Wellington College Information Booklet 2019/20

I N F O R M AT I O N B O O K L E T 2019/20

Our Mission Wellington College aims to provide a truly transformative educational experience, ensuring its pupils develop a unique identity inspired by intellectual curiosity, true independence, a generous and far-reaching inclusivity and the courage to be properly and unselfishly individual.

While Wellington continues to build upon fine traditions which date back over 150 years, it remains determined to adapt its values and practices for the 21st century in a dynamic and sustainable way. Wellington is a Christian foundation, which celebrates and respects children from all religious faiths and backgrounds. A commitment to leadership, service and an international outlook lies at the core of Wellington College, which has at its heart these values chosen by the whole community:

Kindness | Courage | Respect | Integrity | Responsibility

“A commitment to leadership, service and an international outlook lies at the heart of Wellington�

“Wellington College is a busy, happy and exciting place to live, work and study�

Introduction It is easy to be proud of running a school like Wellington College. As you will see, when you read our prospectus and go through this information booklet, it is a school which delights both in the richness and warmth of its heritage and in the power and creativity of innovation. Established as a memorial to the “greatest Englishman who ever lived”, the College upholds (in its core values) the great traditions and triumphs of the Duke of Wellington. But you will also see a school which is unparalleled in its energy, restlessly seeking excellence in the education it offers and its drive to lead educational debate in the 21st century.

Despite being one of the largest co-educational boarding schools in the country (we have over 1,000 pupils, 80% of whom are full boarders), we are also one of the most popular: demand for our places has never been higher. We want the selection process, however, to be open, transparent and as pleasant as possible for all – and we hope that the prospectus and this additional information booklet will help you with the first stage by providing a real insight into the kind of educational experience we provide.

You will see in the prospectus that we focus not just on the intelligence and academic potential of our children, but also on their characters, their values and their attitudes to life and to work.

Yes, we offer an ambitious, challenging and global curriculum with GCSEs followed by either A Levels or the IB Diploma, and yes, our pupils do outstandingly well academically, but the education we offer is much broader and richer than that. We want our children to lead richly rewarding lives in the widest possible sense and our educational approach, which focuses on inspiring every child’s unique abilities, ensures we do just that.

Wellington College is a busy, happy and exciting place to live, work and study, and we were proud to be judged “outstanding” in every category in our most recent ISI Inspection Report. Do go online to find out more about the school at www. wellingtoncollege.org.uk and, of course, please do come and visit us. We will be delighted to meet you and show you our school.

Joining Wellington Wellington College is an aspirational and academic school, but we also believe passionately in all-round education; selection for entry is therefore not solely based on academic considerations. The admissions process (at all entry points) has been carefully designed to identify the academic potential of all candidates, as well as allowing them to show us their character, passions and interests. We are looking for boys and girls who display real potential for becoming intellectual, inspired and independent learners.

We want them to demonstrate a deep desire to contribute broadly across the co-curriculum and develop themselves fully as individuals. Successful candidates also possess the personality and character for life in a busy boarding environment by showing traits such as independence, resilience and inclusivity.

Entry at all levels (13+, 14+ and 16+) is competitive.

13+ Entry Our earliest and largest intake (185 pupils) is into the Third Form (Year 9). These children will, in the majority of cases, have been involved with Wellington for three years, after success in the admissions process in Year 6 confirmed by entrance exams in Year 8. Around 85% of 13+ entrants join from prep schools and sit Common Entrance or Academic Scholarship in Year 8; for those joining from other educational backgrounds, the College sets specific Maths, English and Reasoning examinations.

The closing date for 13+ registration is 30th June of Year 5. A two-stage process then follows: Stage 1 (Oct/Nov Year 6): Candidates sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an age-standardised series of tests in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning. References are also requested from current schools, before long-listed potential candidates are invited to Stage 2.

Stage 2 (Jan/Feb Year 6): Long-listed candidates attend an Assessment Day at Wellington, consisting of collaborative, problem-solving activities and also an interview with a senior member of staff.

Conditional offers are made in March of Year 6, subject to success in Year 8 entrance examinations.

