LENT 2019 EDITION
Wellington TODAY
WW1 MEMORIAL WEBSITE A MOVING TRIBUTE TO WELLINGTON’S FALLEN (Pg. 4-5)
GROWBABYGROW
COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT COMES TO FRUITION (Pg. 8-11) 1
WOW
WIDENING OPPORTUNITY AT WELLINGTON (Pg. 16-17)
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Contents INSPIRED
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INTELLECTUAL
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INDEPENDENT
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INDIVIDUAL
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INCLUSIVE
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ACADEMIC
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THE ARTS
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GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
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SPORT
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WELLINGTON TODAY LENT 2019 EDITION
WW1 Memorial Website A MOVING TRIBUTE TO WELLINGTON’S FALLEN To mark the Armistice Centenary,Wellington College has launched a new website to commemorate the students and staff who gave their lives during the First World War. In addition to the Roll of Honour, the site contains letters, documents, extracts from the College Year Books, and pages from the Wellingtonian magazine – together they tell the story of Wellington’s fallen and paint a rich picture of College life as it continued during the war. Founded in memory of the 1st Duke of Wellington, ‘Britain’s greatest general’, Wellington College has always had a strong military connection. When the First World War broke out in August 1914, around 2400 Old Wellingtonians were already serving in Britain’s armed forces, and a further 408 joined up in the first five months alone. Hundreds more followed and, throughout the War, the College faithfully recorded the details of those serving, wounded and killed. The First World War Memorial website is a moving tribute to Wellington’s fallen. The project has been managed by the College Archivist, Caroline Jones, who started planning the website over two years ago. As one of the schools in the UK with the greatest number of casualties (there are over 700 deaths on our First World War Roll of Honour), Caroline felt that it was important to create something unique in their memory. The basic information had already been collated several years ago, through a project involving Wellington students and led by Julian Jeffrey, now Master of Wellington College Tianjin. Using the data Julian had collated, Caroline was able to work with archive digitisation providers, SDS, to create a memorial website that
creates an evocative, personal, and colourful account of this momentous period in the College’s history. Caroline commented: ‘I felt that it was important to add context by including more material than just the Roll of Honour. The website therefore contains many other documents of the period, which show examples of Wellingtonians serving in the war, illustrating how life at College continued during the war, and focusing on how Wellington honoured its fallen immediately afterwards. Material will still be added to the website as we go on. For example, we soon hope to add an interactive map showing all the graves and memorials worldwide where our fallen are commemorated.’ As we mark 100 years since the end of the Great War, it is fascinating to read first-hand accounts from Wellingtonians who lived through it. In a letter to his sister, written on 11 November 1918, Stanley pupil Norman Stirling captures brilliantly the atmosphere in College as news of the Armistice arrived: ‘There has been a great commotion; the news was brought round in last hour this morning and that the Master had granted us a half. After lunch there was a fine to-do up in College, everyone hung long flags or table cloths or pyjamas out of their windows…’ To read the College’s Roll of Honour and to learn more about how the students and staff of Wellington celebrated the Armistice, including Stirling’s account of a ‘general pillow fight’ in the quad, visit the World War 1 Memorial Website, accessible from the main College site.
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GRIT, DETERMINATION AND RESILIENCE: DEB ATING AT WELLINGTON A glance at the records in the College archives will tell you that debating has been a hugely popular activity at various periods in Wellington’s history. The debating books show that, at times during the nineteenth century, over 100 students were regularly turning up to debate. Inspired by the politics of the day, Wellingtonians have, over the years, grappled with such questions as ‘should women be given the vote?’ and, in 1917, ‘should Russia return to being an autocracy?’ Today, under the leadership of Dr Victoria Gardner, debating is enjoying something of a resurgence. We are a force to be reckoned with or, as Dr Gardner put it, ‘We’ve got a reputation’.
out the team. During Lent Term, 12 students will compete in the LSE Juniors competition, something that will provide valuable learning experience. In addition, Dr Gardner has built a formidable team of coaches who work with Wellington’s debaters every week. The England Manager, Isabel Fidderman, is part of the set-up, as is Will Cook, former number one speaker in the world and a member of the England team, and Jamie Jackson, who also represents England. In short, we have the best debaters in the country, coming at least twice a week, to train our students. It is no wonder that, these days, ‘when people see they’ve got Wellington in a room, they are actually quite dismayed’.
competition along the way (Westminster, St Paul’s Girls’, Dulwich, Eton) to get to the national final in London. Winning the Mace put Sparsh and Ramarni in a good position for this year’s British Parliamentary competition, arguably the country’s largest and toughest debating competition. This competition follows a standard debating format: teams of two, with four teams around the table, and only 15 minutes to prepare each motion. With no access to phones or technology, knowledge has to be considerable. Showing immense ‘grit, determination and resilience’, Sparsh and Ramarni reached the finals and finished as runners-up of 104 teams – an incredible achievement.
Over the last five years, we have changed the way in which debating is organised and structured. To raise the profile of debating and to build interest from a grass-roots level, all Third Form students, including all academic scholars, are encouraged to try-
Wellington’s debaters are starting to see some impressive results. Last year, Sparsh Jain (U6, R) and Ramarni Wilfred (L6, S) won the national Mace Competition, run by the English Speaking Union. They battled through eight rounds, beating all the major
Sparsh and Ramarni train, on average, eight hours a week, and usually complete another four hours of preparation work. During the competition season this can go up to more than 25 hours. Their efforts are well worth it. Not only are they ‘doing a brilliant job of
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inspiring our new Fourth Form debaters’ but they are developing skills that will doubtless take them far in life. Debating is a powerful and beneficial skill; its impact can be transformational, both on the individuals who take part and on the community as whole. Debating serves multiple purposes. Firstly, there is a very clear link between Debating and Oxbridge. ‘Speak to any coach and they will say the same’ explains Dr Gardner. ‘In terms of stretching students, it doesn’t matter how able you are, it’s always going to challenge you. Not only are you learning constantly about new things, but it’s the skill of being able to articulate what you know, of thinking on your feet, that is so very powerful’. Secondly, it is a skill that builds resilience. In the recent British Parliamentary competition, Sparsh and Ramarni had to complete
four rounds to get to the final. In the first round they came third out of four teams. ‘In previous years that would have crushed our students,’ said Dr Gardner, ‘and they would have fallen at that point. But Sparsh and Ramarni went to on to get 1,1,1 and a place in the final. They took the criticism and just ran with it. That resilience was critical’. Debating enables students to advocate for themselves and for others. ‘If we are saying that we want our students to become the leaders of the future, then being able to persuade others is a critical skill. It gives confidence, particularly to students who are quieter. You don’t have to be brilliant at speaking to be a good debater, the most important thing is your ability to think.’ Finally, Dr Gardner believes that debating is about community, about making friends. ‘The team atmosphere is just wonderful at the moment,’ she commented. ‘The way in 7
which the Fourth Form really support the older students – and vice versa – is great to see. It’s about getting to know people across different age groups – it doesn’t matter how old they are, they work together, and that level of support is a really lovely thing to see’. The future looks bright for debating at Wellington. Dr Gardner is optimistic: ‘We’re quietly hoping that, with the big competitions, this is just the just beginning.There’s more to come...’
