Wellington College

Focus

Realising potential

Day fees 2024/25

$54,600 (incl. VAT)

Boarding fees 2024/25

$74,700 (incl. VAT)

Pupils

1,100

Ages

13–18

Spear’s Review

Wellington College has a long and rich history, yet this does not prevent it from looking to the future and empowering young people to be ‘the change-makers of tomorrow’.

The curriculum is rigorous but rewarding, with students working towards their GCSEs and either the IB or A-Levels in Sixth Form. Wellingtonians enjoy a broad, nourishing education, and are encouraged to pursue their individual interests via a range of core and supplementary subjects. Additional enrichment includes academic societies and a weekly ’Fireside Talk’, with speakers visiting Wellington to talk about their experiences and areas of expertise. 

Outside of the classroom, students can enjoy a range of sports, clubs and activities within the college’s 400-acre campus, including climbing, fencing, hockey, polo, rackets, shooting and skiing, as well as other field, court and indoor sports. Students can also join the Combined Cadet Force in the Forth Form, or embark on a global expedition via the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.

The house system plays a large part of Wellington life, and allows Wellingtonians to bond and form lasting friendships and mentorships.

Academics

83.3 per cent of IGCSE results are 7–9 grades.

66.3 per cent of A-Level results are A* or A grades.

Average IB score is 38.4.

Feeder schools

Students come from schools including Eagle House, Lambrook and Dragon School.

University and college destinations

Wellington College alumni go on to matriculate at the most prestigious universities around the globe. In 2024, nine students went to Cambridge, 13 went to Oxford, and a further 25 students went to the United States, where destinations included Columbia, Cornell, Harvard and Yale.

Head teacher

James Dahl has been master of Wellington College since 2019. Educated at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and then as a boarder at Haileybury for his Sixth Form, Dahl read classics at Jesus College Cambridge before teaching at, among other schools, Brighton College (as head of classics and head of Sixth Form) and Repton School (as boarding housemaster). Prior to taking on the head role, he was director of admissions and marketing, then deputy head pastoral at Wellington College.

Admissions

According to the school, most pupils enter the school in September at the start of Year 9, when they are between 13 and 14 years old. Places are also available for pupils joining at 14+ (Year 10), and around 60 pupils join the college for Sixth Form. Those registered for 13+ entry sit the ISEB common pre-test in the Michaelmas term of Year 6. Selection for a subsequent assessment day is based on the results of the pre-test and 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. Pupils who have missed the registration date for 13+ entry have the opportunity to apply through a late admissions route.

In addition to a strong academic profile, Wellington is looking for candidates who are ‘both interesting and interested’. Given the wealth of co-curricular opportunities at the school, musical, dramatic, artistic or sporting abilities are often associated with successful candidates. Above all, the school seeks candidates ‘who will strive to make the very best of themselves and to take full advantage of all that is on offer’.

Accessibility

Heathrow Airport: 40 minutes

Location

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