Academic

Wellingtonians study GCSEs, followed by the IB Diploma or A Levels and, whichever route they take, results are superb. In 2024, 38.5% of grades at GCSE were 9s (the most common grade for Wellingtonians) and 65.2% were 9s or 8s. The combined total of IB and A Level grades was impressive: 31.9% of grades achieved were A*/7; 72.6% A*A/76.
Remarkably of the 244 pupils in the Upper Sixth, almost 50% of the year group secured either A*/A at A Level or Higher Level 7/6 at IB, with 41 students achieving at least three A*s or three Higher Level 7s.

100 Wellingtonians have been offered Oxbridge places over the past five years, while 20-25 move on each year to American universities, including several to Ivy League universities.

Sports

Wellington has an excellent reputation for boys' and girls' sport. The school offers over 25 different activities for all levels (over 1,200 fixtures are played each year).

In 2023/24, 30 Wellingtonians were involved in national level sport, 23 teams or individuals took part in national finals and there were five overseas sports tours. Notable successes included the boys’ cricket XI winning the BOWS Festival, the golfers taking the Micklem Trophy, the girls’ Under 16 hockey team being crowned national champions, rackets trophies at Queen’s for both boys and girls and the Under 15 rugby team winning the Langley Trophy. Further national successes were recorded by the shooting team and the girls’ ski team.

Performing Arts

The performing arts are equally strong, with almost two-thirds of students taking music or speech and drama lessons.

Recent activities have included a choir tour to Portugal, a recording of Christmas carols, an orchestral recording, an annual musical, contemporary Shakespeare productions, and imaginative and even recent plays.

For dance, there is a specially designed studio where two spectacular shows play each year. The GW Annenberg Performing Arts Centre, Wellington's 900-seat performing arts venue, opened in September 2018. It was no surprise that Wellington was awarded Artsmark Platinum by the Arts Council.

Leadership and Service

Leadership, service to others and developing an international outlook are central: Co-curricular activities include the Global Citizenship program, in which students develop and implement innovative social action projects.

Clubs and societies range from Green Power Racing to the Field Gun team, from WTV (Wellington’s own television company) and its pupil-run radio station DukeBox, to a full range of more traditional pastimes such as Photography, Creative Writing, Debating and the Model United Nations society.

Famous Alumni

George Orwell (Author: Animal Farm, 1984), Will Young (Singer), Rory Bremner (Comedian), James Hunt (Race Car Driver: F1 World Champion), Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (Actor: The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, James Bond: The Man with the Golden Gun, Star Wars)