• Within the classroom

Wellington follows a very academic curriculum and sets high standards for all pupils. All academic teaching staff set tasks that are appropriately challenging for each member of a class, differentiating to stretch the most able. In some subjects students are set by ability and the curriculum is accelerated allowing the most able to progress faster than the main cohort. 

• Within the co-curriculum

Students benefit from a wide range of academic co-curricular clubs and extension activities, which run at lunchtimes, after school, and on Saturday mornings. These are often driven by pupil interests and demand, and many academically able students find these an excellent way of extending their learning or even teaching others about their specialist subjects.

• Trips, debates, lectures and competitions

Each year academic departments organise a vast number of trips, lectures, workshops and career advice sessions. Many departments enter students for national academic competitions such as Olympiads, the Philosothon and debating competitions. Academically able students often enjoy the challenge of going beyond the curriculum and competing against students from other schools.  

• Independent learning and research

Many academically able students have a particular subject or topic that they are passionate about. Students are actively encouraged to harness this enthusiasm, pursue independent research and learn from each other. This might be in the form of talks given to their peers (e.g. at the Raban Society), or through a more formal framework such as an EPQ or the Pre-U Global Perspectives course in the Sixth Form. 

At Wellington our academically able students are strongly encouraged to tap into the subject expertise of their teachers and explore options for life after school. Many of our able students successfully apply to highly competitive universities and courses, such as Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentistry, Law and Veterinary Medicine. 

Mrs Lisa Hayward (Head of Science) and Mrs Clare Bailey (UCAS Co-ordinator) support students through the complexities of the application process, including course choice, UCAS applications, admissions tests and interviews. 

Our Academic Scholars’ Programme, is aimed at academic scholars and any student, who wishes to further their interests beyond the classroom. Students attend workshops linked to their chosen pathways (Create, Write, Research, Present and Debate) and in Years 7 to 9 are given the task of producing an independent project which relates to a topic they find fascinating, which incorporates an academic element and which they would feel proud to produce.

In Years 10 to 13, those involved in the programme are also asked to select from a number of different pathways. These are Subject Ambassador, Creative, Debating and Public Speaking and the Higher Project Qualification (HPQ). Many students take advantage of the wide range of enrichment activities on offer.

The Academic Celebration and Awards Evening is an opportunity to showcase the students' projects in front of friends and family, to attend talks by other students and to celebrate their engagement in the programme and learning across the year.