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“I feel it’s really captured their hearts – they have listened to the needs of some of the local families… This project will change lives.”
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Baby
COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECT COMES TO FRUITION Students from Wellington College have been working with volunteers from the Vineyard Church in Crowthorne to transform a plot of land into a safe space for children. The GrowBabyGrow project will allow parents to work on the adjacent allotments, providing food for themselves and nourishment for the whole community. The experience has been transformative for all involved. One Fifth Form student, who helped with the physical work of levelling the ground, commented, ‘I have enjoyed the manual labour because, by using my own energy, I have helped to change someone’s life. It is not like signing a form or sending money. By putting the effort in, I feel that I’ve been the person making the change’. Netty Field, a volunteer from the Vineyard Church, who has overseen the project, spoke about the impact the Wellington students have had: ‘I feel it’s really captured their hearts – they have listened to the needs of some of the local families and have gone away and thought about it. Michaela, one of the family members involved, has a phrase, ‘Less talk, more dig’, and the Wellington students have definitely done that: they have just got on, they have dug over the ground; they have cut up the thorns; they have
upcycled the clothes; they have planned, and encouraged, and they have given the different gifts that they possess, using all their skills and resources, and coming together as community to help families that are in desperate need on their doorstep. This project will transform lives’. The students involved in the GrowBabyGrow project were divided into four groups. While some worked to level the ground or to remove thorns and debris, others up-cycled clothes to create rugs and canopies for babies. Meanwhile, a Media team, recorded the process. Here is their story, in their own words: ‘A Safer and More Inclusive Space for All’ – the GrowBabyGrow Project, told by the Wellington Media team. The GrowBabyGrow Project was an offshoot of the Vineyard Church charity’s GrowBaby Project, which began in March 2012 and aims to help families in need with baby supplies, such as clothes or nappies. The actual GrowBabyGrow project is in its second year, with one plot having already been completed and the other for us to help with, and was inspired by the BBC documentary ‘Sister Rita to the Rescue’ 9
(about a nun who ran a foodbank and provided ‘a hand up, not a hand out’ by showing people how to grow their own food). An example of who is benefitting from this project is a young girl called Isla, whose father was killed in a car accident, and who now comes to the allotment daily with her mother to relax and enjoy the outdoors. It also helps the parents educate their children about healthy produce and where it comes from. Our project space began as a derelict and overgrown plot of land which we aimed to convert into a safe and fun space in which young children can play whilst their parents work in the allotment. However, there was an issue regarding the safety of the area which we had to address: we knew that the allotment was very important to the local community as a place of leisure, and in which to learn new skills: gardening and growing vegetables to sustain a healthy diet. One of the pastors at the Vineyard Church described how much such an experience can ‘improve confidence and wellbeing’. We therefore had to make sure their children were visible and secure so that the adults didn’t have to worry about them and could instead make the most of their time working on the allotment.
WELLINGTON TODAY LENT 2019 EDITION
“I have enjoyed the manual labour because, by using my own energy, I have helped to change someone’s life.”
We initially split into four groups: Muscles & Maths, Media, Design & Layout, and Decoration. Each of these groups contributed towards different areas of the project and, over the course of the seven weeks, many improvements to the area have been made. The first week consisted of planning our future amendments to the area, which were overseen by the Design & Layout team, following a visit to the site, where we met the Vineyard Church team and gathered their ideas about transforming the allotment. Weeks two and three consisted of preliminary clearing of the site by moving rubbish and excess debris from the area, carried out by the Muscles & Maths group. Meanwhile, the Media team interviewed the key leadership figures of the Vineyard Church and put together Twitter feeds for Wellington to raise awareness for our project. By weeks four and five, we had sourced the materials to start making the path and improved the fencing, whilst the Decoration team used the new materials to create a safe and colourful shelter for the children. The last two weeks of the project were dedicated to making final touches to the work done so far, ensuring that the initial aims of safety and the needs of the allotment users were met. In future, Vineyard Church have applied for funds for a winter shelter, so they can continue growing throughout the winter months.
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INTERVIEW WITH MARK DODD, HEAD GARDENER Wellington College sits on a 410-acre site and, with a huge variety of habitats and landscapes, sports fields, a golf course, formal gardens, lakes, woodlands, heathland areas, all of which require completely different management techniques, the gardeners have their work cut out. We talk to Head Gardener, Mark Dodd, about the peaks and troughs of the gardening year at Wellington. What do you enjoy most about your job? I think it is the variety, as much as anything. The nature of the site means that there are different focal points through the year. We work on a lot of the formal lawns and formal gardens through the quads and into College Garden and the boarding house garden from March through to September to keep them looking at their best, then we’ve got the Chelsea Flower Show garden – the Living Legacy Garden – so we’ll be working in the main hub of the College. Then, in winter we’re up onto the heath doing some of the heathland management with the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), which we manage with Natural England. So that gives us plenty of variety and a chance for the team to use a huge range of skills. With gardening, there are always two sides: you’ve got that immediate impact – planting a new border or even just cutting a lawn or a hedge and instantly you can look back
at it – and then you’ve got something like planting bulbs which you’re not going to see for three, four, five months – that aspect of it is really satisfying as well. How many gardeners are there in the team? We’re a team of six. We’ve got a huge range of different roles – we’ve got some incredibly good machine operators, some very skilled gardeners and some pure horticultural gardeners, so between us we cover every aspect of what we need. What are the most challenging aspects of your work? I think it’s working around the College day, particularly through the summer with exam time, revision time, where we can and can’t work. It came as a bit of a shock to me that apparently exam results are more important than how stripey a lawn is. Of course, that’s how it has to be, and our working day is tailored around the students as much as we can. We’ve changed machinery where possible to battery-powered equipment so that it’s quieter, but we still have to be aware that the reason we are doing what we are doing is because the students are here, and we have to make sure that we can work around them.