We also accept registrations after Year 5 for those who, for whatever reason, miss the main window. Interviews are held in Year 7 and Year 8. Please contact the Admissions Office for further information.

“In September 2019 Wellington welcomed over 240 new pupils from more than 120 different schools�

14+ Entry A small number of places are sometimes released for girls and boys to join aged 14+ into the Fourth Form (Year 10) in order to join the two-year programme towards GCSE. Almost without exception a Waiting List will operate from an early stage and, if places do become available, successful candidates are selected via Wellington Entrance Exams, an interview and a reference from the current school.

16+ Entry For many years Wellington has welcomed young men and women into the Lower Sixth aged 16+, and we seek to offer 40-45 places at this stage. Our exceptional teaching and facilities, stellar examination results and superb pre-university experience have created strong competition for these places. It is a delight to add in the fresh ideas and breadth of experience that these young people bring. Enthusiasm, talent and scholarly commitment typify those who are successful.

Registration is administered via the website and runs from 1st June until 30th September a year before entry. Candidates are asked to upload school reports and submit a personal statement following which a long-list of candidates are invited to an assessment day in November. Offers of Sixth Form places are made on 1st December.

We want the scope and variety of our entrance papers to interest and engage prospective pupils, enabling all to demonstrate their unique abilities. Interviewers want to discover bright, kind, committed characters and a group Harkness discussion on the assessment day allows all candidates to engage with each other in mature and meaningful intellectual debate. The aim is for all, whatever nationality or background, to have the opportunity to show their potential. The strength of international interest, from a global and not just a European range of countries, adds to the quality and breadth of the UK candidature.

Scholarships Detailed information about the scholarships available on entry at age 13+ or 16+ can be found on our website, and a booklet may be obtained from the Admissions Office. This detailed information explains aspects such as application, requirement, examinations, assessments, timetable and tenure. No scholarships are awarded at 14+ entry.

Wellington offers entrance Scholarships at 13+ in Academics and Music, usually administered around six to eight months before a pupil enters Wellington. Scholarships in other areas (Art, Drama, Dance, Design Engineering and Sport) are offered at the end of Year 9 after a full year at Wellington. However, students are invited to participate in Inspire days in these areas during Year 8 as an initial stage in the Scholarship process.

For entry at 16+ Scholarships are awarded in all of the above areas as part of the full application process.

Being awarded a scholarship upon entrance to the College is considered a great accolade and award holders partake in specialist extension programmes within their sphere of particular talent.

Scholarships do not, in themselves, provide any fee reduction, although music scholarships afford parents free tuition in two instruments and free composition and Alexander Technique lessons.

“On average Wellington commits £1.7 million to means-tested bursaries each year”

Bursaries 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 from the Bursar’s Office). Our aim is to enable an increasing number of families, who otherwise would not have been able to access the fees at Wellington, to send their son or daughter to the College.

The value of bursaries may be up to 95% of College fees, depending on individual family circumstances.

Foundation places: Heroum Filii

Very generous remission is 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 Bursar’s Office.

The Prince Albert Foundation

The Prince Albert Foundation, founded in 2010, offers life-changing bursaries, up to full fees, for talented and deserving pupils who otherwise would be unable to access the quality of education and opportunities presented by attending Wellington College due to limited financial means. The College works closely with a number of educational charities to identify worthy candidates and also considers direct approaches from families.

Who are our pupils?

Our pupil body, comprising 1,060 students, reflects the diverse, inclusive, international and outward-looking approach we take to education: •

60% are boys and 40% are girls

•

80% board and 20% travel to school each day as day pupils

•

Over 100 prep schools are represented by current Wellingtonians

•

62% of current pupils joined from prep schools outside the M25

•

15% joined from prep schools inside the M25

•

16% joined from state, grammar and 11-18 schools

•

11% joined from international backgrounds

•

125 current Wellingtonians live overseas in over 40 different countries including Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and the USA.

•

Most UK-based pupils live in the South-East although current Wellingtonians also live as far afield as Cheshire, Cornwall, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Suffolk and Yorkshire.

