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Boarding to suit modern families
Boarding at Wellington College Prep continues to thrive, welcoming a diverse and motivated group of students from across the UK and overseas. Our boarding house remains a genuine home-from-home, where pupils feel relaxed, supported and able to be themselves, while also being encouraged to grow into the strongest versions of who they can be.
We promote confidence, independence and responsibility through weekly assembly challenges, high expectations around organisation, daily dormitory scores and a clear system of house stars and rewards. Boarding continues to evolve, with pupil leadership playing an increasingly important role; our house prefects help shape the culture of the community and support their peers. Alongside maintaining valued traditions, we have modernised to make boarding more accessible, with many pupils choosing to board one or two nights a week to enjoy activities with friends and gain valuable experience for their future schools.
Our partnership with boarding families is stronger than ever. Most pupils spend time at home every other weekend, allowing boarding time to focus fully on their academic, pastoral and social development during the week. These regular family connections help maintain a healthy balance between home life and boarding life.
Moreover, boarding at Wellington College is about feeling a sense of belonging at the most exciting time in your life. Rather than seeing learning and growth as separate events, the magic of boarding is that it combines everything into a single space of safe, supported and expert care. From having staff on hand to support with academic extension through to enjoying the facilities that underpin physical and mental wellbeing in our 400 acres; from hanging out with your best friends to trying something new every day, boarding means that all parts of adolescent development are working together in every sense, helping the young person emerge into adulthood confident and equipped with a self-literacy that can only be fostered by being part of a vibrant and effective residential community.
Critically, this is shaped by the immersive boarders experience by being part of one of our eighteen houses. This House structure helps enable lifelong confidence and compassion to flourish while also allowing the space for individuality and personal development. Everyone here is heard, known and valued through our pastoral structures, which means all the glorious unpredictability of being a teen can be recognised, managed – and celebrated often! Young people learn the most from each other. Witnessing the excellence of everyone is what makes boarding the greatest of adventures here, bringing the fullest of rewards, and it is something we have been pioneering for over 150 years.
STUART BROWN and TOM WAYMAN
Head of Boarding (Wellington College Prep) and Deputy Head (Pastoral) (Wellington College)
www.wellingtoncollegeprep.org.uk
www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk
