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Families, students and staff gathered at Wellington College on Sunday 21 June for the annual Third Form Celebration, a much-loved occasion that recognises the achievements of the College’s youngest year group as they complete their first year at Wellington.
Parents and grandparents were welcomed to the College for an afternoon of celebration, beginning with afternoon tea in the V&A Café and Selangor Court before exploring exhibitions showcasing the breadth of students’ academic and creative work. The day reflected the remarkable progress made by the Third Form across their first nine months, highlighting their enthusiasm for learning, creativity and the opportunities that define a Wellington education.
A centrepiece of the afternoon was the Malim Prize Exhibition in Waterloo Hall. Named after former Master Frederick Blagden Malim, the Malim Prize is regarded as an academic rite of passage for every Wellingtonian, encouraging students to pursue an area of personal interest through a medium of their choosing. This year’s projects explored an extraordinary range of topics, from quantum computing, coral reef conservation and smartphone addiction to philosophy, politics, history, music and creative writing, demonstrating both intellectual curiosity and originality.
This year’s Malim Prize was awarded to Tirion, whose creative project was recognised at Speech Day earlier this term. House finalists presented a diverse collection of speeches, manifestos, artistic creations, fragments and exhibitions that reflected the individuality and ambition of the cohort.
Alongside the Malim Prize, the College also celebrated the Matt Oakman Prize for Academic Extension, recognising students who had undertaken independent research through the Academic Extension programme. Weekly sessions throughout the year encouraged students to explore subjects beyond the curriculum before developing their own research questions. The winning project, by Muli examined the causes of recent book banning in the United States with impressive depth and maturity, while runners-up explored topics including the ethics of the Hiroshima bombings and mandatory vaccination during public health emergencies.
Philip Wragg, Head of Third Form, reflected on the cohort’s outstanding first year:
“I am immensely proud of everything the Third Form pupils have achieved this year. They have embraced all that Wellington has to offer, making the most of the many opportunities available to them, both academic and co-curricular. The year group has grown into a strong and cohesive community with great potential. It has been a genuine pleasure to work with all the pupils and their families, and I wish every one of them the very best as they embark on their GCSE journeys.”
Visitors also enjoyed the Third Form Art Exhibition in the Cultural Living Room, where a year of artistic development was on display through painting, textiles and mixed media. The exhibition celebrated not only the technical progress made by students but also the confidence and creativity developed through opportunities such as the popular Rule of Thirds extension programme, which allows students to experiment with a wide variety of artistic disciplines beyond the classroom.
Academic excellence was further recognised through the David Newsome Essay Prize, which encourages students to engage with philosophical, ethical and religious questions through extended writing. This year’s winning essay by Liam explored the question Can AI be Given Consciousness?, thoughtfully examining contrasting philosophical perspectives before presenting a balanced and considered conclusion.
The celebrations concluded in the GWA with a vibrant concert showcasing the extraordinary breadth of talent within the Third Form. Musical performances included Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major performed by Muli, Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe performed by Oscar and a rousing finale from the Third Form Jazz Ensemble with Gonna Fly Now from Rocky.
Dance performances highlighted the strength of Wellington’s thriving dance programme, featuring contemporary, lyrical and acrobatic works performed by students from across the year group.
Drama students entertained the audience with The Bard’s Apprentices, presenting scenes from Shakespeare’s As You Like It, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, demonstrating confidence, imagination and a growing appreciation for classical theatre.
Throughout the afternoon, the celebration reflected the many ways in which the Third Form have embraced life at Wellington, whether in the classroom, on stage, in the studio, through academic scholarship or in the wider co-curricular programme.
In his welcome, the Master, James Dahl, reflected on the remarkable journey the year group has made since arriving at Wellington:
“They may only have been here for nine months, but they have already made it quite clear they have spirit, serious academic spark and so much to give to the College over the next four years.”
He also praised the students’ commitment to Wellington’s values of Kindness, Responsibility, Respect, Integrity and Courage, recognising not only their achievements but also the character they have developed during their first year.
The Third Form Celebration provided a fitting conclusion to an outstanding first year at Wellington College, recognising a cohort whose curiosity, enthusiasm and willingness to embrace every opportunity promise an exciting future within the College community.
Congratulations to every member of the Third Form on a fantastic first year and all they have accomplished.