“We believe that lessons are best when pupils are actively involved in a dynamic process of thinking, discovering and understanding for themselves�

“37 different subjects are taught by over 170 members of teaching staff”

Learning Lessons at Wellington are focused, paced, varied and engaging. We appreciate the value of many traditional teaching methods and we employ them with skill and enthusiasm, but we also believe that lessons are best when pupils are actively involved in a dynamic process of thinking, discovering and understanding for themselves. The way pupils learn is more important than the way teachers teach, and we therefore place increasing emphasis on independent, interactive and co-operative learning, and on devising lessons that draw on the different knowledge and aptitudes of individual pupils.

As with our teaching, our curriculum is vibrant, demanding and progressive. With our pioneering Wellbeing course, Wellington has become recognised as a centre for curriculum development. Astronomy and Psychology have recently been added to our IB programme, as well as Computer Science, Mandarin and Russian to the Third Form curriculum.

Third Form to Fifth Form: Pupils in the Third Form take a bespoke programme offering both breadth and depth. The aim is to inspire pupils and embed a deep love of learning.

The curriculum, which spans Mathematics, Science, Technology and Engineering, English, Modern and Classical Languages, Humanities, the Arts, and Physical Education, accentuates personal enquiry, independent study, internationalism and social responsibility, with all courses emphasising the links between subjects and between school and the outside world.

Following their initial experience of Wellington, pupils entering the Fourth Form choose a single curriculum combining the more traditional programme of GCSEs and IGCSEs with a number of Wellington-designed courses. This integrated approach ensures both breadth and rigour in our middle-school curriculum.​

The Sixth Form: A Levels and the IB Diploma: On entering the Sixth Form, pupils may choose between A Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. While plenty of advice is offered, pupils are free to choose the kind of education they want for their future:

A Levels

IB Diploma

An intensive, specialist education in a focused range of subjects

A deep and broad, balanced, international and socially engaged education for the whole person

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offers pupils a world-class education as preparation for university and the rapidly changing world beyond. Pupils take a balanced range of Languages, Sciences, Humanities and Arts along with a course in the Theory of Knowledge and an independent research project. The IB is designed to keep pupils’ options open and to stimulate genuine engagement with learning and our global society. The IB’s standards are second to none, and its graduates go on to study the full range of courses at universities in the UK and abroad. It should be taken by pupils who are motivated, interested and keen to embrace a world of diversity and change.

A Levels offer a reputation of academic strength and the opportunity to choose a focused range of subjects for specialist study. A Levels are demanding and scholarly: they are standard in the UK and provide an excellent choice for those who know exactly what they want to do at university and beyond.

Whichever route pupils choose, they will benefit from the guidance of highly-qualified teachers trained and experienced in delivering both courses. They will also have the support of their tutors, Heads of Year, careers officers and many others who will help them perform to the best of their abilities and secure the outstanding results for which Wellington has become noted in recent years.

“The IB is designed to keep pupils’ options open and to stimulate genuine engagement with learning and our global society”

Results The academic achievements of all our pupils in 2019 were again outstanding at every level, confirming Wellington’s position as one of the UK’s leading academic schools.

A Level & IB 2019 was another record-breaking year for our Upper Sixth leavers, with nearly 20% of the year group achieving either A*A*A* at A Level or 777 at Higher Level IB. The IB cohort achieved an incredible 40.2 average, more than 11 points above the global average. 9 students achieved the maximum 45 points at IB. At A Level, 10 students achieved straight A*s; across the cohort 23.6% of grades awarded were A*.

GCSE At GCSE, nearly a third (32%) of all grades awarded were Grade 9 (equivalent to a high A* in the old letter grading system); 61% were 9/8; 83% 9-7 and 95% 9-6. Overall, 9 was the most common pupil grade. Wellingtonians also achieved outstanding results in the Higher Project Qualification, where 56% of grades were A*/A.

University Almost all Wellingtonians go on to the very best in higher education: Oxford, Cambridge, other leading Russell Group universities, the top medical and dental schools, pre-eminent art and drama schools, and Ivy League institutions in the USA. Last year, of the students going on to higher education, nearly 90% of our Upper Sixth candidates secured places at their first or second choice university, and 100 students have been offered Oxbridge places over the past four years.