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What is your favourite part of the campus? I like the formal areas – the Living Legacy Garden, for example. When I first started here that was in the process of being constructed and so I saw that through from breaking ground to completion. Also, it has been really interesting to be involved the new G.W. Annenberg Performing Arts Centre and in creating the landscaping around that. On the opposite side, it’s about maintaining existing landscape so some of the woodland management we do, the heathland management where we are trying to restore old heather, encouraging new growth for wildlife and then seeing the benefits of that. And when we had the heath reclassified by Natural England as being ‘regenerated heather’ rather than ‘old heather’ as an official status – that was quite a big moment for us so we were pretty pleased with that. Tell us about the SSSI? SSSI means ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’. It means that the site has to be managed in certain ways. We’ve got a bog area up there which has got a lot of rare mosses and liverworts and sundews. Lowland heath is incredibly rare, especially in the south of England. 80% of the lowland heath in the country is in southern England, so it’s
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WELLINGTON TODAY LENT 2019 EDITION
really key that we maintain it properly and encourage ground-nesting birds and so on. Are there opportunities for students to be involved? We work a lot with the students through their Global Citizenship Programme, and pretty much all the opportunities are linked to the wider College site so it’s about maintaining the biodiversity of the site. Students have been involved with making nest boxes, hedgehog homes, bat boxes, going to the heathland to help cut back trees – it’s great when you see students having a
competition about who can cut down the biggest tree with a hand-saw and then they realise they have to tow it away as well as fell it. We’ve got some Sixth Form students doing a survey of all the fauna on the site; we’ve been taking crayfish out of the lakes to bring the lakes back to equilibrium. I am a trustee of Circle Hill Woods, through Crowthorne Parish Council, so a lot of our projects go to help the wider community – some of the insect homes, bat boxes and hedgehog houses have gone up there. We also give talks and tours to local horticultural groups, so they can see the work we do.
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Are there any hidden gems on the site? The College Garden – there are very few people who see College Garden. You can barely see the College from there and, unless the bell chimes when you’re in there, you can forget where you are and it’s a lovely spot to go. In the summer it is absolutely glorious. It’s a little world of its own. Would you recommend gardening as a career? Definitely! There are so many benefits. It is a really satisfying job.Yes, there are down-sides
– when it’s -6o outside, when you’re soaking wet and you’ve been wet all day, and you’ve got another six hours to go, and you’re chasing leaves around because it’s blowing a gale. But then, in the middle of May, you’re gearing up for Speech Day and there is a real buzz about the place – everyone is excited, the sun is shining, everything is coming into full bloom. May is when we see Wellington at its best.That’s the time. It’s a May site. May is fantastic!
What impact does gardening have on mental health and wellbeing? It’s huge. Gardening is recognised as being very important to mental health. There is something about getting your hands dirty, getting stuck in to stuff – you feel you are making a difference. It’s very calming and you can get yourself away from anything… it’s quite difficult to describe. It’s almost spiritual in a way. You’re looking after a tree that has been here for three or four hundred years and it makes you reflect; it puts things into perspective.
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WELLINGTON TODAY LENT 2019 EDITION
Widening Opportunity at Wellington WOW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME
In May, we launched the Widening Opportunity at Wellington (WOW) scholarship programme, through which we will offer the life changing opportunity that a Wellington education provides to many more young people with talent and ambition who simply cannot afford the fees. We know from many years of experience that Wellington College has inspired and been inspired by having such talented, determined and joyful young people – it’s a win-win situation where everyone benefits. Our aim may be an ambitious one: to provide significant fee remission for 50% of students by 2038. Our methods may be unique: alongside traditional fundraising, we will use the income generated from our international schools to fund scholarship places in the UK. But, for us, this is less about being pioneering and more about getting back to our roots. Social responsibility was conferred on independent schools at our foundation. While it is true that soaring fees have priced many out of the market, there
is now a drive to redress the balance. Many independent schools are stepping up their scholarship and bursary provision and the effects will be transformative – for individual students, for individual schools, and for the entire sector. At Wellington, we are committing to this longterm; over the coming years, it will remain a priority for our leadership, for our staff and for our students. Why? Because widening access is part of our DNA. But there is another reason: because we value diversity, and we believe that a more heterogenous student body will bring opportunities for all, irrespective of their background. Wellington College was founded in 1859 to educate the sons of soldiers killed in action at minimal cost. While the need for this has, thankfully, diminished over the years, the College has remained committed to the cause, ensuring that children of talent and promise are given access to an independent education. When I became Master of Wellington College nearly four years ago, I 16
stated that I wanted the College to become ‘needs-blind’. The College had already stopped funding for scholarships, directing the money instead into means-tested bursaries, and extending our programme was the logical next step. Our aim is to raise funds to provide significant fee remission for 25% of students by 2028, and then to double this to 50% by 2038. In the last year alone, we have raised £1.5 million for our widening access campaign and, combined with the income from our international schools, this has given us the opportunity to make significant progress. All independent schools should do whatever they can to widen access, but offering fee remission is just one part of a much bigger picture. We need to find creative ways to burst the apparent bubble of privilege and reach a broader spectrum of society – and the good news is that the momentum is building. Not only is there a greater commitment from independent schools to be more inclusive through bursaries and scholarships, but there is an increasing interest
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in meaningful collaboration between the state and independent sectors. Partnerships are being developed in ways that are genuinely reciprocal: at Wellington College, for example, our staff and students benefit hugely from resources and expertise shared by teachers at The Wellington Academy in Wiltshire, while their staff benefit from the professional learning opportunities we provide; our student radio station, DukeBox, which broadcasts 24/7 from both schools, and reaches our international schools in China, unites staff and students alike.Through such initiatives, we celebrate diversity and encourage inclusivity; our scholarship programme will make a significant addition to the opportunities already available. It is no coincidence that we named our most recent initiative the ‘WOW’ programme (Widening Opportunity at Wellington). The word ‘opportunity’ captures the spirit of reciprocity; the word ‘access’ implies a oneway street. Times are changing. The last decade has seen significant developments in the world
RAISED IN PLEDGES THE NUMBER OF MILES MEMBERS OF THE WELLINGTON COMMUNITY WILL CYCLE BETWEEN WELLINGTON AND WATERLOO TO RAISE MONEY FOR WOW
of education and, beyond school, we are facing an ever-evolving employment landscape. When I speak to business leaders and CEOs about the skills they are looking for in future employees, the message is consistent. They prize two qualities above all others: resilience and empathy. So here is another reason for our commitment to widening opportunity: it is difficult to develop resilience and it is difficult to develop empathy in an environment that is completely homogenous. At Wellington, we seek to develop outwardlooking, globally-minded citizens. Our coeducational community includes individuals from over 40 different countries. We have a long-standing commitment to serving the local community and a growing commitment to social entrepreneurship. We sponsor two (soon to be three) state academies and we are part of an independent-state school partnership of 11 local schools. We recognise that by far the best way to develop empathy is to live and work alongside people from different backgrounds, 17
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and dramatically extending our WOW scholarship programme to reach 50% of our students will have a profound and beneficial impact on the College. This campaign has the power to change lives – but not only the lives of those given financial assistance. By creating a more diverse community, we will better prepare our students for life beyond school. So, we are going back to our roots, but we also have our eyes fixed on the future. Janus-like, we must keep looking backwards, reminding ourselves of where we came from, but also look forwards, acknowledging the changing nature of the world in which our students will live and work. Julian Thomas
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Academic ‘INDEPENDENCE AND INITIATIVE’ – OXBRIDGE 2019 Well done to the 22 Wellingtonians who have been offered places at Oxford or Cambridge. These talented students have shown incredible commitment to their chosen areas of study and, all being well, will be heading off to embark on courses ranging from Music, to Classics, to Engineering and Natural Sciences at the end of this year. The full list of courses and destinations is featured below. Deputy Head, Academic, Matt Oakman commented:“I am delighted by the continued success of our students gaining offers from Oxford and Cambridge. It is evidence of their hard work, grit, resilience and growing ability to show independence and initiative that has allowed them to flourish during this
notoriously difficult process. I wish them all the very best in the coming months as they now look to secure the grades that they require”.
basketball player; organists, drummers and composers; a Cross Country captain; a Captain of Cavalry; and the Chair of the Philosophy and Theology Society.
