Wellington College International Bangkok

Since 2018, Chris Nicholls (MA). Previously the head of school of The British Primary School of Wilanow in Warsaw, Poland and head of secondary school at The British School in Tokyo, where he both met his wife and mastered Japanese (a fact yet be tested by students apparently!)

His meticulous attention to detail is apparent in everything he does, from his eloquent manner and knowledge of South East Asian cultures, to the framed images of the school’s design concept displayed in his office, and his own (almost professional) photography. He has an obvious passion for the Wellington family of schools and describes his journey here as ‘falling in love with the Wellington philosophy of learning from a distance.’ He has clear admiration for their continual growth and ambition to drive education forward in order to do something better. Parents say his dedication to the school and how he values every individual student is what makes his leadership stand out and he has ‘the students’ best interests at heart.’

A painter by heart and hobby, his creative influence is evident throughout the school - we believe many of the design elements in the school originated from his sleepless nights mulling over drawings and concepts! He waxes lyrical about the unique design concept of the school (with good reason) and confesses that there really needs to be three of him to achieve what he wants, especially as much of his precious time is spent reading to the preschoolers. Serious and focused on the progression of the school with an aspiration for it to ‘feel like a hotel where students are taken care of with personal attention, rather than a bank focused on just checking boxes.’ His mission is to create an environment where students flourish in their individual learning journey and become well-rounded adults when they leave the school. He feels to be the perfect fit for the Wellington values of education.

Academically selective. Prospective students must complete a comprehensive entrance assessment which may include assessments for English Language, readiness for school entry (in the foundation years) and requirements for potential or confirmed learning support needs. School reports are also taken into account. Applications are accepted all year round and Zoom tours or individual video chats with admissions and remote assessment packs can be arranged.

As expected of a school within the Wellington group, academics are taken seriously but are peppered with a holistic approach to gain soft skills that students can apply in real-world situations. One parent commented, ‘It’s nice to see a focus on emotional intelligence as well as academic intelligence.’

In pre-nursery (age two - the youngest Wellingtonians) through to nursery and reception, students follow the English early years curriculum (EYFS) and benefit from a purpose-built building with every classroom enjoying direct, free-flow access to covered outside play areas. The nursery area is delightful - young students are greeted by a yellow brick road of tiny feet that leads from each classroom to other areas in the building and where we spotted a group of busy giggling bees following the little pathway to their music classes. They also enjoy ‘mini-me’ learning studios - of particular note are the art rooms where some finger-painting would-be Jackson Pollock’s were seen in action!

The transition from early years into junior school sees students studying the national curriculum for England with a broad and exciting set of themed experiences that the school has developed to enrich learning and provide cross-curricular connections. It’s common to see maths classes merged into physical education - there’s no better way to understand fractions until your team is split into four! Parents unanimously comment that teachers are all passionate about their work and education in general, clearly hand-picked by Mr Nicholls to align with the school’s ethos.

The junior school enjoys an open learning environment with no corridors or closed doors, which adds to the holistic feel of the school. A stand out are the junior science classes where we saw children learning and laughing - it’s rare to see so many smiling faces while learning about the periodic table! Another highlight is the junior school library, complete with reading cave and slide, with children slithering from the fiction section of the library and popping out into the non-fiction section. What better way to encourage reading!

Senior school follows the same philosophy of cross-curricular learning. In years ten and eleven (ages 14-16), students work towards IGCSE examinations. Currently, 19 subjects are on offer: business, computer science, economics to name just a few. The same subjects are also on offer at A level with the addition of psychology and art photography (more to be added as the school expands) and extra sixth form programmes, eg the extended project qualification and global citizenship certificates. Much to the delight of students there is no more school uniform come sixth form (although the dress code is still quite formal).

The new senior Skylight building is where the school really shines, built around a state-of-the-art central circular atrium that is flooded with natural light, highlighting the cylindrical ‘living’ library that flows from floor to floor. Designed in a helix shape, it boasts books in every corner and reading spaces in pretty much every space you can see. They have carefully crafted the perfect place to sit and study – we were seriously tempted to reach out for a book and find a quiet inviting corner. Independent break-out areas provide individual study spots and specific rooms are available for Harkness (discussion-based) teaching and learning. On watching the impressive collaborative approach within one class we were reminded that British schools of this calibre are a far cry from the traditional ‘chalk and talk’ style of British schools in days gone past.

The brand-new art space is located at the top of the helix - in the process of being opened during our visit - and looks set to be a very popular area comprising of five large art rooms, from dedicated art and ceramic work rooms to a photography studio complete with dark room. Hopefully, they will bring over some of the students’ superb hand-made puppets that we spotted dotted on walls around the school and find them a new home in this imposing art space.