In the Lower Sixth, all pupils undergo a full UCAS induction programme which culminates in the annual University Fair held on campus. A team of specialist advisers ensure that all pupils receive expert guidance in all matters of the application process from choosing courses and universities to writing the personal statement.

Wellington has strong links with Oxford and Cambridge, and three members of Common Room are dedicated to Oxbridge applications. Candidates are given specialist advice and guidance, and are fully supported to ensure they have every chance of success.

The College also provides specialist guidance for applications to American universities and runs SAT and ACT preparation courses to prepare candidates for this element of the application process. Wellington is a SAT testing centre and, on average, around 25 Wellingtonians move on to American universities each year.

The Week

Monday

Tueday

8:30 - 8:50

Assembly

Tutorial Time

9:00 - 9:50

Lesson 1

Lesson 1

10:00 - 10:50

Lesson 2

Lesson 2

11:00 - 11:25

Break

Break

11:30 - 12:20

Lesson 3

Lesson 3

12:30 - 13:25

Lesson 4a / Junior Lunch

Lesson 4a / Junior Lunch

13:30 - 14:25

Lesson 4b / Senior Lunch

Lesson 4b / Senior Lunch

14:30 - 15:20

Lesson 5

Sport (1)

15:30 - 16:20

Lesson 6

Sport (2)

16:30 - 17:20

Activity Slot (1)

Sport (3)

15:30 - 15:40

Callover

Callover

17:45 - 18:35

Activity Slot (2) / Quiet Time in Houses

Activity Slot (2) / Quiet Time in Houses

18:45 - 19:40

Supper

Supper

19:55

Callover

Callover

Activity Slot (3) / Quiet Time in Houses

Activity Slot (3) / Quiet Time in Houses

20:00 - 20:55

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Chapel / Tutorial Time

Chapel / Tutorial

Department / House

Lesson 1

Lesson 1

Lesson 1

Lesson 1

Lesson 2 9:30 - 10:20

Lesson 2

Lesson 2

Lesson 2

Morning Break 10:20 - 10:45

Break

Break

Break

Lesson 3

Lesson 3

Lesson 3

Lesson 3

Lesson 4a / Junior Lunch

Lesson 4a / Junior Lunch

Lesson 4a / Junior Lunch

Lesson 4b / Senior Lunch

Lesson 4b / Senior Lunch

Lesson 4b / Senior Lunch

Sport (1)

Lesson 5

Sport (2)

Lesson 6

Sport (3)

Activity Slot (1)

Callover

Callover

Callover

Activity Slot (2) / Quiet Time in Houses

Activity Slot (2) / Quiet Time in Houses

Activity Slot (2) / Quiet Time in Houses

Supper

Supper

Supper

Callover

Callover

Callover

Activity Slot (3) / Quiet Time in Houses

Activity Slot (3) / Quiet Time in Houses

Activity Slot (3) / Quiet Time in Houses

CCF / Service / Third Form Activities Arts Award

Sport 12:00 - 18:10

Boarding Wellington’s magnificent buildings and estate offer facilities on a scale that only a large school can provide. However, our pastoral care welcomes children into comparatively small Houses, designed to be a ‘home from home’ at College.The focus is on the wellbeing of the individual within carefully managed tutor groups. We encourage close parental involvement with House and College, and regular visits by families and friends.

The House is the centre of a pupil’s life.

Houses vary in terms of size, location and character, but in each the Housemaster or Housemistress, supported by assistants, tutors and a House Matron, has responsibility

for looking after the pupils in his or her care and for monitoring their academic and social development. Staff set a strong framework for good behaviour and apply expectations fairly, knowing that these are young adults experiencing the mood swings and turbulence of adolescence.

Each House is a self-contained community, organising its own musical events, plays, sports teams and social events for parents.

Houses are located either ‘in-College’, within the main school buildings and quads, or ‘out-of-College’, in the grounds. Each House has aspects which distinguish it from other Houses, such as its own colours, emblem and a defined House spirit.

