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  • Wellington College
    Duke's Ride
    Crowthorne
    Berkshire
    RG45 7PU
  • Head: James Dahl
  • T 01344 444013
  • E [email protected]
  • W www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk
  • Wellington College is an English independent day and boarding school located in the village of Crowthorne, Berkshire. It educates over 1,000 boys and girls from 13 to 18 and was built as a national monument to the first Duke of Wellington.
  • Boarding: Yes
  • Local authority: Bracknell Forest
  • Pupils: 1,104; sixth formers: 489
  • Religion: Church of England
  • Fees: Day £35,760; Boarding £48,930 pa
  • Open days: See website
  • Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
  • ISI report: View the ISI report
  • Linked schools: Eagle House School

What says..

Part of its success is that it lives comfortably with its layers of history without being overwhelmed by them, think parents. Heritage matters but only so far. ‘It wasn’t about how many prime ministers they’d produced but about what we can do for your children – it felt modern whereas other schools were a bit old boys-y.’ ‘You’re not going to end up sleeping in the same bed your grandfather slept in.’ (A dubious recommendation at the best of times, we’d have thought)...

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What the school says...

Wellington College is one of the UK’s — and indeed the world’s — great coeducational boarding and day schools. We seek to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and character to serve and help shape a better world. Our innovative and interesting use of technology in the classroom combined with the emphasis on pupil-centred learning ensures that Wellington is at the forefront of educational advance.

A wonderful fusion of heritage and modernity characterises our educational philosophy. Our curriculum, facilities, and teaching methods are constantly adapting to the challenges of preparing young people for the ever-changing world of the 21st century. Wellington College is a school which is dynamic in every sense of the word, and yet all that we do is rooted firmly in our five College values — Kindness, Courage, Respect, Integrity and Responsibility — values which underpin every aspect of life at Wellington.

Wellington prides itself on the outstanding levels of pastoral support we offer our pupils. Pupil and staff-led mental health initiatives, alongside our nationally recognised wellbeing curriculum not only help our pupils successfully navigate their teenage years, but also prepare them for healthy, happy and successful lives after school.

The College is celebrated not only for its academic achievements but also for its sporting, artistic and dramatic provision which are second to none. Stellar examination results, outstanding provision across all co-curricular areas, and a raft of national accolades contribute to the College’s national and international reputation.
...Read more

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Curricula

International Baccalaureate: diploma - the diploma is the familiar A-level equivalent.

Sports

Polo

Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.

Rowing

Fencing

Shooting

Sailing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Master

Since 2019, Mr James Dahl MA (classics at Cambridge). Married with a daughter who is currently at the school. Joined as head of admissions and marketing in 2013 before becoming second master elect and deputy head (pastoral care). Worked with the now legendary Anthony Seldon here and at Brighton College, where he started his career (‘an utter privilege… [my] biggest influence apart from my mother’) becoming head of classics at 23, then head of sixth form. Moved to Repton in 2006 where he was a housemaster.

Family tradition narrowed career choices down to teaching, medicine or the church. Feedback suggests that he picked the right path. Parents like his lack of obfuscation, particularly evident during the twists and turns of government guidance during the pandemic. ‘Letters so informative, doesn’t try...

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Please note: Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

Who came from where

Who goes where

Special Education Needs

The Academic Support and SEND department at Wellington College is an integrated provision, where we are committed to supporting and identifying all pupils with specific learning difficulties of a mild nature. We liaise closely with the admissions department to identify and discuss any pupils with a SEND profile. This may be supplemented by a visit to prep schools but there is always discussion with the SENDCos and SEND department of the relevant transition schools. Our mission is to have pupils who are able to thrive and be happy in this fast-paced academic environment and we aim to support pupils in their academic and pastoral needs as appropriate. It is important to reiterate that we are able to provide academic support for pupils who have a mild SEND and that we are not in a position to support more advanced needs. We work closely with the pastoral team including the housemasters and house mistresses, tutors and teachers to ensure there is an holistic approach to supporting all of our pupils. Once enrolled, we collate and disseminate any reports from professionals into an Individual Education Plan, and this is shared with all staff. In addition, any provision for access arrangements is discussed and parents are made aware of the regulations from the examination body on reassessment and access arrangements. We can provide extra time and a laptop concession, where the pupil qualifies, and rest breaks where there is evidenced medical need. Alongside access arrangements, the department is also responsible for providing additional support for pupils where the need has been identified. This can take the form of individual or small group support sessions and pupil drop-in clinics.

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Y
Aspergers
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders Y
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Dyscalculia Y
Dysgraphia Y
Dyslexia Y
Dyspraxia Y
English as an additional language (EAL) Y
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment Y
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability Y
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Y
VI - Visual Impairment Y

Who came from where


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