Wellington School, Somerset
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| Wellington School | |
| Motto | Nisi Dominus Frustra (The opening of Psalm 127: If God Be Not With Us, Our Labour is in Vain) |
| Established | 1837 |
| Type | Public School |
| Religious affiliation | Church of England |
| Head Master | Mr MS Reader, M.A. (Oxon), MPhil, MBA |
| Location | Wellington Somerset TA21 8NT England  |
| Students | 750 |
| Gender | Mixed |
| School colours | Navy & Light Blue |
| Former pupils | Old Wellingtonians |
| Website | http://www.wellington-school.org.uk/ |
Wellington School, is a co-educational public school in Somerset catering for both boarders and day pupils. It should not be confused with the better-known Wellington College. Currently the fee stands at £3160 per term (based on a day pupil in 1st - 5th years). There are currently 750 pupils on roll including 200 students in the Sixth Form.
The school is the second largest employer in the town of Wellington, Somerset, where it is situated near the centre of the town. Wellington was ranked the top school in Somerset in the 2007 Government GCSE league tables in the percentage of grades A* - C. In terms of fee levels and A/B grades at A level, Wellington School ranks in the top 10 schools nationally for value for money.[1]
The school opened a new junior school in 2000, having previously only catered for pupils aged 10 and over. In 2003 the Princess Royal opened. the Princess Royal Sports Complex[1], a £2.65 million indoor sports facility. Now they are raising funds for a new performing arts centre. Work is set to begin on this in July 2007.
The school has its own marching band and active Combined Cadet Force, founded in 1901.
Since September 2007 there have been no lessons on a Saturday. This has been replaced with activities that incorporate music, drama and sport as well as compulsory activities for the boarders.
Contents |
[edit] History
Wellington was founded in 1837 as an all boys school. A solitary daygirl was allowed to join into the Sixth Form in 1972 and the following year Wellington went co-educational. Wellington was assigned its arms in 1926: the pale is one quarter of the Duke of Wellington's arms, the dragons represent the County of Somerset and the open book represents learning. The school chapel was built in 1928.
[edit] Sports
Autumn term: rugby union, hockey.
Spring term: hockey, netball, cross-country.
Summer term: cricket, tennis, athletics, swimming,rounders.
Other minor sports: badminton, basketball, fencing, football, horse riding, squash, golf. Wellington's Fives court, constructed in 1905, was converted in 1959 into a squash court.
[edit] Scandals
- A maths teacher, Andrew Crozier, was forced to quit in March 2003 after starting a sexual relationship with the 18-year-old head girl. [2]
- Another maths teacher, Ian Sarginson, was convicted of indecently assaulting an underage male pupil in March 2004 and sent to prison. [3]
[edit] Staff
Headmaster Mr MS Reader, M.A. (Oxon), MPhil, MBA
Deputy Head Mr RS Page, M.A., PGCE
Assistant Deputy Head Mrs CA Christie, BSc, PGCE
Director of Studies Dr PM Owen, M.A., PhD
Head of Lower School Mr Patrick M Pearce, B.A., Cert Ed
[edit] Notable Alumni
- Jeffrey Archer, Author, politician and convicted fraudster who, it is alleged, falsely claimed as a young man that he had attended Wellington College;
- Keith Floyd, Food critic
- David Suchet, Actor known for playing Hercule Poirot;
- Simon Singh, Science author
- Tom Singh, founder of the New Look chain of stores;
- Major-General E. Renouard James, soldier
- Dame Joel Harkins, Noted philosopher, famous for her views on Phil Collins
- Sir Henry Bale, Chief Justice Natal
- Sir Roy Price, High Commissioner in South Africa;
- Sir Alec Zealley, head of a division of Imperial Chemical Industries
- Sir Ivan de la Bere, soldier who became Secretary of the Central Chancery of the Orders of the Knighthood
- D.T. Young, England rugby and British Pentathlon team 1928
- J.D. Robins, Wales and British Rugby Team 1950.
