Private school Wellington College

Wellington College intro

Wellington college – one of the largest and most prestigious boarding schools in the UK. It was founded in 1859 and named in memory of Field Marshal Earl of Wellington. The school is located on 160 hectares of beautiful parkland in the green county of Berkshire, in the town of Crowthorne. Located an hour's drive from central London and just 40 minutes from Heathrow Airport. The forest around the college is a listednature reserve  Edgbarrow Woods. The site also contains a Site of Special Scientific Interest – Wellington College Swamp, where rare plant species grow.

Wellington college – This is a school unlike any other. Many schools focus on exam results and view league table position as the main criterion for success. Wellington College, in turn, is focused on every child who studies here. Puts unlocking his potential and future success in life first.

Education is about bringing out the best in children. But good grades alone are not enough, although exam results are undoubtedly important. The school strives to inspire and support students to become the best they can be in all aspects of life. Helps them become happy and well-rounded young people. Exam grades follow naturally from all this, as demonstrated by outstanding school exam results.

The school has about 1,140 students.

Director (for 2026)

James Dahl, education – Haileybury school; Cambridge University.

Famous school graduates

• Sir Christopher Lee, actor (films “Treasure Island”, “The Lord of the Rings”)
• Hugh Beaver, founder of the Guinness Book of Records
• Nikolai Tolstoy, historian and writer
• Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein, member of the British Royal Family, grandson of Queen Victoria.
• Prince Moritz of Battenberg, a member of the German aristocratic family, the last grandson of Queen Victoria
• Alexander Mountbatten, aristocrat, member of the British Royal Family, grandson of Queen Victoria
• George Orwell, writer (studied at school for one term, then received a scholarship to Eton College)
• Peter Marshall, historian
• Sir Claude Auchinleck, Field Marshal,
• Sir Geoffrey Baker, Field Marshal,
• Sir Michael Howard, military historian
• Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, Architect
• Rory Bremner, impressionist painter
• Hammad Azhar, politician
• Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge
• Theravada Buddhist monk Nyanawira Thera (born Harold Edward Musson)
• Sebastian Faulks, writer
• Robin Oakley, political journalist
• George Ferguson, politician, mayor of Bristol 2012-16
• Gavin Ewart, poet
• John Gardner, composer
• James Hunt, world racing champion
• Lord Strathclyde, politician
• Peter Snow, journalist and television presenter
• Will Young, singer, winner of the British show Pop Idol
• Josh Bowman, actor (TV series “Doctor Who”, “Revenge”)
• Nerina Pallot, singer, BRIT Awards nominee
• James Haskell and brothers Max and Tom Evans, rugby union players

Key factors

• The school is a member of The Rugby Group (consisting of 18 British schools), which also includes famous schools Harrow, Radley, Shrewsbury and Winchester, as well as a member of the G20 school group.
• 76 students have gained places at Oxford or Cambridge in the past three years, and the vast majority of others have gone on to top medical and dental schools, art and drama schools, elite Ivy League universities in the US and Russell Group in the UK.
• The school has outstanding IB exam results. Pupils achieve an average score of 40 points, more than 11 points above the global average. Some students receive the maximum 45 points.
• Wellington college –the first school in the UK to introduce a happiness and wellbeing course in 2006. Here children are taught how to make the best use of their potential. Each lesson introduces a skill that students can use to improve their well-being – from sleep tips to more sophisticated cognitive techniques for coping with adversity. 

Equipment

The college buildings were designed by John Shaw Jr., who had previously worked as an architect at Eton College. In 2015, Wellington College became the first school in the UK to receive the Microsoft Showcase School award – in recognition of the innovative use of IT technologies in the classroom.

The sports equipment is amazing. 16 rugby and football fields, 2 illuminated sports fields, a modern, well-equipped sports hall, indoor and outdoor swimming pools. There are 22 tennis courts, 9 cricket pitches, 2 lacrosse pitches, 8 netball courts, gym, dance studio, basketball/volleyball court, squash and badminton courts, climbing wall, shooting range and nine-hole golf course.

Program

GCSE

Two-year program to obtain a certificate of general secondary education. 6 subjects are required to study, 4 subjects are studied electively.
What is the difference between IGCSE and GCSE programmes?

A-level

Two-year program to prepare for entering the university. Students choose 4 or 5 subjects for in-depth study.
Find out more about A-level program

International Baccalaureate(IB)

International Baccalaureate program recognized by universities around the world. 6 subjects are studied: 3 at an advanced level and 3 at a standard level. In addition to this, students write an extended essay, take a course in “Theory of Knowledge” and (practical philosophy) and the CAS course ("Creativity, activity and mutual assistance").
Find out more about IB program

What is the difference between A-level and IB

Accommodation

Accommodation in a residence on the school grounds, in one of 17 houses. Each house has its own special atmosphere; children live in spacious and comfortable rooms. The residences have common rooms where children can socialize and relax, and there are kitchens where you can prepare drinks and snacks.

Sport

Wellington College is known as one of the strongest sports schools in the UK. But for the school itself, the participation rate is more important: more than 98% of students regularly take part in sports activities on a weekly basis! In recent years, school teams have won national fame and honors in hockey, rugby, golf, shooting, triathlon, squash, equestrian, cricket and polo. There are many opportunities for students to represent the school on teams in over 30 competitive sports.

Additional activities

Art classes are very popular at school. Wellington College has received the College Artsmark Gold award in recognition of outstanding standards in all areas of the arts.

Through theatre, dance, music, creative writing, art and design, the school encourages students to develop their talents both within the curriculum and in extracurricular activities. There are many creative events held throughout the year, including an annual arts festival. The guys can perform and demonstrate their talents.

Whether children are aspiring actors, singers, designers, journalists, filmmakers, musicians, writers, poets, singers or dancers, every student is encouraged to engage with their creative self so they can discover the beauty and joy that can be found in art.

The school has its own TV channel and radio station. Students make stories about school life, make short films and interview famous people. 

Wellington College has a huge number of communities and clubs of interest.

• Sports communities: basketball, squash, tennis, sailing, fencing, judo, running, horse riding, cross-country skiing
• Musical communities: symphony orchestra, string orchestra, wind and percussion orchestra, church choir, jazz orchestra, composing, chamber music, cello ensemble, string ensemble and much more
• Debate
• Economic Affairs Society
• Geographical Society
• Drawing from life
• Creative Writing
• Literary Society
• Mathematicsatic society
• Medical Society
• Model United Nations
• Philosophy
• Public speaking
• Dancing
• Club for learning magic tricks
• Duke of Edinburgh Prize Program
• United Cadet Corps
• Scuba diving
• Ecological Society and much more

Cost, 2026-2027

£21,690 per semester.
There are 3 semesters in the academic year.

Included in price

• Training
• Accommodation and meals

Additional charge

• Air travel
• Transfers to/from/airport
• Visa
• Educational company services
• Selection of a guardian, which is a mandatory requirement of a British school

Our services and fees