Sports Awards are usually made at the end of the Third Form or entry to the Sixth Form at Wellington College. Additionally, as the College’s Sports Awards structure is one of a tiered approach, awards are regularly reviewed and pupils are able to progress through the structure, should their current performance and future potential meet the criteria outlined below. The tiered approach allows for a more bespoke level of support and recognition for pupils who continue to progress on their sporting journey whilst they are at the College.
Exhibitioner
| Sports Award | Time frame to be awarded | Criteria | What does the award provide? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exhibitioner | Year 8 – Year 11 | • Shows some potential in a sport(s), likely a school A-team player | • Formal recognition of future sporting potential |
| • Shows signs of developing physical, tactical, technical, commitment and psychological aspects | • Access to Aspirational Athlete Programme, once at Wellington College (online and in-person education) | ||
| • Possibly starting a representative performance pathway (County, Club, Regional or National level) | • Invitation to physical training support via online platform (once at Wellington College) |
Scholar
| Sports Award | Time frame to be awarded | Criteria | What does the award provide? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Scholar | Year 9 – Year 13 | • High potential or strong current performance in s sport(s) | Alongside all benefits available to Exhibitioners, Scholars also receive: |
| • Likely dominant in a school A team, possibly playing up age grades | • Sports Scholar tie/pin | ||
| • Almost certainly advancing in a representative pathway (County, Club, Regional, or National level) | • Name added to Boarding House honours boards (where available) | ||
| • Greater access to coaching | |||
| • Video analysis support (where applicable for individual development) | |||
| • Invitation to in-person physical training sessions |
Master’s Scholar
| Sports Award | Time frame to be awarded | Criteria | What does the award provide? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s Scholar | Year 12 – Year 13 | • Awarded to Year 12/13 meeting Sports Scholar criteria, but now being recognised as having exceptional potential and current high performance (both internally and externally from Wellington College) in a particular sport | • Bespoke strength & conditioning (S&C) support |
| • Strong commitment to sport (evidenced by significant external training and representative involvement) | • Half termly sport psychology meeting | ||
| • Highly ambitious (e.g. aiming for US university scholarship or early professional contract) | • Biweekly meeting with sporting mentor & individual development plan support | ||
| Performance examples: • Selection for advanced high-performance environments beyond the College • Inclusion in elite professional club/franchise programmes • National level selection or equivalent achievement among top performers in age group | • Additional coaching for priority sports (support for off-site training in non-priority sports where possible) |
Master’s Scholar with International Honours
| Sports Award | Time frame to be awarded | Criteria | What does the award provide? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s Scholar with International Honours | Year 12 – Year 13 | • Awarded to those meeting Master’s Scholar criteria and achieving age-group full international representation (U18/U19) | - Acknowledgement at Speech Day |
| • Also applies to those with full adult international representation | |||
| • Includes athletes who have played professionally at the highest level in their sport |
At all levels, pupils must uphold the College values at all times, in training and fixtures at the College as well as at their current school and in any performance sport setting.
Sport awards do not provide a reduction in school fees.
The Sports Awards Process
13+ entry
For 13+ entry, Sports Awards are offered but not until after joining Wellington College, at the end of a pupil’s Third Form year. These awards are based on performance and attitude while at Wellington, but also take potential into account.
Candidates who are interested in being awarded a Sports Award can attend an Inspire Day in the Lent Term of Year 8. Inspire Days allow students to show their talent, work with our teachers and coaches, and get an understanding of the wider sports programme that will be available to them from the Third Form and beyond. Receiving a Sports Award is not dependent on attending an Inspire Day. To attend an Inspire Day, pupils/parents should indicate their interest via the ‘Bursary, Scholarship and Inspire Day’ form that will be distributed by the Admissions Department, and applicants will then be contacted by the Sports office and asked to identify activities they wish to take part in on the day.
14+ entry
Sports Awards can be offered at this point, but would not normally occur until a pupil has joined the College, so as to most accurately determine the award they should receive, if any.
16+ entry
At 16+ Sports Awards are offered on entry based on current and future sporting performance and potential and include an assessment day in the Michaelmas term prior to entry.