Weekends

Wellington is not a weekly-boarding school, but there is some flexibility available to parents on weekends. Pupils have a full timetable of lessons on Saturdays, followed by a programme of sporting fixtures and practices in which 98% of pupils regularly partake. Once commitments have been honoured, parents are free to take their children home for Saturday evening, but all must return for a Chapel Service on Sunday evening. Between 150 and 200 pupils regularly stay every Saturday night, and a programme of activities and trips is organised for them. Three or four weekends every year are designated as ‘closed’, when all boarders remain in College.

Day Day pupil education at Wellington College provides the best of both worlds. Day pupils (approximately 20%) have access to all the facilities and activities at the College with the added advantage of being able to pursue their interests outside of school, or simply spend time with their family in the evening and at weekends. Pastoral care for day pupils is second to none, with a strong House system in place to support them alongside the boarding community. The Day Houses are well equipped and have been described as having ‘all the benefits of a boarding House - just without the beds! ’

Both boys and girls are very actively involved in all aspects of school life, and enter teams into every inter-House event. They also play a leading role in drama, music, art and sport within the College. The parent network is strong, with day pupil parents organising activities such as golfing events, meals and other social events.

Day pupils are encouraged to participate in evening and weekend activities if they so wish.

“Wellington has 17 Houses boys, girls, day and boarding�

House Placement Within a few days of starting at Wellington, all new pupils feel that their House is the best! After offers of places are made in Year 6, a number of Open Houses Days are held at the College to enable families to visit many different Houses, meet the HMs and be toured by current pupils. Families are then asked to submit a list of their House preferences. The date of registration is used as the deciding factor when allocating Houses.

Early registration therefore increases the likelihood of a boy or girl being allocated their first choice House. Between 90-95% of new pupils are allocated a place in their first or second choice House, a fact which emphasises how popular and diverse all our Houses are.

All day girls and most day boys will go into the respective day Houses: the Wellesley and the Raglan. A small number of day boy places are available each year in boarding Houses, known as day-boarders. These places are allocated in the same way as boarding places via family preference and date of registration.

Pupils receiving late offers or promotion from the Waiting List are likely to be allocated their House.

“Wellington’s pupil-led radio station, DukeBox, broadcasts jointly with all the other schools in the Wellington family”

Enrichment Enrichment at Wellington has been judged in ISI inspections as “outstanding” and comes in many forms, whether it’s our outstanding Sports and Arts programmes, our commitment to Service, our extraordinary programme of adventurous training, or simply the range of clubs and activities we offer on a daily basis – an education at Wellington seeks to challenge, inspire and motivate every pupil.

With over 50 societies actively meeting on a regular basis, every Wellingtonian has ample opportunity to broaden their interests, develop different passions and learn new skills. The Enrichment programme is integrated into the broader co-curriculum with ample time dedicated throughout the week. The range of clubs and societies includes physical, cultural and academic pursuits; as well as catering for traditional tastes our emphasis is most definitely on encouraging our pupils to try something new! Whether it’s creative writing, Tae Kwon Do, classical Hebrew, debating, or Wellington TV, there really is something for everyone.

The Arts The Arts are flourishing at Wellington and it was no surprise that the Arts Council awarded the College Artsmark Gold in recognition of the outstanding provision and standards across all the Arts at the school. In September 2018, the College confirmed its commitment to the Arts with the opening of the G.W. Annenberg Performing Arts Centre, an award-winning 900-seater venue. Every pupil is involved from the Third Form onwards in our imaginative and dynamic Arts Programme, which seeks to enflame their creative imagination and to make the very most of their artistic talent and potential. Quite simply, we aim to give every Wellingtonian a lifelong delight in the Arts. Across Drama, Dance, Music, Creative Writing and Art & Design we offer a wide programme of annual events with opportunities to perform and showcase their learning and talent. These culminate in our annual Wellington Arts Festival – an event which celebrates the best of the Arts, opens our doors to the national community and sees our home-grown talent perform alongside internationally renowned celebrities from the art world.

Art: Our iconic Art School is exceptional

and the quality of pupils’ work is in evidence throughout the College. Many of those studying Art and Design in the Sixth Form gain places at the best art schools, without the need for a Foundation course, as Wellington art is already at that level. We host a number of exhibitions and openings throughout the year, and the prestigious Nicholas Grimshaw Competition (himself an Old Wellingtonian) confirms Wellington’s pre-eminence and ambition in the visual arts. With stunning work in our Textiles department, and with professional standard film and video opportunities, it is clear that artists flourish and grow at Wellington.