In addition to their academic achievements, these students have also found time to pursue other passions while at Wellington, and all have made a generous contribution to the co-curricular life of the College. Among the individuals listed, you will find a leading member of Disrupt, Wellington’s entrepreneurship society; members of the Symphony Orchestra, two of which hold Music Diplomas; the leader of the Concert Band; the Editor-in-Chief of The Economics Magazine; Arts Scholars; 1st XI hockey players; a Pastoral Prefect; a triathlete and
We are grateful to Dr Victoria Gardner, Director of Academic Extension, and her team of Oxbridge supervisors, Dr Ruth Lexton, Miss Alice Taylor, and Dr Robert Cromarty for the excellent support and inspiration they have given these students.
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Congratulations to them all!
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OXBRIDGE OFFERS 2019 Marcus Allen
Oxford
Engineering Science
Laura Brown
Cambridge
Natural Sciences
Will Campbell
Oxford
Music
Calypso Carter
Oxford
Philosophy, Politics & Economics
Ming Yeung Jack Chong
Oxford
Philosophy, Politics & Economics
Violet Clay
Cambridge
Theology, Religion, & Philosophy of Religion
Katarina Frankopan
Cambridge
History
Flora Frankopan
Cambridge
Classics
Christopher George
Cambridge
History
Matt Hannon
Cambridge
Human Social & Political Sciences
Rose Hodgson
Oxford
Biology
Eu-Wayne Mok
Cambridge
Economics
Amy Rickard
Oxford
Classics
Amynta Rimmer
Oxford
Biochemistry
Betty Rook
Cambridge
Classics
Rose Rooney
Cambridge
Classics
Laurin Scherer
Cambridge
Land Economy
Esther Ujah
Cambridge
Theology, Religion & Philosophy of Religion
Sam van Druten
Cambridge
Natural Sciences
Phoebe Wates
Cambridge
History
Thomas Williamson
Cambridge
Natural Sciences
Jonathan Zilberman
Oxford
Geography
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WELLINGTON TODAY LENT 2019 EDITION
US UNIVERSITIES
WELL IN GTON L E A D S T H E WAY Wellington was a pioneer in the US university application process over ten years ago, and we continue to lead the way for students who wish to explore the US route for post-18 studies. The College is an assessment centre for SATs and has become a hub for excellent preparation and advice. From December, students will be able to sit ACTs at the College. For the eighth year running, Wellington and The Good Schools Guide have hosted a sell-out ‘Basics and Beyond: Applying to US Universities’ training conference drawing career advisers from across the UK, the US, Germany, Switzerland and Poland. Experts and admissions officers from top American universities gave behind-closeddoors insight on every angle of the process: from a beginners overview of the US system to detailed advice on essays, SATs and ACTs, and reference letters. Sessions looked at how to guide students in their decision making and the differences between US and UK
universities. Speakers from such institutions as Harvard, Yale, Bowdoin, and Swarthmore were joined by admissions officers from the University of Southern California, Brown and Skidmore as well as experts working in US admissions, testing and financial aid. The conference confirms our commitment to the US university route as an option for our leavers. Wellington students received an impressive number of acceptances to US universities last year. Over 60 places were offered, from 33 different US institutions, including Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, George Washington, Georgia Tech, NYU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Princeton, Stanford,Tufts, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Chicago, and UVA.
Washington), last year marked a significant leap forward in our commitment to forging alternative pathways for our Sixth Form students. Not only have we increased the breadth and diversity of applications at Wellington but, by working closely with A-List UK, we have expanded Wellington’s visibility among US universities. US university admissions officers have commented that our students are well prepared and well supported through the application process. Wellington College’s standing in the US has never been stronger.
With five Ivy League offers and six students being awarded scholarships (at Dartmouth College, Duke University, Northeastern University, Princeton University, the University of Miami, and the University of
MICROSOFT SHOWCASE SCHOOL Wellington College has been recognised as a global leader in successful integration of technology with teaching and learning. Wellington was selected by Microsoft as a 2018-2019 Microsoft Showcase School and joins an exclusive community from around the world, recognised and celebrated for educational transformation, which includes vision and innovation in teaching, learning and assessment; computational and critical thinking; creativity and collaboration; and a willingness to promote a growth mindset among educators and students. 20
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KHADEEJAH HULLEMUTH T HE VOIC E OF YO U T H P O L I T I C S The UK Youth Parliament is made up of around 300 young people from across the country and we are fortunate to have one of its members among our student body. Khadeejah Hullemuth (L6, W) has been involved in Youth Politics for a number of years. She recently delivered the First News Children’s Charter for Brexit to Downing Street and, last week, she was back in Westminster to interview Jeremy Corbyn. Khadeejah questioned the Labour Leader on a range of issues, from the likelihood of him becoming Prime Minister, to lowering the voting age to 16. Khadeejah’s political CV speaks for itself: as a Youth Councillor, she ran an anti-bullying campaign involving all the schools in her borough; as a member of the Surrey Youth Cabinet, she worked briefly with the County
Council Cabinet, before stepping up to the Youth Parliament; in March, she will take up a new role as part of the procedures group, which will involve giving feedback and information on what people might want the Youth Parliament to deliver. Speaking about her route into Youth Politics, Khadeejah commented, ‘Initially for me it wasn’t so much about Politics, it was more about making a change and making a difference, and so I got involved in local Youth Council and, from there, I heard about the Surrey Cabinet, and then the Youth Parliament and, through separate opportunities, met amazing people and realised that, actually, politics is quite cool’. ‘For me, it’s also about representation, because Muslim women tend to be a group that isn’t so represented: this is an issue
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quite close to me and representation is so important. I try to consider other people that perhaps aren’t so well represented – so, young carers, and people who live independently at 16 because they are homeless or don’t live with their parents – I try and get them involved.’ What’s next for Khadeejah? She is working with First News to set up a junior Prime Minister’s Questions – a new system whereby young people can submit questions to the PM every fortnight. When asked how she manages to juggle school work with the demands of being an MYP, Khadeejah commented, ‘It’s all down to organisation and knowing what you’re doing.’ With such clarity, and such energy, there is no doubt that she will go far.
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CAREER NETWORKING EVENT On Saturday 22nd September, the Wellington Community held a career speed-networking event for all year groups, from the Third Form to the Upper Sixth. 90 students and 44 parents took part in an evening that was informative and inspiring in equal measure. Representatives from a wide range of careers talked to students about the industries in which they work, passing on tips about how to get started as well as advice on careers in general. We welcomed a range of professionals, from CEOs, to experts in renewable energy, to board members of Karen Millen and Snow + Rock.
