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from the Deputy Head (Academic), Dr Paul Owen
The curriculum at Wellington School is designed to fulfil three principal objectives. Firstly, the school aims to stimulate pupils’ curiosity and to inspire them to a life-long interest in learning. This is achieved through harnessing the full range of traditional subjects taught by subject-specialist teachers using modern techniques and a balance of didactic and interactive activities. Secondly, the school aims to equip pupils with the essential skills in Mathematics, English and Science that will allow them to tackle future learning with confidence and succeed in their chosen career path. Great emphasis is placed on monitoring students’ performance and ensuring that they continue to make progress. Excellent examination results underscore the school’s commitment to this objective. Finally, the school aims to allow older students the chance to experience many subjects and then to specialise in their chosen field. This is delivered through a wide range of courses and a timetabling philosophy that puts student choice at the centre. Students have an entirely free choice of A level subjects and a free choice of GCSE options outside of a compulsory core of Mathematics, English, Science and Religious Education. House staff and the Deputy Head (Academic) are always available to advise and support students in their academic studies.
Prep Year (Year 6)
The use of subject specialist teachers and facilities allows the construction of an unusually rich and broad Prep Year (Year 6) curriculum.
The familiar subjects of Mathematics, English and Science build on pupils’ existing achievements, honing the foundational skills of problem solving, numeracy, literacy and communication. Dedicated lesson time for subjects such as French, Geography, History, Classics and Religious Education allows students to experience a wide and stimulating range of subjects taught by staff with extensive subject knowledge. The creative subjects of Art, Design and Technology, Home Economics, Information Technology, Music and Drama play a crucial role for pupils of this age, developing abilities in original thinking, co-ordination and critical reflection. Physical Education lessons introduce pupils to a wide range of sporting activities, enhancing teamwork skills, confidence and fitness, supplementing the after-school training sessions for those in school teams. Personal, Social and Moral Education lessons, as well as House meetings and Assemblies, develop students’ understanding of the civilised values that underlie the school community and equip them with the knowledge needed to thrive within it. Trips and special events add an extra dimension to classroom learning and are carefully integrated into the school year. The curriculum is flexible enough to be tailored to the needs of different students ensuring that students from a wide range of educational backgrounds are prepared for the main secondary curriculum. Class sizes are a maximum of 24 students.
Click here to see the Prep Year Curriculum Guide
Click here to see the lesson time allocation for the Prep Year
Years 7 and 8
The curriculum is notable for the range of subjects included. The curriculum builds on the foundations laid in the core subjects in previous years, but adds new subjects to stimulate and extend students’ thinking. There is no streaming of students although setting is employed in Mathematics and banding in French.
The sciences are taught separately as Physics, Chemistry and Biology, taking full advantage of subject specialist teachers and enviable facilities. English teaching is integrated with Drama to allow students to develop dramatic skills within the context of their language and literature studies and to use role-play to approach some of the themes highlighted by their reading. Latin provides a matchless grounding in the structure of language as well as opening students’ eyes to the ideas and culture of the ancient world that continue to exercise influence today.
Click here to see the Years 7 & 8 Curriculum Guide
Click here to see the lesson time allocations for Year 7
Click here to see the lesson time allocations for Year 8
Year 9
The curriculum offers genuine breadth to allow students the maximum choice of GCSE subjects. All students continue with their study of French but also begin lessons in Spanish or German. Students with aptitude for or experience of Latin continue their studies of this subject gaining a real appreciation of the language and ideas and culture of the ancient world. A course in Classical Civilisation gives a similar insight for those without experience of Latin.
Click here to see the Year 9 Curriculum Guide
Click here to see the lesson time allocation for Year 9
Years 10 and 11
A wide range of GCSE options is available complementing the core subjects of Mathematics and English. Students have a choice of Separate Sciences or Dual Award Science and must study at least one Modern Foreign Language. Courses in Religious Education, Physical Education and Personal, Social and Moral Education are also compulsory. Students take at least 10 subjects at GCSE, with most gaining 11 or 12. The most able Mathematicians take GCSE Mathematics at the end of Year 10, allowing them to take an Additional Mathematics qualification in Year 11. The full list of subjects available is
| Art and Design | Geography |
| Astronomy | German |
| Biology | Greek |
| Chemistry | History |
| Classical Civilisation | Latin |
| Design and Technology | Mathematics |
| Drama | Music |
| Dual Award Science | Physics |
| English and English Literature | Religious Education |
| Food Technology | Spanish |
| French |
Click here to see the GCSE Curriculum Guide
Click here to see the GCSE Results
The Mathematics and Science courses lead to International GCSE (IGCSE) qualifications, providing an excellent preparation for A Level. Universities and employers accept IGCSE qualifications as equivalent to GCSE qualifications although they do not appear in government league tables.
Sixth Form
Students have a free choice of four, or occasionally five, AS courses. These are complemented, in the Lower Sixth, by courses in Information Technology, Careers, University Entrance, Critical Thinking, Cooking and Personal, Social and Moral Education. Visiting speakers and academic societies also extend the curriculum. In the Upper Sixth students continue with their A2 studies and have the option to take qualifications in Critical Thinking and in Information Technology. The full list of subjects available is
| Art, Design and Textiles | Geography |
| Biology | German |
| Business Studies | History |
| Chemistry | Human Biology |
| Classical Civilisation | Latin |
| Critical Thinking (AS only) | Mathematics and Further Mathematics |
| Design and Technology | Music |
| Drama and Theatre Studies | Physical Education |
| Economics | Physics |
| English Literature | Religious Studies |
| French | Spanish |
Click here to see the Sixth Form Curriculum Guide
Click here to see the A Level Results