Dance: We take dance seriously at

Wellington as it enables experience of very different disciplines. Our dance clubs include ballet, street dance, breakdancing, hip hop, ballroom, contemporary and physical theatre – and this allows our pupils to explore the whole range of terpsichorean experience. Our Physical Theatre troupe and the Wellington Dance Company frequently perform together in a range of large and small-scale shows, such as “Dare to Dance”, the House dance competition, “Cinderella - The Ballet”, and several Dance Showcases throughout the year. Our recently opened Dance Centre provides an inspirational space for our dancers, and this coming year promises to be a particularly exciting one.

Drama: It is the sheer number of

opportunities in performing, directing and designing at Wellington that enables us to be inclusive and to nurture new passions in Drama. Budding directors, for example, gain experience through our ‘Directors’ Shorts’ series. The Wellington Fringe was a new initiative last year. With around 15 productions every year, both staff and student-led, the department offers stretch and depth by staging at least one musical and a variety of plays, as well as joint productions with partner schools, an annual touring show at the Edinburgh Festival, House drama competitions, talent shows and much more.

“Over two-thirds of our pupils receive individual tuition in music and drama�

Music: Music at Wellington is simply outstanding. Whether the interest is

classical, rock, jazz or pop, Wellington provides an enormously diverse and impressive musical programme. Our orchestra – conducted by the celebrated Natalia Luis-Bassa - performs throughout the year: recent venues include Cologne Cathedral, St George’s Windsor, Cadogan Hall, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Royal Albert Hall, St John’s Smith Square and The Guildhall in Delft, evidence of our determination to provide a world stage for our young musicians. We have a close relationship with a number of professional ensembles and Music Colleges in London, with many of our musicians frequently performing alongside them and other top professionals who offer a range of master classes throughout the year. A range of instrumental ensembles, as well as groups for clarinet, brass, percussion and saxophone allow all our musicians to perform in public. The quality of singing at Wellington is also first-rate: our Chapel Choir, our close harmony groups (one of which is nationally acclaimed), our informal choirs and our choral society provide a range of opportunities. Jazz and Rock are equally well catered for with the Jazz, Rock and Pop Department. We boast a number of thriving rock bands, a strong singer-songwriter scene (College’s musicians toured Nashville, Tennessee in the summer of 2018) and “Shabby Road”, our own well-equipped recording studio allows students to immortalise their sound. Music at Wellington is for all – whether expert or not – and the packed and varied musical programme ensures that music is at the heart of a Wellington education.

Other Arts: Creative writing, debating and film-making are all deeply

embedded in Wellington life. We even have our own pupil-led film company (Wellington TV) and Radio Station (DukeBox) which broadcast regularly and allow our pupils the experience of cutting edge media work, as well as providing the very best in home-grown entertainment. We also have a student–run school magazine, the Wellingtonian, which is published regularly and comments on topical issues both inside and outside College. We are always seeking to provide a wide variety of ways for pupils to develop their skills, refine their cultural aptitude and to develop an artistic sensibility that will enrich them throughout their lives.

Sport Sport is an integral part of each pupil’s development, wellbeing and education, and provides a platform to celebrate all that is unique about Wellingtonians.

By fostering an “active life” philosophy and promoting a lifetime involvement in sport and physical activity, we generate a sporting ethos focused around inclusion and mass participation. Sport is not just about physical excellence – it develops the whole person, and in that sense sport at Wellington is both transformative and inspirational.

Wellington sport is emphatically for all. We seek to inspire both the elite and the novice with a sense of the joy of physical endeavour, with self-respect and with pride in Wellington. We want all pupils to enjoy their sport, to seek excellence in their field and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our talented and dedicated coaching teams strive to create the best possible environment for pupils to learn with a judicious mixture of challenge and open communication.

