Wellington College - a parent's perspective

[halvedfees]

Hi All,

I have been reading on and off a number of threads on Wellington College, where opinions - quite often snobby and rude - are given by people who have no connection with the school, but are formed by what they read in the press. So, here's my insider opinion.

I have 2 children at the school a DS just finishing and a DD in 4th form - both day pupils. Personally I am not privately educated, so I was always a bit dubious what £20-odd k in fees could bring. However I have to say that I have been mightily impressed, and don't regret it one bit. Obviously it is not perfect - what school is? - but overall my DS has loved it and my DD is loving it.

The Good

• academically it is rapidly climbing up the ladder. You can really see it at the school. Teaching is generally outstanding - History and English depts are amazing, according to my DS, but he managed to achieve straight (12) A*s at GCSE so all departments are strong.

• IB: my DS is just finishing it and has really enjoyed it. No pressure to do IB - out of 250 in each 6th form year about 70 do IB, the rest A levels. I think they push it to make sure that parents have really considered it as an option, and not just gone for A levels as a default position. Teaching across both exam systems is good

• Pastoral care is really good - the well-being lessons are genuinely useful.

• Sports - especially for boys

• Music - full orchestra, concert band, jazz orchestra, various ensembles all at a very high level.

• Drama - plenty of high quality productions in dedicated theatre

• Food - well at least what I've eaten is really good. Lots of choice.

• Beautiful and spacious grounds and buildings

• Seldon. I know he's retiring, but he has really grabbed what was a declining school and turned it completely round. Yes, I know some people don't like him, but have they ever met him? He can appear a bit distracted, but once you get to know him he really is a genuinely amazing man who puts the students first.

The could be improved

Athletics in the summer is a bit so-so, but cricket is good and there are other sports such as rock climbing, tennis etc.

Girls sport in the lower teams don't have enough fixtures - I think this is to do with the size of the school, but it still needs looking at.

Things beyond the school's control

• quite london-centric, but there are a lot of students who live locally, and as well as internationally

• although full boarding, my DS reckons 80% leave after Saturday sport - they do have a closed weekend every 6 weeks or so

Happy to answer questions if anyone has them!

We looked at both for my DD for 6th form and liked both (although in the end she fell in love with another school). At firstWellington looked perfect but when we questioned the 6th formers it was clearly a weekly boarding school at that age with lots of DCs going back to homes in the SE most weekends for parties etc. She wanted a school where she could hang out with friends at the weekend, not benon her own.

CLC would have been perfect at 13 but she felt it was too cloistered at 16. As parents we loved it but she could not be persuaded. I know of a couple of girls who went and the environment does seem more pressurised than where she ended up. And at 16 there does seem less of a social life than in a mixed school. That could be good or bad depending in what you want for your DD.

Is wellington college provide healthy meal and which boarding house is best to stay? Most six forms students heading to which university?

I expect the food is fine no idea. All the boarding houses are good. Almost all graduating students go to good universities, check the website for destinations.