Ruth Fettes, from the Wellington Community team said, ‘We had an amazing group of talented individuals who had interesting careers and offered very valuable advice. The feedback from parents was that they found our students to be incredibly engaging and very well prepared. One student arrived with a PowerPoint presentation about why he wanted to pursue his chosen career; others went out of their comfort zones and explored options they had not previously considered’. This latest initiative from the Wellington Community follows last year’s Entrepreneurs’
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Exchange, which brought members of the College’s entrepreneurship society together with parents to share ideas and expertise in a way that was genuinely reciprocal. Both events form part of Julian Thomas’s vision to create opportunities for students to explore life beyond school, making them alert to possibilities and excited about the paths they may follow.
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GLOBAL POLITICS CONFERENCE On Thursday 22nd November, Wellington College welcomed a range of influential speakers from the UK’s political circles to discuss the most pressing issues faced in Politics today. Moritz Steinruecke (U6, Hg), Co-Chair of the Politics Society, writes about the day’s events. The Global Politics Conference brought several local schools to Wellington, giving students the opportunity to engage with highly regarded authors, journalists and Members of Parliament. The lead speaker of the event, Tim Marshall, journalist, broadcaster and bestselling author, presented the themes discussed in his latest book, ‘Divided’, which examines the literal and symbolic effects of borders, walls and
barriers on international relations. James Nixey, Head of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, followed, speaking about the relationship between Russia and the West and offering a sceptical view of current relations. The afternoon was filled with a diverse selection of talks, ranging from international relations and crises to intervention and, inevitably, to the EU and Brexit. Notably, the event welcomed two Members of Parliament: Rory Stewart of Penrith and the Border, and Dr Phillip Lee of Bracknell, our local constituency. Rory Stewart MP delivered a presentation on the limitations of intervention conducted by intergovernmental organisations such as the United Nations and the reasons for their
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limited efficacy in recent times. Phillip Lee MP shared his views on Brexit and how leaving the European Union will impact Britain’s place in the world and affect its position as an actor in wider global politics. As Theresa May’s Brexit plan passes through the necessary stages of approval, the future of the United Kingdom remains a key area of discussion in the Politics classroom. The conference proved to be a resounding success, allowing students from Wellington and beyond to discover political concepts within the context of relevant issues, from the perspectives of experts in the field.
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Arts the
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ARTSFEST 2018 During the week before half term, the College was buzzing with the sounds of drumming, poetic soundscapes, music and drama for ArtsFest 2018. Students, staff and parents were entertained by a colourful programme that included workshops, installations, screenings, and live performances. The expressive arts are flourishing at Wellington and this week we have seen why. Artsfest has captured the energy, the variety and the diversity that the Arts bring to College life. The week started in style with a brilliant display of beatboxing and drumming during Monday’s assembly, and finished on Friday night with a Festival of Musical Theatre, in which the Eagle House and Wellington communities came together to celebrate and remember the life of Charlie Perry. It was a week of many highlights: on Monday, Performance poet, Antosh Wojcik worked with Third Form English and Art students
to create a soundscape of Wellington. What began with a linguistic response to sounds in inspiring places around the College, culminated in a wicker installation, which now stands as a permanent feature outside the Sebastian Faulks Building – an imaginative fusion of sculpture and poetry. Dance was celebrated with a number of events, including a screening of Young Men by ‘Balletboyz’ and, on Wednesday, the Wellington Concert Orchestra joined forces with the Concert Band for a wonderful performance of ‘Music from the Movies’. On Friday night, the whole community came together for The Charlie Perry Festival of Musical Theatre. Packed full of showstoppers from some of Charlie’s favourite musicals – ‘Les Mis’, ‘Joseph’, ‘Anything Goes’ to name but a few – and woven together with memories, film footage, and brilliant solo performances, this was wonderful celebration of a life that was lived to the
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full. Eagle House brought great energy to the stage with their number from ‘School of Rock’, featuring a guest appearance from 13-year-old blues rock guitarist, Toby Lee, and we enjoyed a sneak preview of ‘West Side Story’ from the Wellington cast who performed ‘Maria’ and ‘America’ with great spirit. Julian Thomas commented, ‘Charlie Perry gave so much to the performing arts during his time at Eagle House and at Wellington; Friday’s concert was a special and moving tribute to a much-loved member of our community. It gave me great pride to see Wellingtonians and Old Wellingtonians joining performers from Eagle House to celebrate Charlie’s life - in doing so, they celebrated the incredible power of the performing arts to bring a community together. Well done and thank you to everyone involved.’
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“Artsfest has captured the energy, the variety and the diversity that the Arts bring to College life.� 27
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BLUE STOCKINGS Imagine a world where a young woman works just as hard (and quite possibly harder) as her male contemporaries, does ground-breaking research, achieves excellent results – but then is denied any reward for her efforts. Welcome to Girton College, Cambridge, 1896, and the play Blue Stockings, brilliantly brought to life in the G.W. Annenberg Performing Arts Centre under the direction of Mrs Katie Hamilton. Dr Henry Maudsley, chillingly played by Oscar Fuentes (L6, Bn), set the tone as the play opened when he delivered these words to a group of undergraduates: “Mental taxation in a woman can lead to atrophy, mania, or worse – leave her incapacitated as a mother; this is not an opinion. It is a fact of nature”. Fortunately, the redoubtable Elizabeth Welsh, Head of Girton, commandingly depicted by Supraja Pulya (U6, Hg), was
made of sterner stuff, and as the play unfolds she leads her group of young blue stockings (the pejorative description coined to describe young female academics) not only to believe in the seriousness of their intellects, but also to understand that they had an opportunity to change the course of academic history. Jemima Abate (U6, O), Ruby Winter (U6, C), Izzie Melville (L6, O) and Issie Thorneycroft (L6, C) gave spirited performances as young women who simply would not be denied, despite the odds that were stacked against them. Fighting against the battalions of ignorance and wanton prejudice their example shone out: just as they would not be stripped of their intellect, nor would they be of their femininity, and these were brilliant roles played with consummate range and sensitivity.
Heal (L6, M) and Cameron Gordon (U6, S) were excellent as arrogantly entitled young men, complacently secure in their world of privilege, while Jamie Seed (U6, Bn) brought romance and humour to the table as Ralph Mayhew.This was a thought-provoking piece of drama, and a fitting conclusion to the year: in January Wellington celebrated the centenary of women winning the right to vote with an original production called The Vote, so it was entirely appropriate to end with their fight for academic freedom. The play will live long in the memory, and it was good to see our young actors celebrating the freedoms that had been so painstakingly fought for over 100 years ago. It was, in every way, a fabulous way to inaugurate the G.W. Annenberg as a centre for serious and hard-hitting drama.
