Lecture Programme

As part of our commitment to broadening our academic offering we have introduced a programme of academic lectures called Horizons.

The programme offers 3 lectures per year which are held here at the School with the aim of encouraging the School community, students, parents and friends, to hear about and consider issues and themes that go beyond what is available in the classroom.

In any series the aim is to invite eminent speakers in their field to tackle subjects from a global perspective.  So far, we have welcomed the following:

Dr Angela Osborne (eXmoorpharma Concepts Ltd) - Current and future healthcare challenges around the world.)

Robert Beckley  (Former Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset) – Crime – The International Opportunities

Dr Jon Copley, (Marine Biologist and Scientific Consultant to BBC Blue Planet 2) – Exploring Life in the Deep Ocean

Professor Stephen Millard, (Senior Economist Bank of England) - The Impact of Robots on the Economy

Dr Kate Evans, (CEO Elephants for Africa) - In the Footsteps of Elephants

Professor Nuria Capdevila-Arguelles, (Professor of Hispanic and Gender Studies, Exeter University) - The New Woman, An Old Tale

Dr Andrew Wines (Historian) - The Death of Truth

Dr Chris Brierley (UCL) - Climate Change A Human Planet

Dr Lucy Pollock (Consultant Geriatrician and author) - Apprenticeships in Ageing

An opportunity for students to delve into an area they are passionate about and present a project through a variety of media including written, drama or art.

The Passmore Memorial lecture was set up by the parents of Old Wellingtonian and keen mathematician, Tom Passmore, who died shortly after leaving Wellington School.

Pupils, parents and the Wellington School community, as well as local secondary school Sixth Formers are invited to hear prestigious Mathematicians presenting inspiring topics.

Simon Singh – Internationally acclaimed writer and presenter (and Old Wellingtonian). Simon’s most recent book, “The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets”, is based on the premise that “many of the writers of The Simpsons are deeply in love with numbers, and their ultimate desire is to drip-feed morsels of mathematics into the subconscious minds of viewers.” Simon entertained the audience with mathematical references used throughout the show.

Dr Vicky Neale from the University of Oxford. ‘7 things you need to know about prime numbers’. 

Professor Alan Champneys, Professor of Applied Non-linear Mathematics at Bristol University. -  ‘Rock, Rattle & Slide; why Mathematics is important to Engineering’

Another discussion group that tends to focus on more contemporary or cultural issues.

Meets regularly throughout the year to deliberate on issues such as race, abortion and the environment.  We enter teams in the Oxford Schools Debating Competition and the English Speaking Union.

A new edition to our enrichment programme due to demand among students.  This society keeps up to date with all things engineering with speakers from the world of acoustics, aviation, space exploration and CERN, the European home of nuclear research.

LawSoc provides opportunities for those interested in careers in the legal profession to hear from experts from industry.  We have regular talks on applying to study Law at university, legal apprenticeships and different areas of the Law from immigration law to sports law.

MedSoc meets weekly and welcomes speakers from fields of Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science.  Recent speakers have introduced students to hands-on surgery, physiotherapy and first hand experience of studying medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine at university.

Everything politics: discussions, debates, presentations, quizzes and trips

The Raban Society is an academic society that is run jointly by one or two Sixth Form secretaries and the designated member of staff. Sixth Form students, staff, OWs and outside speakers give talks about a wide variety of topics, followed by debate with and questions from the audience, which is typically made up of students from Year 11 upwards and members of staff. All Sixth Formers are encouraged to give talks, although Oxbridge, other Early Applicants and EPQ candidates will find the experience particularly valuable in enhancing their applications. Attendees are able to broaden their horizons beyond their A level choices and develop new areas of interest.