Wellington College was founded in the 1856 by Queen Victoria, in memory of Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, heroic victor at the Battle of Waterloo, and former British Prime Minister, who had recently died at the age of 83.
The College opened doors to its first 76 students (all boys) on 20th January 1859. In 2005, the decision was made to become completely co-educational. Today, the College has well over 1,000 students, between the ages of 13 and 19, more than 80% of whom are boarders.
Our History
Wellington College founded
College accepts first students
College becomes co-educational
First international school opens
Wellington College Bangkok opens
The College is one of the most respected schools in the United Kingdom and also one of its greatest educational institutions, pioneering, innovating and transforming education for girls and boys equally. In the past decade alone, this extraordinarily vibrant co-educational school has reached new heights in today’s rapidly changing and interconnected world.
Important educational innovations pioneered in the early 2000s by Wellington’s legendary Master, Sir Anthony Seldon, include Wellbeing as a school subject; Harkness learning, imported to great effect from the top US prep schools; the EdFest, a huge, and hugely successful, international education event held annually at the College.
