Sir Anthony Seldon Appointed Founding Director of Wellington College Education

Wellington College has appointed Sir Anthony Seldon as Founding Director of its new global education network, Wellington College Education (WCE). Encompassing currently ten schools around the world, its activities include Festivals of Education in the UK, US, China and Thailand. Anthony is charged with developing the network in the UK and abroad and infusing it with a unified vision about what responsible and imaginative education means in the 21^stcentury. The aim, simply put, is to make WCE the most admired and forward-thinking global education brand.

James Dahl, the 15^th Master of Wellington College and CEO of Wellington College Education commented on the appointment:

“This marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Wellington College Education. We live in an era where both the way we educate and educating bodies themselves are undergoing significant change, driven by geopolitics and revolutionary new technologies. Anthony’s leadership and vision will be invaluable as we equip pupils across the world to thrive in a landscape where a global perspective and an education rich in humanity will be essential.” 

William Jackson, Chair of Governors said;

“Education is changing massively. Anthony has been renowned as one of the most pioneering and influential figures in education for 25 years and we’re delighted to have him return to Wellington to help maintain and develop our position as a leader in educational thinking globally”

Sir Anthony, who has just finished as Head of Epsom College was previously Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham and 13^th Master of Wellington College, 2006-15 (and before that Headmaster of Brighton College) and begins his new role on the 1^st of September. At Wellington he initiated the network of international schools, the Festival of Education, and the drive that saw Wellington become one of Britain’s and world’s leading co-ed schools. He has been a pioneer in many areas of school life, including AI, character education, wellbeing, holistic education and leadership. He remarked:

“I am delighted to rejoin the Wellington fold after a decade away. At no point in the last century has education been more in flux. There is something fundamentally flawed and outmoded about the mechanistic straitjacket governments in the UK and abroad impose on schools. Wellington College Education aims, building on its pioneering educational model, to shape thinking about what education means and schools can be, and to promulgate a new more holistic paradigm for the mid-21stCentury, attuned to the history and traditions of the countries in which we will be operating. 

AI alone is changing every single aspect of education and the world we are preparing young people for. We need to be educating the young to think globally, entrepreneurially, creatively and responsibly if they, and the world, are to flourish”

For more information on Wellington College Education and Sir Anthony Seldon’s appointment, please contact Vicky Williams, email: VWilliams@wellingtoncollege.org.uk Phone: 01344 444000

About Wellington College Education: Wellington College Education (WCE) is the global educational network of Wellington College, dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and fostering cultural connection for young people worldwide through educational excellence, leadership and partnership.