Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Schools
  3. Wellington college crowthorne

Wellington College A GSG School

Wellington College
  • Wellington College
    Duke's Ride
    Crowthorne
    Berkshire
    RG45 7PU
  • Head: James Dahl
  • T 01344 444013
  • E admissions@wellingtoncollege.org.uk
  • W www.wellingtoncollege.org.uk
  • Wellington College is an English independent day and boarding school located in the village of Crowthorne, Berkshire. It educates over 1,000 boys and girls from 13 to 18 and was built as a national monument to the first Duke of Wellington.
  • Boarding: Yes
  • Local authority: Bracknell Forest
  • Pupils: 1,140; sixth formers: 510
  • Religion: Church of England
  • Fees: Day £38,100; Boarding £52,110 pa

    Fees last updated: 27/06/2024

    Please note school fees are subject to VAT from January 2025. During this transition period, please contact school for full fee information.

  • Open days: See website
  • Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
  • Linked schools: Wellington College Prep

What says..

Part of its success is that it lives comfortably with its layers of history without being overwhelmed by them, think parents. Heritage matters but only so far. ‘It wasn’t about how many prime ministers they’d produced but about what we can do for your children – it felt modern whereas other schools were a bit old boys-y.’ ‘You’re not going to end up sleeping in the same bed your grandfather slept in.’ (A dubious recommendation at the best of times, we’d have thought)...

Read review »

What the school says...

Wellington College offers co-educational excellence in the heart of Berkshire and can justly claim to be one of the world’s great boarding and day schools. A beguiling mix of tradition and innovation is seen not just in the school’s 400-acre campus and impressive buildings, but also in the College’s restless desire to provide the most exciting and interesting education of any school in the UK.

Offering both A levels and the IB Diploma, the academic provision is second to none. Academic results and Oxbridge and Ivy League offers, which consistently place the school at the top of the league tables, are not the only markers of Wellington’s educational success. A world leader in educational research, Wellington lessons are typified by a wealth of subject knowledge and top-tier pedagogical practice. One of the first schools to embrace the Harkness Philosophy, Wellington places its pupils at the heart of their educational journey and allows them to learn the values of rigorous research and lively debate.

Co-curricular provision of the arts is second to none. Its 1100-seater two-tier Annenberg theatre gives its musicians, actors, singers and dancers the opportunity to perform in a setting that would not be out of place in the West End or on Broadway, while its renowned speech day extravaganza in the Big Top allows performers a chance to showcase the very best moments of the year. With over 630 pupils taking individual music or drama lessons involvement in the arts is an integral part of a Wellington education, and the annual musical (this year Les Mis), the Christmas dance show, the concerto concerts and strong house music, dance and drama competitions see every pupil on stage.

Wellington enjoys an enviable sporting reputation. With 26 different sports on offer, outstanding provision and facilities available to elite athletes – or for those who simply enjoy participating – there is something for everyone at every level. From rugby to rackets, or tennis to triathlon, Wellingtonians enjoy bumper sporting successes, with many team and individual wins at both national and international level. Boys’ rugby and girls’ hockey are particularly strong, while its boys' and girls' cricket teams continue to impress. Football is increasingly popular, and the onsite nine-hole golf course is widely regarded as the finest school course in the country.

Leadership and service to others are central to the college’s values: co-curricular activities include CCF, Duke of Edinburgh’s award and a pioneering Global Social Leaders scheme in which pupils learn to create and run innovative social action projects, tackling local and global issues. Wellington prides itself on outstanding levels of pastoral support. Pupil and staff-led mental health initiatives, alongside our nationally recognised Wellbeing curriculum, not only help pupils navigate their teenage years, but also prepare them for healthy, happy and successful lives. ‘Find your purpose, realise your potential’ is the challenge we make to our pupils and why we believe that a Wellington education will allow them to serve and help shape a better world. ...Read more

Do you know this school?

The schools we choose, and what we say about them, are founded on parents’ views. If you know this school, please share your views with us.

Please login to post a comment.

Login for my schools Login for compare

Curricula

International Baccalaureate: diploma - the diploma is the familiar A-level equivalent.

Sports

Polo

Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.

Rowing

Fencing

Shooting

Sailing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Master

Since 2019, Mr James Dahl MA (classics at Cambridge). Married with a daughter who is currently at the school. Joined as head of admissions and marketing in 2013 before becoming second master elect and deputy head (pastoral care). Worked with the now legendary Anthony Seldon here and at Brighton College, where he started his career (‘an utter privilege… [my] biggest influence apart from my mother’) becoming head of classics at 23, then head of sixth form. Moved to Repton in 2006 where he was a housemaster.

Family tradition narrowed career choices down to teaching, medicine or the church. Feedback suggests that he picked the right path. Parents like his lack of obfuscation, particularly evident during the twists and turns of government guidance during the pandemic. ‘Letters so informative, doesn’t try...

Subscribe now for instant access to read The Good Schools Guide review.

Already subscribed? Login here.

Please note: Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

Who came from where

Who goes where

Special Education Needs

The Academic Support and SEND department at Wellington College is an integrated provision, where we are committed to supporting and identifying all pupils with specific learning difficulties of a mild nature. We liaise closely with the admissions department to identify and discuss any pupils with a SEND profile. This may be supplemented by a visit to prep schools but there is always discussion with the SENDCos and SEND department of the relevant transition schools. Our mission is to have pupils who are able to thrive and be happy in this fast-paced academic environment and we aim to support pupils in their academic and pastoral needs as appropriate. It is important to reiterate that we are able to provide academic support for pupils who have a mild SEND and that we are not in a position to support more advanced needs. We work closely with the pastoral team including the housemasters and house mistresses, tutors and teachers to ensure there is an holistic approach to supporting all of our pupils. Once enrolled, we collate and disseminate any reports from professionals into an Individual Education Plan, and this is shared with all staff. In addition, any provision for access arrangements is discussed and parents are made aware of the regulations from the examination body on reassessment and access arrangements. We can provide extra time and a laptop concession, where the pupil qualifies, and rest breaks where there is evidenced medical need. Alongside access arrangements, the department is also responsible for providing additional support for pupils where the need has been identified. This can take the form of individual or small group support sessions and pupil drop-in clinics.

Condition Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder
Y
HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment
Y
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability
Y
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP)
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Y
VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment
Y

Who came from where

Subscribe for instant access to in-depth reviews:

☑ 30,000 Independent, state and special schools in our parent-friendly interactive directory
☑ Instant access to in-depth UK school reviews
☑ Honest, opinionated and fearless independent reviews of over 1,000 schools
☑ Independent tutor company reviews

Try before you buy - The Charter School Southwark

Buy Now

GSG Blog >

The Good Schools Guide newsletter

Educational insight in your inbox. Sign up for our popular newsletters.