Wellington College, Crowthorne,
Berkshire RG45 7PU
Tel: 01344 444012 Fax: 01344 444004
Website: www.wellington-college.berks.sch.uk

WHAT IT’S LIKE
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 additional buildings now provide excellent accommodation and facilities, most recently physics laboratories and an art school. 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 spiritual and religious life of the college is of considerable importance and pupils are encouraged to commit themselves fully as Christians. High standards of teaching prevail and examination results are very good. The music department is immensely strong and there are very 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.

SCHOOL PROFILE
Scholarships, bursaries & extras 23+ pa scholarships and exhibitions, 15%–50% fees: 20 academic, 3+ music, art, design and technology; 4 awarded at 16 (3 for girls, 1 for boys), remainder at 13. All scholarships may be augmented in case of financial need. Parents not expected to buy A-level textbooks. Extras charged vary.

Parents 10+% in the armed services; 40+% in industry or commerce. 50+% live within 30 miles; up to 10% live overseas.

Head & staff
Master: A Hugh Monro, in post since 2000. Educated at Rugby and Cambridge University (history and economics). Previously Headmaster at Clifton College and at Worksop, Head of History and Housemaster at Loretto and earlier appointments at Noble and Greenwich (USA) and at Haileybury. Also Governor of three prep schools; member of Court of Bristol University.
Teaching staff: 93 full time, 1 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 41.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 148 pupils in Block One (Year 11): 85% gained at least grade C in 10+ subjects; 11% in 8–9 subjects. Average GCSE score 66 (65 over 5 years).
A-levels: 175 in upper sixth: 13% passed in 4+ subjects; 78% in 3; 7% in 2 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 337.

University & college entrance 98% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (66% after a gap year). 12% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 30% in science & engineering, 10% in law, 40% in humanities & social sciences, 5% in art & design, 3% in vocational subjects eg physiotherapy, sports science.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels. 23–26 examination subjects.
Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. 19% take science A-levels; 31% arts/humanities; 50% both.
Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level; also Italian and Russian to GCSE occasionally. Regular exchanges.
ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject (1 period/week in Year 9) and across the curriculum, in lessons, prep and social activities. 400 networked PCs, all with internet and e-mail access, for pupil use 15 hours a day. Windows NT server network including boarding houses, classrooms and offices; laptops, video projectors and smartboards used for teaching.

The arts
Music: Over 350 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.
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 & design: On average, 35 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 & activities
Sport: Rugby, hockey, cricket/athletics are major sports. Minor: tennis, swimming, cross-country, basketball, squash, soccer, fives, badminton, rackets, judo, climbing, fencing, golf, shooting, sailing, sub-aqua. 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 in other years eg estate work, looking after OAPs, helping in local schools and concert parties. Over 30 clubs, eg chess, debating, opera, bridge, poetry, Christian Forum, photographic, political, natural history, choral, classical.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn, modified in sixth form.
Houses & prefects: Pastoral organisation is based in houses. Prefects, head boy and girl, heads of house and house prefects – appointed by Master and housemasters.
Religion: Some services compulsory, some voluntary.
Social: Local events include choral/orchestral events, debates and occasional dances. Trips abroad include Australia, South Africa, Barbados, China; French, Russian, Spanish, Indian and German exchanges; orchestra to Hungary; modern languages to eg Bordeaux, Berlin, Barcelona. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school. Meals self-service. School shop. No tobacco allowed but a junior common room for the sixth form.

Discipline Pupils failing to produce set work might expect academic supervision sessions; detentions used for serious disciplinary offences.

Boarding Most have own study bedroom after 1st year. 14 houses of some 55 boys; 1 girls house. Sanatorium 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 permission.

Alumni association is run by the Secretary, Old Wellingtonian Society, c/o the College.

Former pupils Sir Michael Palliser (ex-head of the Foreign Office); Sir David Scholey (S G Warburg); General Sir Roland Guy; Sebastian Faulks (novelist); Angus MacIntyre (historian); Jamie Salmon (international rugby player); Sir Robert Gatehouse (High Court Judge); Gavin Ewart (poet); the Right Revd Richard Harries (Bishop of Oxford); Robin McLaren (British Ambassador to China); Rory Bremner (entertainer); Michael Heseltine (artist); Sir Michael Howard (historian); Robin Oakley (BBC political correspondent); the Right Revd David Young (Bishop of Ripon); Sir Nicholas Grimshaw (architect of the Eden Project); Will Young (pop idol); Elize Dutoit (actress) .