The Official Launch of Wellington College in Shanghai

Wellington College and the Shanghai Lujiazui (Group) Co., Ltd. (Lujiazui Group) today signed a strategic partnership agreement to open Wellington College International Shanghai in the Qiantan International Business District, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. Wellington College International Shanghai will be built by Lujiazui Group and run by Wellington College. The school plans to enroll students from nursery to Year 6 in the junior school and from Year 7 to Year 9 in the senior school in August 2014. Wellington College International Shanghai’s campus represents an extension of Wellington’s renowned campus in Berkshire, England. It is also the second successful cooperation between Wellington and the Lujiazui Group, following their first successful cooperation with Wellington College International Tianjin. The campus is equipped with excellent teaching facilities and abundant resources to provide first-class education in China and brings a top international educational institution to Pudong and the whole of Shanghai. Lujiazui Group, founded in 1990, is responsible for the construction of the college. It is the driving force in the development of Lujiazui Financial District and an important strategic partner of Wellington College in China. “As a royal foundation chartered in 1853, Wellington is a not-for-profit institution, grounded in a more-than-150-year history, educating and inspiring some of the most influential minds of respective generations through the guidance of its faculty and the balanced, holistic approach of its curriculum,” said Lord Strathclyde, former Leader of the House of Lords and a governor of Wellington College UK. He went on, “With its second campus in China, the Governors and faculty are deepening Wellington’s commitment to this extraordinary country and providing families in Shanghai with the opportunity to enroll their children in one of the finest British educational institutions.” Peng Song, Vice District Mayor of Pudong New Area, attended the ceremony to congratulate both sides. He said: “The strong cooperation between Lujiazui Group and Wellington College is of great importance for the development of Pudong and the educational field. Wellington’s campus in Qiantan is a new element in Pudong’s education sector. It also complements the functional facilities of Qiantan International Community and supports the goal of promoting the internationalization of Qiantan.” Wellington College International Shanghai is located in the north of Xiao Huangpu Channel, in the Qiantan International Business District, which covers 70,000 square meters and a total of 36,000 square meters construction area. The school can enroll 1,500 students. The construction of the Shanghai campus began on November 25, 2012 and offers expatriate students aged 3-18 the very best in educational facilities, with, amongst many, the most advanced classrooms, IT facilities and laboratories, a state-of-the art theatre, four teaching buildings, tennis and basketball courts, squash courts, football, rugby and cricket pitches, and a 25m swimming pool. “Wellington College International Shanghai is first and foremost an educational extension of our founding campus in England. Our students will enter one of the most respected schools in the world, and receive an education that focuses just as much on what occurs outside the as what occurs inside it. This is the fundamental approach of our unique model of education, the Eight Aptitudes. We see it as our essential responsibility as teachers to develop all of our children’s intelligences, or aptitudes, not just one or two,” said Founding Headmaster David Cook. “We are fortunate to be able to attract the finest teachers from around the world, bringing outstanding practitioners in the various disciplines to the school. Wellington College’s educational excellence and wonderful facilities set a new standard, where we aspire to create a community that builds on Wellington’s rich heritage. At the heart of our school is the boarding provision, where we seek to create a ‘home away from home’.” Wellington College opened its first China campus in Tianjin in August 2011. The Shanghai campus will be located in Qiantan International Business District, the post-World EXPO development area, enjoying a good geographic position and excellent accessibility. The area will be developed into a sub-center with headquarters business, culture media, sports leisure and other functions. Wellington College will play a very important role in improving Qiantan’s global competitiveness. It enjoys strong support from the Shanghai government with Shanghai CPPCC President Feng Guoqin, Municipal Committee, Pudong District Party Secretary Xu Lin, Vice Mayor Shen Jun, and Pudong District Mayor Jiang Liang attending the groundbreaking ceremony in November 2012.

About Wellington College International China

Wellington College International China is the not-for-profit extension of Wellington College, England, a royal foundation chartered in 1853 that has educated and inspired some of the most influential minds of respective generations. Wellington College International China opened its first international school in Tianjin in August 2011 and is opening its second campus in Shanghai in August 2014. As an internationally recognized educational leader for students aged 3-18 years, Wellington College International China is governed by a board of international governors including those from Wellington College UK and fosters close relations with its home campus in Berkshire.