Class sizes are: pre-nursery and nursery - 16, reception - 19, years one to six - 23 and years seven to eleven - 25. Due to the new and emerging 6th form, students can enjoy smaller more personalized learning with a class size of around 10 but watch this space.

The school only accepts students who will thrive in all aspects of the curriculum and while there is a small, dedicated learning support team they do not have dedicated SEN specialists at the school. Additional learning support plans can be created for individual needs but as the school is selective they can only support a small number of students. The school will advise parents at the application stage if the school is the right choice for their child based on their SEN requirements. The school fosters a ‘prep’ system which is a scheduled part of the school day and is designed so students can help each other, discuss assignments and consult subject teachers where necessary or appropriate. Spending this time in school eases the burden at home for parents and students alike!

The school's performing arts department is an umbrella for drama, dance and theatre. On following the sound of a saxophone we came across the music department and studios full of violins and drums. Of note was the ‘play area’ where students are encouraged to just ‘have a go’ or where the more serious musicians can rehearse or create their own content. Here, yet again, the school encourages students to find a musical passion they can carry with them throughout their lives and a skill for the real world.

Drama performances (of which there are many) are executed in their 600-seat theatre which serves as a venue for large and small productions, with a smaller 80-seat atelier available on the top floor of the new senior skylight building - a bit more of a sophisticated alternative and perfect for senior workshops or parent evening sessions.

Due to their enviable facilities and location, the school has a diverse and extensive set of extracurricular programs including: touch rugby, table tennis and Muay Thai as well as all the regular entries eg football, basketball, swimming, golf and tennis. Parents say they would like to see more sports for girls included in the PE curriculum rather than just as after-school clubs and as the school grows this will come under constant review.

Considering the school is relatively new we spotted lots of varsity trophies in the cupboard proudly displayed at the school entrance! The school strongly believes in a ‘sport for all’ approach and aims to offer a sporting programme with positive influences on all students, regardless of their age, gender and ability. That’s not to say sports isn’t competitive here but the school has a clear focus that sport should be for life, and students are encouraged to find a sport they will pursue beyond school and not just as a chore to be endured while at school!

Top-class facilities are at hand, and there are many, from the Olympic size 50-meter pool to the short course swimming pool, a full-size football pitch, a 400-meter running track (triathlon enthusiasts will be happy here) basketball and four tennis courts (built to professional standards), gymnastics development rooms and a high spec fitness suite. The school has an exciting cricket programme under a team of very keen coaches who have thoughtfully introduced the sport through the softball version. As cricket develops as a sport, the school plans to progress to the hardball version, (they are a British school after all!)

In addition, the school enjoys the use of the adjacent Unico Grande Golf Club as its home golf course, which might explain why there are so many parents happy to drop off students, with clubs at the ready!

Inclusivity is one of the five school identities and all students are encouraged to promote both kindness and respect to others. The pastoral care is championed by the class and house tutors under the guidance of year group leaders. We love the daily ‘thrive sessions’ to check in on emotional wellbeing. A head of wellbeing is already in place for support and guidance and the school already has all the steps in place for their fresh off-the-mark cohort of 6th formers to have step-by-step help for university applications.

The school has grown organically and the parents themselves are proud of what the school has achieved as far as learning is concerned, although would welcome more diversity in the student population. They positively rave about all the campus development and seem genuinely excited to be founding families. The family-centric and general community feel of the suburb where the school is located is integral to the further development of the school as new families consider moving outside of the city. As one parent commented, ‘My sons are happy and safe in their enclosed community and generally enjoy more outside play time than their peers at schools in the heart of the city.’ You can only imagine how fast this area will develop with its easy access to the city and airport links - some seriously oversized houses were spotted popping up across from the school. Parents commented that they are hopeful shuttles will be provided for senior students from the closest mono-rail to the school so they can enjoy more autonomy in their senior years.

Students are placed into house groups with a nod to the names of the boarding houses in their affiliated UK school: Hill, Murray and Talbot to name but a few - we are told they are also the names of the Duke of Wellington’s trusty generals, it doesn’t get more British than that! The houses compete in a range of activities, from sports to academics with team building being an integral part of the house system.

The principal nationality at the school is Thai with a small mix of other nationalities and dual citizenship students. As expected at an academically selective school students are likely to be high achievers although the admissions do a great job in ensuring that students are the right fit for the school and parents feel their children are ‘in the right place at the right time’ as the school continues to expand, progress and refine.

The school is for profit and is governed by a board consisting of members of the senior leadership team, founders, owners and investors. Fees are on the higher side for a new comer to the Bangkok school scene but parents feel they ‘get what they pay for’ considering the quality of teaching and shiny new facilities.

An internationally recognised school backed by a quality name which comes with a reputation for academic excellence and progressive teaching. Wellington College is a breath of fresh air (quite literally considering its location) for many parents and driven, academic students will fit like a glove here. With a strong sense of community at its heart, families only have positive things to say.