was emphasised by the success of the re-branded House Drama competition, House Fives, where houses were limited by a minimum of five actors, at least five minutes in length, including five drama techniques with five lighting states and five props as well as five music pieces and/or sound effects. On the main stage Shakespeare in Love, Legally Blonde, 1984, and The Two Gentlemen of Verona all played to packed houses.

Dance saw over 100 students in the Christmas show, a much-anticipated House Dance competition with 750 students in the audition process, and a variety of Curriculum events, proving that dance is integral to a Wellington education. To the theme of Wonderland, the Dance Show showcased a range of Contemporary, Lyrical, Contact, Street, Commercial, Ballet, Tap, Acro, and a breath-taking Silks routine, high above the Annenberg stage, was a highlight of the year.

The Speech Day show, in a 4,000-seater Big Top, provides a fitting finale for the Wellington Performing Arts year, with musicians, singers, actors and dancers able to reprise many of the highlights of the year.

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.

WELLINGTON COLLEGE INTERNATIONAL

There are currently eight schools in the Wellington College International family across India, China and Thailand, educating over 5,600 students. All international Wellington Colleges are connected to Wellington College International, UK at governance level, and enjoy authentic links to Wellington College. Though each is unique to the location and communities it serves, they all share the values and ethos of Wellington College, are committed to absolute academic and all-around education and the best outcomes for all pupils. Each one additionally aims to become a leading school in its region, with an education impact reaching far beyond its own walls. Staff secondments and exchanges and continuing professional development across the family enable us to share best practice across the world. Further information about each school may be found below.

For more information, see the Wellington College website: http://www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk

An International Baccalaureate World School