We welcome pupils, parents and staff to celebrate Speech Day 2024 with us in the iconic Wellington Big Top. Enjoy a showcase event of the year’s activities, prize-giving and speeches from the College community. This is followed by the annual House drinks reception and lunch on Turf, various pupil led activities across site including the field gun, exhibitions and the traditional full school callover.
Timings for the Day
09.00: Doors open at the Big Top
09.45: Audience must be seated in the Big Top
10.00: Speech Day show and ceremony starts in the Big Top
12.15: House drinks reception and lunch on Turf. Afternoon activities commence – Art and DET exhibitions, Cricket and Field Gun
15.50: Sword of Honour and Drum Corps, Pupils’ Medals and Master’s Callover
16.30: End of day
Sustainability
In the interest of sustainability, please note that bottled water will not be provided in the Speech Day Big Top this year. This initiative has been driven by the student body. We ask all attendees to bring a refillable water bottle with them.
Inclusivity
- Access to the Big Top: Trackway across the gravel and grass paths to the tent, to provide a more level path for wheelchairs, motorised scooters and different footwear.
- Seating in the Big Top: As standard, we have several wheelchair locations or seats at end of rows/extended leg room and seats close to exits if required. We will ask at point of booking if you have any preferences and will allocate you seats according to your needs.
- Toilets:
– Big Top: A portable accessible toilet is located with the main Big Top temporary toilets.
– Turf: A portable accessible toilet is located on the College Shop side of Turf, and the Driver Leadership Room accessible toilet will be available.
– Other: Other accessible toilets are located in Monro Pavilion, Penny Quad (off Front Quad where Great School is) and the GWA. - Parking: As standard, accessible parking is provided in all our main car parks. So that we can reserve your preferred option, please advise of any parking requirements you have on the booking.
- Access around Site: The Events team will have a small number of golf buggies, including a wheelchair accessible buggy, to help our guests requiring assistance travel around the site from the Big Top, to lunch and the pupil activities.
- The Quiet Room: If you or one of your guests require some time out in a smaller space, that is calm, the quiet room is the ideal location. Bean bags, dim lighting, calm music… a little haven away from the hustle and bustle of Speech Day.
Venue
The day commences in the Big Top on Bigside
Audience
Pupils, Parents and Staff
Big Top Tickets
TWO tickets are available per pupil. Pupils do not require a ticket as they will be seated with their House in the pupil area of the Big Top.
Lunch Tickets
If you wish to book the 1711 by Ascot lunch (instead of bringing your own picnic), this will be bookable via the same site as your Big Top tickets. Lunch will need to be booked and paid for, for both parents and pupils.
Booking
Parents will be sent their own family booking link, bookings will be handled on a staggered basis and the first group of parents will receive their email on Monday 4 March. Please DO NOT forward your family booking link to anyone else.
Each family’s ticket allocation will be safeguarded until it is booked or we receive an RSVP declining the invite. There is no first come, first served policy for this event.
Queries
Please email speechday@wellingtoncollege.org.uk.