The Benson
The Benson
The HM
After reading Classics at Oxford, Simon started teaching at Charterhouse and then joined Wellington College in September 2006. When he arrived, he was put into the Benson tutor’s flat, little knowing that it would become such a long relationship and he would one day be the Housemaster. He was Master in Charge of Oxbridge, before becoming Head of Classics in 2009, and more recently Head of the Humanities Faculty. For the last 10 years he has loved making the mysteries of Latin and Greek clearer to his students and helping them to find Caecilius (in horto!), as well as bringing alive the classical world both in the classroom and through trips to Italy and Greece. He also spent a year on sabbatical at Phillips Exeter Academy (New Hampshire, USA), the home school of the Harkness philosophy, coming back more firmly committed to the importance of pupil voice and responsibility.
He enjoys the rich variety of College life – coaching various sports before becoming Head of rock-climbing, organising the Christian Union, instructing in the CCF, and even dancing in a ‘Strictly’ show (and now trying to destroy any videos). In the holidays, he may well be climbing something, whether rock or ice, a boulder or an alpine north face. He hopes that every boy will get ‘stuck-in’ to all the opportunities at Wellington, whichever direction that leads. He is passionate that the Benson is a home away from home, where every boy comes to know himself, to be confident in who he is, and leaves ready to serve others.
The House
Home to 59 boys, the Benson is an out-of-College House which sits in its own beautiful grounds and has wonderful facilities. An extensive garden provides a great place for the boys to play together and the newly refurbed north terrace offers a great out door for boys to meet, work or socialise. The bright and open ground floor holds the House’s social spaces, with a large common room, open-plan kitchen, a games room which accommodates full-size pool table and ping pong tables, and the Prince Consort Library which today holds the Third Form work room. The boarding facilities are spread over the top two floors of the House, comprising three dormitories of three beds for the boys in their first year, and individual boarding spaces for every boy from their second year onwards.
The House ethos is one based on the model of kindness, leadership and looking out for others; this supportive sense of cohesion within and between different year groups enables individuals to perform above their expectations and hopes.
