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‘Each house is like a second, loving family. You feel safe and supported,’ says one pupil, in a comment that speaks to how tight-knit the community is at Wellington College. With its 400-acre campus and ever-expanding facilities, there’s no shortage of activities, but the structure of house life ensures it never feels unmanageable. And there’s no shortage of developments here, either. The opening of Elizabeth House, its 18th boarding house, alongside the new Raglan House for day boys, has reshaped the rhythm of daily life, while reaching the milestone of a 50:50 gender balance has marked a significant moment in the school’s evolution.
Wellington has never lacked ambition, but what’s striking is where it’s now directed. The forthcoming Institutes of Human Flourishing and AI indicate a place focused on how pupils will think in a rapidly changing world; this approach feeds into a broader redo of the curriculum, in which philosophical enquiry, digital literacy and ethical reasoning sit alongside traditional academics. It’s all symptomatic of the school’s outward-looking vision: since 2021, Wellington has distributed nearly £3 million in grants to local state schools, funding projects from IT upgrades to playgrounds. Co-curricular life reaches the same heights. From pupil-written productions that reach the Edinburgh Fringe to a student-run radio station, there is a strong streak of self-starting. As one parent says, ‘The pupils lift each other and the staff harness this energy to help each of them achieve their potential.’