We have a “premier league” reputation as one of the best schools for sport in the UK and our results say it all. In recent years, our teams have achieved national renown and titles in hockey, rugby, golf, shooting, triathlon, squash, equestrianism, cricket, rackets and polo. Despite these successes we are just as proud of the unbeaten U14D team as we are of the First XI! There are many opportunities for pupils to represent the College in teams across a wide range of competitive sports, as well as participating in a number of different recreational activities, all of which are resourced by outstanding College facilities. With sixteen rugby and football pitches; two floodlit AstroTurf pitches; a modern, well-equipped Sports Hall; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; twenty two hard tennis courts; nine cricket pitches; two lacrosse pitches; eight netball courts; a gym; two dance studios; basketball/volleyball courts; a newly refurbished rackets court; squash and badminton courts; a Real Tennis court; a climbing wall; a shooting range and a nationally acclaimed nine-hole golf course. 2019 also saw the opening of the College’s new sports centre housing two indoor tennis and netball courts and four cricket lanes. Provision for sport at Wellington is truly second to none.

“From the day they start at Wellington, all pupils engage in regular service activities”

Service Wellington College is committed to Global Citizenship – indeed, the notion of serving others is at the heart of our foundation and mission. Every pupil in the College is involved in service throughout their five years at the College, and this will occur in a variety of ways: through local, weekly service projects; through Housebased service charities and trips; and through an ambitious, monitored programme of national and international service trips and exchanges. Our work with the Wellington Academy, Eagle House and our schools in China and Thailand, our ground-breaking initiatives such as the Global Social Leaders programme all help develop the service and leadership skills of our pupils. We want every girl and boy to leave Wellington deeply aware of the gifts they have been given and determined to give something back to the communities in which they will go on to live and work in the future.

Adventurous Training: “Live adventurously; let your lives speak” is a belief emphatically applied to our vision for Wellingtonians. We want all our pupils to grasp the possibilities and opportunities of life with open hearts and minds. The range of additional activities we offer, designed to develop teamwork, self-reliance, resourcefulness, leadership, responsibility and a sense of public service, allows them to do just that. Our Combined Cadet Force has nearly 400 cadets and 20 officers involved in overnight exercises, courses and weeklong leadership and training camps. We also run a very popular Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme with a large number of pupils achieving the coveted gold award.

Wellington College is also a national leader in its pioneering work on developing pupil leadership – and we run nationwide residential leadership training camps for over 1000 pupils every summer in the grounds.

“In 2020 Wellington will host the 11th annual Festival of Education, one of the leading forums for educational debate in the UK”

Leading Education Over the past decade,Wellington has become renowned as a centre of thought, discussion and the sharing of educational ideas and experience. Our pioneering stance on education provides a wider field of influence via our work with our family of schools: The Wellington Academy and Wellington Primary Academy in Wiltshire, three international schools in China, (Tianjin, Shanghai, and Hangzhou), Wellington College International Bangkok, and Eagle House, our own prep school. The benefits for both pupils and teachers in belonging to such a diverse and exciting family of schools are incalculable.

Our work as a Teaching School, in alliance with twenty state schools in and around Wokingham, helps us provide innovative and inspirational learning opportunities for both our own and other schools’ teachers in the local area, while our Independent-State School Partnership work has helped support thousands of children from state schools, in areas such as Oxbridge preparation and leadership.

Each year, we host the Festival of Education – the biggest professional learning event in secondary education in the UK. Over two days in June, discussions, debates and workshops take place, with over 200 speakers from education, business, entertainment and the media.

In the past three years speakers have included Michael Gove, AC Grayling, Matthew Syed, Angela Duckworth, Carol Dweck, Alain de Botton, Germaine Greer, Rory Bremner, Ruby Wax and Sir Ken Robinson.

By constantly engaging with the outside world in such an extensive, open-minded and meaningful way we hope to keep Wellington at the forefront of the educational debate in the UK. We take this part of our activity very seriously and hope that our own pupils will be the ultimate beneficiaries as it enables us to provide them with a fresh and challenging education which prepares them for the world of tomorrow.

Fees A non-refundable Registration Fee of £300 is payable when a pupil’s name is first registered for entry.

