Wellington College Named Co-educational Independent School of the Year 2026

Wellington College is delighted to have been named Co-educational Independent School of the Year at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2026, a fitting recognition as the College celebrates 50 years of co-education and reaches a historic milestone of equal numbers of girls and boys.

The award recognises schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to co-education, celebrating not only academic achievement and co-curricular excellence, but also the opportunities, experiences and values that enable girls and boys to learn, grow and flourish together.

For Wellington, the recognition comes at a particularly significant moment. The 2025–26 academic year marked 50 years since girls were first admitted to the College, while September 2025 saw Wellington achieve a 50:50 balance of girls and boys for the first time in its history.

Throughout the anniversary year, the Wellington community came together to mark this journey through a programme of events, including a Pioneering Women’s Trail, the premiere of the documentary Better Together: The Path to Co-education, a special arts celebration at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall attended by HRH The Duke of Kent, and a co-education-themed Speech Day.

At the heart of Wellington’s approach is the belief that young people benefit enormously from learning, collaborating and developing alongside one another, challenging stereotypes, broadening perspectives and building the confidence to succeed beyond school.

This philosophy is reflected across every aspect of College life, from classrooms and boarding houses to sports pitches, performance spaces and leadership opportunities.

In sport, Wellington continues to champion opportunities for all pupils to pursue their ambitions, regardless of gender. Recent milestones include Nishka and Zaara becoming the first female pupils to feature on the College’s Cricket Honours Board, while the girls’ cricket team toured South Africa alongside the boys’ team for the first time in Wellington’s history.

In the performing arts, collaboration between boys and girls is equally fundamental. Productions regularly challenge traditional casting conventions, while pupils work together as performers, musicians, technicians and creative leaders.

Academic opportunities are similarly shaped by a culture that encourages pupils to follow their individual interests and talents. In the Sixth Form, 60% of girls study Mathematics and 73% study at least one STEM subject, demonstrating the College’s commitment to challenging traditional expectations and encouraging academic ambition.

Wellington’s commitment to co-education extends well beyond the classroom.

The Elizabeth, the College’s first co-educational Sixth Form boarding house, reached full capacity during the anniversary year. With separate accommodation wings and shared communal spaces, the House provides opportunities for girls and boys to build friendships, develop independence and prepare for life beyond Wellington in a supportive environment.

Alongside these initiatives, the College continues to prioritise a culture of kindness, respect and belonging. Partnerships with organisations such as Bold Voices and  Words Matter  encourage thoughtful conversations about relationships, gender stereotypes and the importance of language in shaping an inclusive community.

As one Sixth Form pupil reflected on their experience of co-education:

“Your gender doesn’t make a difference, it just makes the whole experience more enjoyable.”

Fifty years after welcoming its first female pupils, Wellington has evolved into a community in which co-education is not simply a feature of College life, but a defining strength.

This award is a celebration of that journey and of the pupils, staff, parents and wider Wellington community who have helped shape the College into the school it is today.

It also reflects Wellington’s continuing ambition to provide an education in which every young person is encouraged to pursue their interests, challenge expectations and develop the character, confidence and understanding to flourish in an increasingly interconnected world.

We are immensely proud to receive this recognition and look forward to building on the legacy of the past 50 years as we continue to shape the future of co-education at Wellington.