Wellington School
We aim to provide an environment where every girl and boy can achieve success, but not fear failure; where confidence and ambition are fostered, but tempered with humour and humility; where the individual is given a chance to shine, but reminded of their responsibility to a community; where we know the importance of academic grades, but do not forget that the best in education cannot always be measured.
Our boarders, who come from the UK, Europe, the Far East and Africa, add an exciting international dimension so relevant in a world where understanding of other cultures will be a central feature of business and learning in the future. Yet the School has never lost sight of its reputation for providing a high quality, academically rigorous education for local boys and girls and without unnecessary glitz. The friendly, open and practical nature of our students reflects such diversity.
The school’s academic achievements are outstanding. According to the A level league tables, Wellington School is regularly the top performing school in Somerset at A level.
Category: Pre-Preparatory, Preparatory, Senior, Sixth Form
Pupils: Co-Education
Type: Day, Boarding and Day
Religious Affiliation: Church of England
Roll: 440 Boys / / 360 Girls
Age Range: 3-18 Years
Founded: 1837
Location Description
Wellington School is based in the market town of Wellington, close to beautiful Somerset countryside.
The catchment area for day pupils extends up to 20-30 miles around the town, served by an extensive bus service. Buses depart from school at 5pm to enable all day pupils to take advantage of the busy after-school programme.
Many parents who live on the outskirts of Exeter and to the North and East of Taunton testify that it is faster to get to Wellington using the M5 than it is to the centre of these busy towns.
School Contact Details
Headteacher: Mr Alex Battison BSc (Hons), PGCE, MSc (Oxon).
Contact for enquiries:Rachel Debenham, Registrar
South Street, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 8NT
Tel: 01823 668800
Email: admissions@wellingtonschool.org.uk
Facilities
The beautiful Memorial Chapel of St Michael and George, Health Centre, extensive library and The Carla Coggan Language Centre providing modern interactive resources for our many linguists. The John Kendall-Carpenter Science Centre with its state-of-the-art laboratories and lecture theatre enables Wellington School to offer some of the best teaching in the area for the STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Our co-curricular STEM program, includes Engineering Club, Scientific Society, Team and Individual Challenges and Olympiads in the Sciences and Mathematics.
In Music there is the opportunity of participating in a wide range of musical styles and genres. In 2010 Wellington became the first Steinway School in England with 12 Steinway pianos. We have 25 ensembles ranging from small chamber groups to the Symphony Orchestra, 6 choirs and choral groups, including the acclaimed Chapel Choir, 2 Concert Bands, 2 String Orchestras and Big Band.
Drama provides opportunities for all pupils in the school to contribute to performance, on stage and in the Tech Crew using Great Hall, the Schools main theatre space and the Southside Studio Theatre. In Art, specialist rooms include facilities for ceramics, with 2 kilns and a dark room.
Students have access to a £2.6m sports complex opened in 2002, which was accepted as a training venue for the 2012 Olympics. The School has 5 rugby pitches, 9 tennis courts, 4 purpose-built netball courts, a floodlit artificial turf hockey pitch and 3 grass pitches, cricket pitches and a 300m athletics track, 2 squash courts and a covered, heated swimming pool. A purpose built fencing salle and a specialist coach ensure that fencing experiences great success at inter-school, regional and national level.
There is a wide range of opportunities outside the classroom including CCF and Duke of Edinburgh Award. Activities include gymnastics, trampolining and fencing, Forest School, Theatre Workshop and Dance Crew, medics workshop, film club, sailing, cookery and an extensive outdoor education programme. Please visit our website to see all activities, trips and expeditions.
Support is offered in the Individual Learning Centre for those students who require a little assistance with their English speaking, listening and writing skills.
Wellington School offers full, weekly and flexi boarding in 4 boarding houses – 2 for senior boys, 1 for senior girls and 1 for junior boys and girls aged 10-13 years. A significant proportion of our boarding community are Sixth Form students. Whilst many arrive having moved through the School from a younger age, a significant number join the School at Sixth Form level and some transfer having originally been day students.
The school is open from 8.00am each morning until 6.00pm to allow parents additional flexibility.
Scholarships
Scholarships are offered for entry into Year 7, Year 9 and the Sixth Form to recognise ability and potential in the following areas: Academic, Music, Sport, Drama, and Art & Design. Pupils applying for Sport, Music, Drama and Art & Design scholarships must fulfil the academic requirements of the school.
Entrance Requirements
Entry into Year 7: Entrance exam in January for admission the following September. Papers will be set in Maths, English Comprehension, English Essay and verbal reasoning. Entry into Year 9 and above (including the Sixth Form) is through current school reports and interviews.
Fees
2024/2025
Nursery: from £70 per day.
Reception-Year 2: £2830 per term.
Years 3-6: £3465 – £5095 per term.
Years 7-13:
Day £6295 – £7240 per term.
Boarding (from Year 7) £10,120 – £13,320 per term. Weekly Boarding £8425 – £10,420. International Boarding £10,930 – £13,895.
Affiliations/Memberships
IAPS, HMC, BSA, ISBA, AEGIS, Good Schools Guide
Downloadable Resources
OPEN DAYS
All visits are welcome, please contact the school
We run whole school Open Days twice each year, in September and May, which are lovely opportunities to see the School.
Open Morning: If you would like to join us please complete the form.
For further details, please contact our Admissions Team on 01823 668803 or admissions@wellington-school.org.uk