And what prejudice they had to fight against: Ramarni Wilfred (L6, S), Oscar
Tim Head
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“This was a thought-provoking piece of drama, and a fitting conclusion to the year.�
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Global Citizenship GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP - WHAT’S IN A NAME? “The change of name reflects the refocusing on the skills and experiences the students develop during the Wednesday afternoon programme.”
Wellington’s forward-thinking, outwardlooking Wednesday afternoon programme has changed its name: ‘Global Citizenship’ is the name you will hear from now on. The name captures the ambition, the scope and the positive aims of the programme we offer to students and, as ever, it encompasses a whole spectrum of strands. Wednesday afternoons will see students engaged in a range of extension, enrichment and community-based activities: Arts Award at Bronze and Silver level; Adventure, which encompasses a range of activities including climbing, rope work and expedition planning; Community Action, involving direct handson work with local community partners; Connected Curriculum, where senior students plan and execute a project to address community need on a local, national or international level, linked to an academic area; Enrichment, in which students are challenged to learn more about themselves
through a wide range of physical and cultural experiences; and Sustainability, where students will undertake researchbased projects to gain an accreditation upon successful completion of their investigations. CCF continues as it always has done with a dedicated and specific programme. Many of these activities also take place outside the Wednesday afternoon slot, but this is the time and place you are most likely to encounter them in action. Rebecca Park, Head of Global Citizenship, commented: ‘The change of name reflects the refocusing on the skills and experiences the students develop during the Wednesday afternoon programme and the wide range of activities students encounter on their road to having a greater positive social impact and becoming the change makers of the future.’
GLOBAL GOALS COMPETITION ATTRACTS SCHOOLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD “… a way of developing students’ leadership skills and broadening their understanding of Global Citizenship through active engagement with the Global Goals.”
Over 300 schools from 70 countries have signed up for Wellington’s Global Goals competition, which is run as part of our Global Social Leaders programme, in partnership with Future Foundations. It is three years since the United Nations adopted the Global Goals, a set of 17 Sustainable Development goals ‘with the power to end extreme poverty, fight inequality and stop climate change… for a better world by 2030’. The Global Social Leaders (GSL) Global Goals Competition was designed as a way of developing students’ leadership skills and broadening their understanding of Global Citizenship through active engagement with the Global Goals. The competition challenges students aged 11-17 to plan and lead a team project 32
which addresses one or more of the Global Goals – the aim is to enable global change on a local scale. Future Foundations and The Wellington Community supports the teams, providing project-planning frameworks, resources and feedback. One team of Wellington College students, for example, has partnered with a social innovation firm to support a brand-new school in Mozambique and establish an ongoing partnership. They are raising funds to offer scholarships so that underprivileged children can access the school and they will also contribute towards the cost of science equipment. Students and staff from Wellington visited Benga International School this October to cement the partnership.
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“People always say that if you want to learn something you should teach it to others and this is literally doing that.”
CLASSIC COLLABORATION: THE EDGBARROW LATIN PROJECT The Edgbarrow Latin Project is a great example of the power of community collaboration. Every Wednesday, a group of Wellington Classics students, accompanied by members of the Classics Department, head over to Edgbarrow School to teach Latin to students in Years 8 to 11. As the Edgbarrow students work towards a full GCSE in Latin, the Wellington students gain a different perspective on the classroom experience. The project, now in its fifth year, was established by Dr Cromarty, along with Dr Johncock and Dr Ramsey from the Classics Department. It has gone from strength to strength ever since.What was once a teacherled initiative has now expanded to include an enthusiastic group of Wellington students: 10 Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth students are now involved as classroom teaching assistants. There are currently four different year groups running, including a large Year 8 class being taught by an Edgbarrow teacher and aided by four Wellington students.
While previous participants were entered for the short course at the end of Year 10, this year will see the first cohort entered for the full GCSE Latin exam. They will sit their Latin papers along with their other subjects in June. As Dr Cromarty remarked, this is a ‘challenge for the students on only one hour a week over four years’. The Edgbarrow students have more than risen to the challenge. ‘They are very enthusiastic’, one Sixth Former commented, ‘They are all on top of it and they seem excited about learning’. Another explained the benefits of having a shared interest: ‘Because it’s an after-school club, the Edgbarrow students all really want to be there. It is something we are taking as a subject because we want to do it as well, so there is a mutual enthusiasm there - both parties enjoy it’. Wellington students are clear about the learning opportunities for all involved: ‘It’s been a really useful experience, a really 33
beneficial one. It is great for us to go over the basics again, and then seeing them understand it is something that’s very nice to see. People always say that if you want to learn something you should teach it to others and this is literally doing that. ‘When you’re the teacher you really have to be ready to answer all of their questions. It teaches you not to give up if the student is frustrated or if they can’t get something right. You have to motivate them and encourage them to try again. This gives us a useful perspective to take back and apply to our own work’. The Edgbarrow Latin Project is part of Wellington’s Global Citizenship programme. Like many community initiatives, we are building reciprocal relationships that we hope will continue for a very long time.
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UGANDA TRIP “They have impacted our lives and the way in which we view matters significantly.”
Michael Schellekens (L6, R) and Scarlett Zein (U6, O) write about their experience of travelling to Uganda to support the Mityana Charity. Over half term, 19 members of the Raglan and Orange houses travelled to Uganda to support the Mityana Charity, which both houses sponsor. Pupils were involved in many activities over the nine days of the trip. The Orange attended a Human Rights Conference on the first day. This included presentations from members of the children’s rights community advocating for different protection rights that needed to be reinforced or indeed established. This conference exposed us to the hardships that children face every day, and the fact that 34
they do not share the liberties that we do in the UK. We assisted in the building of the Raglan Hall, an education centre in Mityana.This was one of the highlights of our trip as in between the hours of hard (but enjoyable) labour, we played with local school children and shared soft drinks with the other builders who were teaching us how to brick lay and level ground for a path. One of the most memorable experiences from the trip was the visit to the children’s rehabilitation centre. Here children, who have suffered major injuries or illnesses, are able to stay and recuperate and receive the relevant care that they need to improve
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RWANDAN HIGH COMMISSIONER VISITS WELLINGTON OnThursday 11th October, we welcomed Her Excellency Yamina Karitanyi to Great School for the inaugural address of the Wellington College Peace and Conflict Institute’s guest lecture series. Wellington students, parents and staff came to hear Her Excellency speak about how Rwanda rose from the ashes of the 1994 genocide to become one of the most dynamic and healthy growing economies in Africa, and a ‘net exporter of peace’.
‘JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO’
their quality of life. It was humbling and enlightening to visit the children and interact with them by playing games, as their positive outlook on life impacted the way we viewed our own. A visit to a school for deaf children was a very moving experience: the children were extremely cheerful and were willing to teach us sign language and play games with us. Additionally, we were shown how to play football by a team of school boys in a football match during our visit to Nabukenya Primary School, which was built over a decade ago by the Orange and Blucher houses. Despite our best efforts, their fantastic footballing talent managed to overwhelm our defence and beat us in a very enjoyable match.
