Founded in 1853 by public subscription in memory of the Duke of Wellington and granted a Royal Charter the same year. The Monarch is the Visitor and Buckingham Palace still approves governors and changes in statutes. Its original grand buildings were designed by John Shaw and the chapel by Gilbert Scott. Many modern developments provide excellent accommodation and facilities; recent additions include a golf course and new boarding houses. It lies in an estate of over 400 acres and has fine gardens and superb playing fields. Its prep school, Eagle House, is nearby. The school is now co-educational; girls have been admitted to the sixth form since the seventies and at 13 since 2006. The spiritual and religious life of the college is of considerable importance: a Christian foundation though open to, and respectful of, pupils of all faiths. High standards of teaching prevail and examination results are very good. The International Baccalaureate Diploma is offered as an alternative to AS/A-levels; and it is one of only a handful of schools offering the IB Middle Years Programme as an alternative to GCSE. The music department is immensely strong and there are many musical groups. There is strength, too, in art and drama. It has a reputation for excellence in games and sports of which a wide variety is provided and high standards achieved. There are many clubs, societies and extra-curricular activities. The CCF has a large contingent and, while the college maintains its traditional links with the army (many Wellingtonians have been distinguished soldiers), leavers now go into as wide a range of professions as any comparable school. There is a large commitment to local community schemes.
Pupils: Age range 13-18; 940 pupils, 195 day (130 boys, 65 girls), 745 boarding (505 boys, 240 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 13 and 16. Pre-testing at 11+; Common Entrance and own scholarship exam used. For sixth form entry, competitive exam, interview and GCSE grade A in sixth-form subjects. No special skills or religious requirements. Entrants from 125 prep schools in last 10 years but many from its own prep, Eagle House (tel 01344 772134).
A range of scholarships and exhibitions awarded at age 13 and 16, value 5%-25% fees: academic, music, art, drama, dance, design and technology, sport (plus combined awards for excellence in a range of disciplines). Scholarships or exhibitions may be augmented by bursaries, where parents' financial situation makes this appropriate.
10+% in the armed services; 40+% in industry or commerce. 50+% live within 30 miles; up to 15% live overseas.
Master: Dr Anthony Seldon, in post from 2006. Educated at Tonbridge and at Oxford University (PPE), the LSE (PhD), King's College, London (PGCE) and Westminster University (MBA). Previously Headmaster at Brighton College, Deputy Headmaster at St Dunstan's (Catford), Head of History at Tonbridge and Head of Politics at Whitgift. Also co-founded the Institute of Contemporary British History. Publications: author/editor of 20+ books, including Churchill's Indian Summer, Major: A Political Life, Blair and Blair Unbound. Teaching staff: 126 full time, 9 part time. Annual turnover 15%. Average age 41.
GCSE: 168 pupils in fifth form (Year 11), 95% gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 188 in upper sixth, 19% passing in 4+ subjects, 78% in 3 subjects with an average final point score of 376. First IB results not yet available.
99% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (50% after a gap year); take a wide range of subjects, of which sciences, English, business and history the most popular.
GCSE, AS/A-levels and IB Diploma and MYP. 23-28 exam subjects. Sixth form: 30% of students take the IB. Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3-4 at A-level. Languages: French, German, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin offered. ICT: Taught to age 16. 650 networked PCs, all with internet and email access, for pupil use 15 hours a day. Network includes boarding houses, classrooms and offices; laptops, video projectors and smartboards used for teaching.
Music: 35+% pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 25+ musical groups including orchestras, string, wind and brass ensembles, 3 choirs, 3 bands, jazz orchestra, rock groups. Choir recently produced nationally-reviewed CD. Music and music technology taught to A-level. Drama: Extra-curricular drama offered (drama is thriving part of school life). Large number of school and house/other productions every year. GCSE, AS and A-level offered. Art and design: On average, 40 take GCSE, 35 A-level. Design, pottery, textiles, photography, craft, history of art also offered. On average 5 pupils go to art colleges each year.
Sport: Rugby, hockey, football, cricket, athletics, netball, lacrosse, tennis, swimming, cross-country, basketball, squash, badminton, rackets, judo, climbing, fencing, golf, polo, shooting, sailing, sub-aqua, triathlon. GCSE, RLSS, RYA, subaqua exams may be taken. Some international representation, particularly in rugby, hockey, cross-county, cricket, shooting; regular county and divisional representation. Activities: CCF compulsory in the second year, community service an alternative option in other years (including estate work, looking after OAPs, helping in local schools and concert parties). Over 30 clubs, including chess, debating, opera, bridge, poetry, Christian Forum, photographic, political, natural history, choral, classical.
Uniform: School uniform worn, modified in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Pastoral organisation is based in houses. Prefects, head boy and girl, heads of house and house prefects - appointed by Master and housemasters. Religion: Church of England, though remaining open to and respectful of pupils from all religious faiths. Some services compulsory, some voluntary. Social: Local events include choral/orchestral events, debates and dances. Trips abroad to countries including Australia, South Africa, Barbados, China; French, Russian, Spanish, Indian and German exchanges; politics trip to Washingon DC; biology trip to Madagascar; rugby tour to South Africa; orchestra to Hungary. Meals self-service. School shop.
Pupils failing to produce set work might expect to be supervised in prep; detentions used for more serious disciplinary offences; expulsion for abuse of drugs.
Most have own study bedroom after 1st year. Single-sex houses of 40-60. Medical centre with two resident sisters; school doctor visits daily. Central dining hall. Half term plus 2 weekend exeats in the winter terms, 1 in the summer term. Visits to local town allowed with Housemaster's or Housemistress's permission.
is run by the Secretary, Old Wellingtonian Society, c/o the college; email owsoc@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
Sir Michael Palliser (ex-head of the Foreign Office); Sir David Scholey (former chairman of SG Warburg); General Sir Roland Guy (British Army); Sebastian Faulks (novelist); Angus MacIntyre and Sir Michael Howard (historians); Jamie Salmon (international rugby player); Gavin Ewart (poet); the Right Revd Richard Harries (Bishop of Oxford); Robin McLaren (British Ambassador to China); Rory Bremner (entertainer); Robin Oakley (BBC political correspondent); the Right Revd David Young (Bishop of Ripon); Sir Nicholas Grimshaw (architect of the Eden Project); Will Young (singer, pop idol); Elize Dutoit (actress); Patrick Head (chief designer, BMW-Williams Formula 1 team).
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