WELLINGTON SCHOOL, SOMERSET

 

 

Wellington School was founded in 1837 and now numbers 750 pupils between the ages of 10 and 18.  It is a fully co-educational day and boarding school with 80% day pupils, 20% boarders, 55% boys and 45% girls.  The Headmaster is a member of HMC. There are 6 Upper School and 4 Lower School day houses, 3 Upper School and 2 Lower School boarding houses.  Pupils enter the School either at age 10 or 11 by taking an entrance examination; via Common Entrance or through interview at the age of 13; or direct into the Sixth Form after GCSE.  There are three Year 6 (Prep Year) classes, four or five Year 7 classes and nearly 200 pupils in the Sixth Form.  Class sizes in the Lower School (Years 6 - 8) average 22 pupils and A level sets are seldom larger than 15.  The school has a strong academic reputation, and in 2008, 71% of students achieved A&B and 48% A grades at A level and 96% of GCSEs were passed at grades A* - C, averaging 50% A* and A over the previous three years. The Mathematics and Science departments follow the more rigorous IGCSE curriculum.

 

The School occupies 35 acres in close proximity to the town centre which has a population of 12,500. The town lies equidistant between Taunton and Tiverton railway stations (both approximately 20 minutes away).  The character of the area, situated between the Blackdown Hills (now an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), the Brendon Hills and the Quantocks, has remained largely unaltered for many years.  The Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks and the North and South coasts are an hour’s drive away. The catchment area for day pupils extends up to 20-30 miles around the town. 

 

The School has witnessed an extensive building programme over the last twenty years, the new buildings having been carefully and tastefully blended in with existing architecture. Most recent buildings include the John Kendall-Carpenter Science Centre with its state-of-the-art laboratories and lecture theatre and a £2.6m sports complex which was opened by H.R.H The Princess Royal in September 2002.  A new classroom block and examination hall opens in January 2009 following which work starts on major improvements to music and performing arts facilities.

 

In addition to the Sports Complex, there are 4 rugby pitches, 3 tennis courts, 4 purpose-built netball courts, incorporating 6 further tennis courts, a floodlit artificial turf hockey pitch and 3 grass pitches, cricket pitches and a 300m athletics track, 2 squash courts and a covered, heated swimming pool.  Over the years the School has provided members for county squads in all sports as well as several international athletes.  In addition, with a purpose built fencing salle and a specialist fencing coach, fencing is experiencing great success at inter-school, regional and national level.

 

Music and Art are two particularly strong cultural activities.  The School has both a Chapel Choir and a School Choir, the former touring regularly in this country and abroad.  Recent performances have included St Paul’s Cathedral, St Mark’s Basilica in Venice and the Vatican.  Drama is also particularly active, both in the Upper and Lower Schools with several highly-acclaimed productions staged each year.

 

The Memorial Chapel of St Michael and George sits firmly in the middle of the site and follows the Anglican Communion.  Many of our parents make significant self-sacrifices for their children’s education and, thus, there is a happy blend of pupils from all walks of life and from overseas, to form a well-bonded community.