Overall, we all thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Uganda, as we got to immerse ourselves in a new culture and experience first-hand how great an effect our donations from the Orange and the Raglan make to the schools and other establishments out there. Most of all, we loved interacting with the children and individuals we met while out there – they have impacted our lives and the way in which we view matters significantly. The trip will be something that the Wellington students will remember for the rest of their lives.
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It was standing room only in Great School on 5th November, as we welcomed Johnson Beharry VC for the Wellington College Peace and Conflict Institute’s Remembrance lecture. Johnson Beharry is one of only 15 men who have been awarded the Victoria Cross since the end of World War Two; it was a tremendous privilege to hear him speak and nobody who heard his story on Monday evening was left in any doubt as to why the VC is so rare, and so prized.
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“198 names have been added to the register, increasing the chances of a match being found, increasing the likelihood of a life being saved.” 36
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‘A MAJOR ACT OF SERVICE’: 198 STUDENTS SIGN UP TO THE STEM CELL REGISTER
Every year, around 2000 people in the UK need a stem cell transplant; last week, 198 Sixth Formers at Wellington College took part in a major act of service by adding their names to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register. When Martin Burke, from the Anthony Nolan Trust, spoke to the Sixth Form ahead of the registration, he spoke about heroism: ‘15 Wellingtonians have been awarded the Victoria Cross’, he noted, something that told him a lot ‘about the ethos of the College’. Mr Burke went on to talk about the importance of stem cell donation in saving the lives of people with serious forms of blood cancer. 100 lives have been saved since the Anthony Nolan programme began, with six donors coming from one school – statistics that underlined the point that ‘numbers matter’.
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The overwhelming response from the Wellington students owes a lot to the drive and determination of Guy Williams, Head of Sixth Form. Dr Williams encouraged students to ‘support each another, congratulate each other, and buy into this as a group’, and that is exactly what they did: 198 names have been added to the register, increasing the chances of a match being found, increasing the likelihood of a life being saved. During a week in which we celebrated acts of kindness and welcomed Johnson Beharry VC for the WCPCI’s Remembrance Lecture, the actions of our Sixth Formers demonstrate the importance of our College values, particularly the values of Courage and Kindness. As Julian Thomas commented in The Master’s Voice, ‘perhaps the real impact is felt when courage and kindness combine’.
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TOMORROW’S LEADERS: THE 13TH ANNUAL HEADS OF SCHOOL CONFERENCE “Over the years, we’ve been impressed by the levels of enthusiasm, resilience and gravitas displayed by all the attendees.”
On 5th October, Wellington College welcomed 98 external head boys and head girls from 45 schools (academies, state and independent) from all over the UK as well as Guernsey and France to the 13th Annual Heads of School Conference. The morning comprised two keynotes: Leadership, delivered by Julian Thomas, Master of Wellington College, and the Power of Public Speaking by Jane Lunnon, Headmistress, Wimbledon High School. In the afternoon, delegates were split into groups of 10 where they discussed ‘scenarios they would face as head of school’, ‘what their legacy is going to be’, as well as ‘their leadership vision’. The day finished with a networking session over tea and cake, allowing students to share their leadership experiences. 38
The conference is run by our own Heads of College, supported by their deputies and College Prefects. Once again, the Wellington College Prefects rose to the challenge and were excellent ambassadors on the day. Over the years, we’ve been impressed by the levels of enthusiasm, resilience and gravitas displayed by all the attendees. They show an awareness of their responsibilities and a desire to make a difference in their schools. One head boy commented: ‘As the voice of the school, we as head pupils have the ear of the Head and all the teachers, and what we say, and the way we say it, can really matter’. No doubt the leadership skills these students are developing will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We look forward to seeing what they go on to achieve.
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“As the voice of the school, we as head pupils have the ear of the Head and all the teachers, and what we say, and the way we say it, can really matter.”
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8TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF LEADERSHIP “In other words, loyalty and trust are vital. He also gave his listeners hope and encouragement for future success”
On Friday 30th November, we welcomed 110 enthusiastic young people from Years 7-11 to Wellington for our Annual Festival of Leadership and Global Social Leaders Global Goals Competition. Three Wellington teachers, Emmie Bidston, Tim Head and Ed Jones gave presentations on the importance of kindness, authenticity and resilience in leadership. Our student team, the Welly Leaders, led the visiting students through a range of challenging leadership tasks on the low ropes course, before delivering a brilliant session on the importance of values in leadership. Jon Harper, CEO of Future Foundations (our partner organisation for Global Social Leaders), gave an inspiring launch for of the Global Goals Competition. An interview with Will Greenwood finished the day. During the student-led interview, Will posed the following question to the audience: would all the members of your team want to go to war with you? This was the question the
Royal Marines Training Centre Commandant had asked members of the England rugby team – the same team that went on to win the World Cup. In other words, loyalty and trust are vital. He also gave his listeners hope and encouragement for future success: when at school, Will had been in the Under-16 C team for rugby but had worked his way all the way up to winning the World Cup for England. An inspirational message at the end of what was an inspirational day for all involved! Jonny Timms, Deputy Head at Caldicott School, commented: ‘…today was truly inspiring. On the journey home we were reflecting as a group on our leadership values. It has certainly reshaped the boys’ view of themselves and leadership; they were talking about leading outside of their comfort zone and taking responsibility for things that normally they wouldn’t even consider… Thank you!’
A ROYAL VISIT FOR THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD On 6th September the Gold cohort from Wellington’s 2017-18 Duke of Edinburgh’s Award group and a selection of Real Tennis players had the opportunity to meet HRH The Earl of Wessex as part of his world tour to celebrate and promote the DofE Award. The Earl of Wessex spent the first part of this visit on the Real Tennis court. His first test was with three students who are playing RealTennis as part of their DofE Award, as His Royal Highness did when he was a student. Our visitor then partnered Jamie Innes (L6, Pn) against Junior Real Tennis Champion, Freddie Bristowe (L6, Bd), and Tommy Offer (L6, Pn), with some high-quality tennis being played. During the afternoon, The Earl of Wessex enjoyed watching a game involving
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pupils from Hatch Ride Primary School, one of three schools that participate as part of our outreach programme. In the evening, Gold DofE students presented their expedition reports to The Earl of Wessex. Five groups of students recounted their adventures, with details of activities ranging from walking in Scotland, to canoeing and sailing. Later in the evening OW James Voisin (Bronze, Silver and Gold Award holder) entertained the guests with tales from his many DofE exploits.
FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR Wellington College’s spectacular-sell-out-fireworks-to-music charity extravaganza once again delivered a show to delight and amaze. The event was held in aid of local, national and international charities, with all profits raised being divided between the chosen organisations. This year, we raised £12,500 for local Berkshire charities Sport in Mind, the JBVC Foundation and Remembering Srebrenica. 41
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Sport
WELLINGTON RUNNERS TRIUMPH IN ‘THE GRIM’ “The Wellington runners exemplified the College values throughout the race, showing great courage and strength over the obstacles that stood in their way.”
