At Wellington, intellectual development is not confined to the classroom. The non-examined curriculum is just as important as the examined, and our commitment to learning free from assessment allows connections to be made across all curriculum areas. We expect every Wellingtonian to take full advantage of the wide variety of academic enrichment opportunities available to develop a genuine love of learning.
This may be through regular attendance at our weekly Fireside Talks, our termly WellingTEN presentations, or through membership of one of around 30 academic societies (some of them pupil founded and led). We also expect pupils to take full advantage of our wonderfully modern library – fully equipped with all the latest technology, online resources, and traditional print media alike. Wellington is truly a place where true intellectual debate and enquiry flourishes.
By encouraging our pupils to take full interest in the world around them will they become interesting adults. This process begins in the Third Form when all pupils complete a cross-curricular research project on a topic of their choice for the annual Malim Prize. All Sixth Form pupils taking the A level pathway will also complete a level 3 Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which follows on from the level 2 qualification that is completed by all pupils in the Fourth Form.
"For the mind does not need filling like a vessel, but kindling like wood"
Plutarch
Academic Enrichment
Our desire to kindle a life-long love of learning and intellectual inquiry within each and every Wellingtonian means that academic life at the College reaches far beyond the confines of the classroom and the curriculum.
Quite simply, we believe that all of our pupils should strive towards scholarship and our Head of Scholarship therefore oversees a series of bespoke academic programmes designed to take Wellingtonians in every year group on an intellectual journey which transcends the confines of any exam board syllabus.
To read more about academic extension at Wellington College, please visit our Scholarship For All website.
Academic Societies
Our broad range of academic societies, many of which are departmental and pupil-led, form a key part of this mission. Ample time is allocated for our academic societies to meet within our weekly timetable, both in the afternoons and evenings, and our hope is that all pupils will develop intellectual passions and interests which will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Departmental societies include: Classics Society, Economic Affairs Society, English Society, GeoVenture, Life Drawing, Pheng (Philosophy and English), Phil-Thy Society (Philosophy and Theology), Politics Society, Psychology Society, Science Society, Tricky Physics and World History Society.
Other academic societies which also offer opportunities to develop intellectual interests and skills include: Amnesty, Book Chat, Classical Hebrew, Debating Society, MedSoc, Model United Nations, The Observatory, and the Wellington College Peace and Conflict Institute.
