Wellington College: parents' guide to Year 9 entry

Wellington College is a boarding school in Crowthorne, Berkshire for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1853 as a living memorial to the Duke of Wellington and occupies a 400-acre parkland estate, where buildings are a fusion of traditional architecture and state-of-the-art facilities. The school has an all-pervading culture of ambition and aspiration and was the first school in the UK to introduce wellbeing to the curriculum in 2006. The school population is large and diverse; there are over 1,100 pupils on-roll, including a mix of 30 different nationalities.

Wellington College is committed to intellectual development and high academic standards through a rich and stimulating education. In the third form (Year 9), the curriculum is deliberately broad and consists of traditional subjects, modern languages (pupils choose two from French, German, Spanish, Mandarin and Russian), a classical subject (chosen from Latin, Greek & Latin, or Ancient History), practical and creative subjects including computer science and dance, and wellbeing. Exam results are consistently high; in 2022, 78% of GCSE grades were 9/8 (A* equivalent), while 84% of all Year 13 grades were A*/A at A level or 7/6 at IB (International Baccalaureate). These results place the school within the top 10 globally for the IB.

Boys and girls at Wellington College have access to an extensive programme of extracurricular activities, with 150 to choose from. Every pupil is involved in a dynamic arts programme and an arts or fringe festival is held on-site every year, featuring Wellington students and internationally renowned artists. Wellington is also renowned for being one of the strongest sporting schools in the UK; over 98% of pupils are involved in weekly sports, while 30 sports are played competitively – some to national success.

Wellington College fees and financial assistance

The current fees at Wellington College are £10,980 per term for day pupils, £11,920 for day pupils in boarding houses, and £15,030 per term for full boarding pupils.

Wellington College aims to enable more families, who would not otherwise be able to afford the school fees, to send their child to the school. All financial aid in terms of fee reduction is awarded via a means-testing procedure and can range from 10% to 100% of fees. In an average year, 20 pupils might be admitted with an average fee-remission award of 50%.

Some fee-assisted places are named awards, including the Jimmy Higham Award (which supports a talented sportsperson), the Seb Foundation Award (for talented rugby players) and the Sir Anthony Seldon Arts Award (for talented artists, musicians and performers). Children whose families are on national average income or below and who meet the minimum criteria for entrance may also be eligible for The Prince Albert Foundation, which provides a fully-funded education.

Everything you need to know about bursaries

Wellington College also awards scholarships to reward excellence and celebrate outstanding potential in a range of subjects (academic and music scholarships are available for 13+ applicants). However, scholarship awards in themselves do not provide reduction in school fees; at the most, music scholarships provide free tuition in two instruments, and free composition and Alexander Technique lessons.

Admissions process for Year 9 entry to Wellington College

Selection for entry at Wellington College is based on academic criteria in addition to the child’s character, interests, talents and personality. The school is looking for boys and girls who:

• have the potential to become intellectual, inspired and independent learners

• have the desire and ability to contribute broadly in co-curricular activities

• possess the personality and character for life in a busy boarding environment

• show traits such as independence, resilience and inclusivity

1. Visit

If you are considering Wellington College for your child’s secondary education, it’s important to visit the school first to make sure that it would be a good fit for your child before you begin an application.

There are three types of visiting options at the school:

• Visitor days: Saturday open mornings, consisting of talks from the head, senior staff and pupils, a campus tour and refreshments. Registration for a visitor day is essential

• Master’s receptions: in-person meetings with the head (Master) and a 45-minute tour with a current pupil. Book a Master’s reception here

• College tours: campus tours only; families will be able to speak to a current pupil and members of staff, but there will be formal presentations. Book a college tour here

2. Registration

The admissions process for Wellington College begins when you submit an application form for your child. Early registration is recommended (the date of registration is used as a deciding factor when allocating houses) and must be completed by the 30th June when your child is in Year 5.

Wellington College is currently accepting applications for entry to Year 9 in 2026 and beyond. To register your child, you will need to complete the online application form and pay a non-refundable registration fee of £300.

4. Stage 2: Selection day

Children who perform well in the ISEB Common Pre-Test and who have a strong reference from their current headteacher will then be invited to a selection day at Wellington College. There are normally around 500 children who are shortlisted for the selection day each year.

The selection day takes place in either the morning or afternoon on a date in January or February in Year 6. There are no tests; children will get involved in a series of collaborative lessons and problem-solving activities and will have an interview with a member of senior staff.

Private school interviews: tips and advice

4. Scholarships

Children applying for 13 plus entry to Wellington College may apply for a scholarship as a recognition of potential and talent. Academic and music scholarships and exhibitions are offered before entry via an exam and interview process that takes place during Year 8.

The school also offers art, dance, drama and sports scholarships, but these are not offered until the end of the third form (Year 9) after the child has joined the school. However, candidates who are interested in these scholarships and who have passed the entrance process will be invited to attend an ‘Inspire Day’ in the spring term of Year 8. This is an opportunity to show teachers their talent and get a feel for the extension programme which will be available to them when they join the school. More information about 13+ scholarships is available on the school website.

5. Offers

Wellington College makes offers to families in March in Year 6. Offers are conditional on the basis that the child maintains a good standard and record at their current school until the end of Year 8.

How to prepare for 13 plus entry to Wellington College

Exam preparation with Atom Nucleus

If your child is applying for 13 plus entry to Wellington College, they will be tested across the Key Stage 2 curriculum and beyond, with exams in English and maths in addition to verbal and non-verbal reasoning (which are not taught at school).

Atom Nucleus is an all-in-one exam preparation platform which can help your child consolidate everything they need to know and prepare effectively for success in the Wellington College admissions process.

Exam Prep Plus subscribers get unlimited access to:

• Over 90,000 interactive questions in Key Stage 2 English, maths, science, verbal and non-verbal reasoning

• Unlimited online practice papers including replicas of the ISEB Common Pre-Test. All tests are automatically marked with instant score breakdowns

• Daily live lessons and holiday revision programmes to help your child master key topics and revise efficiently

• A detailed parent dashboard, allowing you to track your child’s progress, set targets, and quickly create exercises for your child

Interview preparation with Atom Tuition

Shortlisted 13 plus candidates for entry to Wellington College will have an interview with a member of staff. This is a common practice at independent schools, as it can provide a more holistic insight into your child’s abilities and interests. However, even informal interviews can still be daunting for many 10 and 11-year-olds!

Atom Tuition offers online mock interviews with experienced tutors who are specialists in the private school admissions process. A one-hour session consists of a 30-minute interview, a 10-minute break, 20 minutes of feedback and a follow-up report.

These mock interviews are an ideal opportunity for your child to:

• Encounter typical private school interview questions

• Learn and practice techniques that will serve them well in the real interview

• Develop their conversational skills and storytelling style

• Demystify the interview process and know what to expect

• Reduce any anxiety and feel confident for the real interview

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