The Running Club is the strongest it has ever been and on Saturday 1st December members of the club represented Wellington College in ‘The Grim’. The race is one of the original mud runs and, in its final year, over 1000 runners from all over the country descended on the Army’s vehicle testing tracks in Aldershot to pit their wits against the challenging terrain, which included mud (a lot of it), sand, woodland, log runs, chest height pools, gullies of freezing cold water, bogs, and camo nets. With the torrential rain adding another level of complexity on the day, this was always going to be an epic event. 42
The Wellington runners exemplified the College values throughout the race, showing great courage and strength over the obstacles that stood in their way. Not only this but, due to poor signposting, the pupils also ran an extra mile and did so with a smile and great attitude. Notable performances in the 4-mile race were Marcus Nye who led home the Wellington pack, finishing 12th overall (without the extra mile, Marcus would have almost certainly won the whole race). Close behind were Freddie Gillmore (13th), Oslo Adamson (14th) and team captain Tom Williamson (15th), Sven Bruening and Mr Wells. Hugo Williamson, Louis Desforges
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MODERN PENTATHLON AT WELLINGTON As a Pentathlon GB Academy, Wellington College is gaining a reputation for top-class coaching and for the inclusive nature of its outreach programme. The training programme is delivered by Pentathlon GB Pathway coach and former international Modern Pentathlete, Russell North. Russell delivers training in Laser Run and Fencing, with swimming and running being delivered by the respective team coaches. Riding is delivered offsite. Due to the quality of the programme and coaching delivered, Wellington College is a Pentathlon GB Academy and we work closely with the Pentathlon GB World Class Talent Programme. As part of being a Pentathlon GB academy, Wellington College offers an outreach programme supplying training opportunities to the local community namely at Eagle House School and at its own Community Club which offers shooting training every Tuesday 6.30pm-7.30pm during term time. Success stories include Becky Storer, who was a Community Club member and then joined Wellington in the Lower Sixth. Since joining Wellington, Becky has attended Pentathlon GB Youth Team training camps as well as gained her first international call up at the start of her second year at Wellington. and Hugo Roddick all finished in the top 35. Their close positioning meant that the boys won the men’s team event. The Wellington girls dominated the front of the women’s race. Bella Grayken came 4th, Elodie Sinclair 6th, Ophelia Vesely 7th and Gabrielle Steg 9th. The girls were clear winners of the women’s overall team event as well. Zara Cherry, Miss Le Bihan and Ms Gomez all finished in the top 25. Special mention must go to Harry Trunck who entered the 8-mile course, finishing 58th overall, and to Mr Whitworth
who finished 4th. Mrs Lynch won the women’s race, and this enabled another Wellington team to capture a medal in the 8-mile race mixed category; this time a Silver. This was a great way to conclude a very successful term of running. After emerging triumphant from ‘The Grim’, it is clear that nothing will faze our runners as they start their competitive season in earnest next term.
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GOLFING EXCELLENCE Golf is enjoying something of a resurgence at Wellington. Numbers are healthy, morale is high and, thanks to the excellent work of the green-keepers, the 9-hole course has never looked better. The first half of Michaelmas Term has brought a string of successes for the Wellington Golf team. A total of 12 matches have been played, with golfers from all year groups showing impressive levels of commitment. In early September, Wellington won the West Sussex Schools Invitational, beating 12 other schools. Later that month, the team travelled to Royal St George’s for the ISGA
Alexander Quinn International. Captain, Jack Carling (U6, M), who was leading the individual competition with one round to go, led the team to 5th place overall. James Clarke, Master in Charge of Golf at Wellington, has been delighted by the enthusiasm and dedication he has seen from the students this term. He commented, ‘We have a dozen elite golfers with handicaps of six and below, a very active junior and development squad of mid-teen handicap golfers, and about 25 girls and boys coming to practise their technique three times a week, all showing great commitment.’ 44
Golf is going from strength to strength at Wellington. James Clarke is assisted by our two professional coaches, Jason Brant from East Berkshire Golf Club and David Rennie, former Head Professional at Wentworth, and this continues to be a formidable combination. In addition to the growing numbers, and the growing fixture list, we now have the capability to run officially sanctioned tournaments at the Wellington Golf Club, allowing players to put in score cards that will contribute to their official English Golf Union handicap.
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2ND PLACE FOR LAUREN IN JUNIOR EUROPEAN OPEN Congratulations to Lauren Gooding (L6, C) who, last month, achieved 2nd place in the Junior European Open golf finals in southern Spain. The tournament started with 50 qualifiers and Lauren played brilliantly through a series of events to reach the last stages. In the final, she held her nerve through four initial rounds, made the cut of 18 players, before facing a final round. Sky Sports were there for the last two days of play and, as Lauren was in the final group, her last round received full media coverage. Lauren was unfazed by the added pressure: she climbed from 13th place, to 3rd, to 1st, and eventually finished 2nd – a remarkable achievement for a student who, only a few weeks earlier, was crowned a National Champion in rackets, along with her playing partner Issie Thorneycroft (L6, C). Lauren is proud of her achievement and is sanguine about being pipped at the post to 1st place: “I lost to an 18-year-old full-time golfer who lives in Spain for half of the year to get used to the conditions – she was a deserving winner. I was really pleased with the week and it was a great finish to my season”.
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BASKETBALL TOUR Over the Michaelmas half-term break, 25 senior and junior Wellington basketball players travelled to Valencia in Spain for their annual tour. The players trained and played at the fantastic L’alqeria de Basket, home of Valencia Basket; Spanish coaches provided the Wellington players with training sessions which gave the Wellington students an insight into how hard they make their players work. The Wellington teams played three games each against teams from Valencia Basket – the Spanish club has 56 teams so there was plenty of choice. The junior team lost two and won one, whilst the seniors won two games and lost one. The players also visited Valencia city and the beach and enjoyed a daily walk through the central park. Basketball is going from strength to strength at Wellington and the team is already planning the location and itinerary for next year’s tour.
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WELLINGTON WIN CHAMPIONS TROPHY FINAL On Wednesday 5th December, the 1st XV took on Epsom College in the U18 Schools Champions Trophy final at Allianz Park. This is the RFU’s top competition for schools at Under-18 level and it was an incredible achievement for Wellington to make this showpiece final. In order to get to this stage, the team had won multiple battles against strong schools. These included an excellent game versus RGS Guildford at home, a
hard fought away win against a talented Berkhamsted side, and a semi-final against Bristol Grammar on their home turf. The final itself was befitting of the occasion, the two teams matching each other physically and all players putting their bodies on the line in pursuit of a national title. When the final whistle came, the squad were victorious. Rightly so, they had given
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everything in a superb advert for schoolboy rugby. Huge credit must go to Epsom as they too played superbly. It takes two teams to make a final of such quality. Special mention is due also to the supporters who were on brilliant form all day and showed impressive College spirit. Dan Richards, Head of Rugby
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All event photography can be found on the College Flickr: www.flickr.com/wellingtoncollege 48