Wellington Opens its Doors

Wellington College International Shanghai opened its doors on Monday, 25th August 2014,  with over 300 pupils, aged 2 to 15 years old. The advertised time was 8.30am, but, with a keen sense of anticipation, the hallways and corridors had in fact filled by eight o’clock. It always pays off to be early! The name ‘Wellington’ has an enviable reputation in education for its quality of learning and teaching. The Shanghai campus is state-of-the-art, a perfect environment in which Wellington’s pupils can live, learn and excel. The Wellington staff were all there to greet the pupils, and their parents, to Shanghai’s newest school and quickly began showing why they are amongst the best teaching staff assembled at any international school in Asia. Their expertise is not just confined to the classroom, as Wellington also boasts top coaches and practitioners in any extra-curricular field, whether sports, music, the arts, drama, or dancing, amongst many pursuits.  These will be the principal figures behind the Wellington Academy Programme, which offers a range of activities to children from all over Shanghai, both in the evenings and at weekends, and headed by ex-England footballer and TV pundit, Mr Carlton Palmer. For further details please contact academy@wellington-shanghai.cn. Founding Master, Mr David Cook said: “Today, Monday 25th August 2014, is a day that none of us at Wellington is ever likely to forget. Our team is full of memories of parents visiting the campus site a few months ago, all clad in protective helmets, to learn more about our plans and ambitions for the College in Shanghai. Now those ambitions are a reality and our founding pupils, parents and staff are showing a deep commitment and determination to make the College the very best environment for our pupils to thrive in.” At the Inaugural Parents’ Assembly in the afternoon, Mr Cook talked of his own lifetime love of learning, for history, and how that was instilled in him by inspired and sometimes eccentric teachers, including a professor who wielded a sword in class! This was his ambition for all Wellingtonians. Ms Eleanor Prescott, Head of the Senior School, who herself came to Shanghai from Wellington College in the UK, talked about the very close and vibrant links between the two schools, and how the current UK head, Sir Anthony Seldon,  had this potent vision of taking the Wellington name, and its unique Eight Aptitudes model of education to China. Sir Anthony will be visiting Shanghai at the end of September.  Two former-Wellington UK pupils, Gerry Stileman and William Fitzgibbon, who are working at Wellington Shanghai as interns, talked about how the school had inspired them to academic success and how they were honoured to be in at the start in Shanghai. “This is a real honour and a privilege”. Gerry added. Wellington in Shanghai has fully embraced the educational ethos and values of its prestigious and forward-thinking partner in the UK. Great times lie ahead for Wellington College, Shanghai, and indeed the wider community in the city.