Human Flourishing in the Age of AI – FAQ

Human flourishing addresses what it means to lead a rich, fulfilling life that contributes to the family, the community and the planet. It has roots in Western, Eastern and indigenous philosophy. Flourishing people find happiness, relationships and meaning through purpose and agency. Education for human flourishing equips young people with the competencies to lead flourishing lives.  

Wellington College has long been a global pioneer in education founded by Queen Victoria as the international memorial to the Duke of Wellington.  That founding spirit now calls for something more fundamental: a recognition that the very model of education must evolve.  

We are committed to shaping a new educational paradigm  — Human Flourishing in the Age of AI — ensuring that emerging technologies are harnessed to deepen, not dilute, intellectual rigour; to spark, rather than stifle, curiosity; and to strengthen, not compromise, mental wellbeing and the development of secure identities.  

We will deploy AI with purpose and care, enhancing our pupils’ readiness for university and equipping them with the skills, judgement and character needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. 

Human flourishing will reshape the Wellington experience by placing the development of key human flourishing competencies at the heart of school life. For students, this means a more intentional and coherent focus—across academic, co-curricular, and pastoral domains—on cultivating five core capabilities: adaptive problem-solving, ethical competence, understanding the world, acting in the world and appreciating the world.  

Coaching will be fundamental to this process, supporting pupils to reflect more deeply, develop greater agency and design thoughtful responses to the challenges they encounter. Pupils will experience a more connected educational journey, in which their learning, values and personal growth are explicitly aligned.

At the same time, what makes a Wellington education distinctive will remain unchanged. Pupils will continue to benefit from a rich, ambitious and diverse curriculum, and from a breadth of opportunity that places the College at the forefront of global education.

Across the Wellington College schools we are teaching students to use AI responsibly and ethically through the Wellington AI Literacy Curriculum, a structured, whole-school approach embedded across all subjects and ages. The curriculum focuses on helping pupils learn how to be safe and effective users of AI, with clear academic boundaries to support learning.

Students will actively develop the competencies needed to lead meaningful and well-rounded lives. This will include regular reflection to build self-awareness, clarify values and strengthen their sense of purpose. Coaching will play a central role, helping pupils to navigate challenges, think independently, and take ownership of their development. 

In lessons, there will be a greater emphasis on discussion, enquiry and interdisciplinary learning, encouraging pupils to question ideas, make connections across subjects, and develop critical thinking and judgement. Alongside this, students will use AI thoughtfully to support learning, while creating more space for curiosity, reflection and appreciation of the world around them. 

Overall, students will not only gain knowledge, but will apply it in ways that deepen understanding, strengthen relationships and prepare them to respond confidently and thoughtfully to an evolving world. 

We are deeply ambitious about the opportunity for AI to be used safely and effectively in schools .  Our vision is one where AI enables more human time to be spent on the activities that most profoundly support learning and human development, and where learning can be adapted to suit each individual pupil.  We want teachers to spend less time on administration and more time with and for pupil development.

The human flourishing competencies build upon the foundational skills of mathematics, literacy and science. We remain committed to ensuring that students achieve the highest possible academic outcomes, and we believe that by developing these competencies explicitly, this will deepen understanding of key content, and attainment will continue to improve. Alongside this, personal growth will be a central priority: we will cultivate the skills, attitudes and values that enable students to thrive in an evolving world, equipping them with the creative, problem-solving skills needed to be highly competitive in the job market. 

Building on existing subjects and qualifications, human flourishing equips students with the broader competencies vital for surviving and thriving in a world transformed by AI.  It prepares them for the jobs of the future, and it gives them a deep understanding of what it means to be a human being, with purpose, agency and identity. 

Academic achievement makes a vital contribution to human flourishing. It builds the knowledge and cognitive skills essential for foundational literacies, subject disciplines and specific flourishing competencies, such as adaptive problem-solving and understanding the world. But flourishing competencies are nurtured not only in the classroom. They also consist of values, attitudes and social skills, such as empathy, collaboration and leadership, developed through the co-curriculum (sport, arts, service and citizenship) and pastoral life in houses.   

Wellington’s approach is anchored in the OECD Education for Human Flourishing framework, published in November 2025 after five years’ work with the world’s high performing education systems.  The OECD is responsible for PISA, the world’s leading benchmark of student performance. It has built up an outstanding international research community, which works closely with national research teams around the world.  

All year groups, across both Wellington College Prep and Wellington College, will be involved. The development of key human flourishing competencies will serve as a unifying principle, underpinning our educational provision and shaping all aspects of school life.