An Acceptance Deposit of £2,000 is required by the College when a boy or girl is offered a place at Wellington College, in order to confirm definite candidature.

In addition to the Acceptance Deposit, an additional Overseas Deposit of £11,750 is required from parents not resident in the United Kingdom.

The Acceptance Deposit and Overseas Deposit will be retained in the general funds of the College until the pupil leaves and will be repaid by means of a credit without interest to the final payment of fees or other sums due to the College on leaving, unless stated otherwise in the Terms and Conditions or unless the parents wish to donate the Acceptance Deposit to the College.

Administration Fees An administration fee of £500 is payable by the parents of each pupil on acceptance of a place. This fee is nonrefundable.

College Fees Fees are charged termly in advance and for 2019-20 are as follows: • Boarding £13,860 per term • Day Fee (in boarding houses) £11,630 per term • Day Fee £10,125 per term The fees are inclusive of all the normal maintenance and recreational requirements of the pupil. For boarders, they include the provision of linen (except towels), laundry, maintenance and reasonable repair of clothes (but not marking, dry-cleaning or shoe repair), games, physical education, swimming, normal medical treatment in the College Health Centre, and personal accident and dental insurance cover.

Further details of the fees in advance scheme, including a quotation, can be obtained from the Head of Finance, Mr Paul Thompson, at: accounts@wellingtoncollege.org.uk.

“Nestled in a stunning 400-acre estate, Wellington is easily accessible via the M4 and M3 just 30 minutes from Heathrow”

Visiting the College We would be delighted to welcome you to the College and there are three ways in which you can arrange this: Visitors Days: These are our main open mornings and take place on Saturdays every term. In total, we run seven Visitors Days per year with a specific 16+ Visitors Day in September. Around 125 families attend each Visitors Day, and a typical programme includes a presentation by the Master with members of the senior team speaking and a Q&A session with a pupil panel, a tour of the school with a current pupil, and lunch in the dininghall. Places on Visitors Days can be booked via our website.

Master’s Receptions: These are smaller, more intimate and informal open mornings, often used by parents for a second visit. Two Master’s Receptions are held every term with around 30 families in attendance. The Master, James Dahl, introduces his vision for Wellington and then an informal Q&A is followed by a tour of the campus.

Senior staff and HMs are on hand to help answer questions. Places on Master’s Receptions can be reserved by contacting the Admissions Office.

Small Group Visits: On many days throughout the academic year, we can accommodate much smaller group visits from prospective families. These are primarily designed for overseas families, and occasionally UK-based families, who are unable to attend a Visitors Day or Master’s Reception.These visits can be arranged by contacting the Admissions Office and usually consist of a meeting with the Director of Admissions, Deputy Director of Admissions or Registrar, as well as a tour of the school with a Lower Sixth College Ambassador.

Demand for visiting Wellington is currently strong so parents should contact the College at the earliest possible opportunity to arrange a visit.

Policies There is a wealth of information about how Wellington College operates, available to all as legally required, via the internet.

Particularly important is the policies page in the section “About� on our website, which includes: admissions, discipline and exclusions; education and welfare provision for pupils with statements and EAL pupils; curriculum; anti-bullying; health and safety on school visits; rewards and sanctions; academic performance in previous school year; complaints procedure/ number of formal complaints in previous school year; staff, including temporary staff, and their qualifications; safeguarding; child protection; school development plan and mission.

If you cannot find something you think should be accessible, or to receive a paper copy, if internet access is difficult, please contact the SLT PA: df@wellingtoncollege.org.uk.

Letters should be addressed to Wellington College, Crowthorne, Berkshire RG45 7PU

To discover any other policy or to raise concerns about policies and practices at Wellington College, or any specific issues about welfare, please contact the Deputy Head (Pastoral & Wellbeing) daw@wellingtoncollege.org.uk To contact the Headmaster, please send an email to masterspa@wellingtoncollege.org.uk, or address a letter to The Master and send it to the school address.

To contact the Vice-President, the Chairman of the Governing Body, a letter should be addressed to The Vice-President, c/o the Bursar and sent to the school address.

The general telephone number is +44 (0)1344 444000, and other numbers are available in the calendar and online.