Wellington College is a IB Diploma Programme / IB school in Crowthorne, United Kingdom. Founded in 1921. It serves 1,138 students for students aged 12–19. Annual tuition ranges from $79,058 to $79,058 USD.
Leafy Berkshire village setting near Windsor Forest, well-connected to London and Heathrow; attractive to international families seeking country-edge location with good access.
Nearest airports
Framed for international families — drive times are from the school, not the city centre.
Airport
Distance
Drive from school
International note
Heathrow
27 km
~45 min
LHR — gateway for Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai
Gatwick
49 km
~74 min
LGW — good for SE Asia, Middle East via BA/EK/QR
London City
62 km
~91 min
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12 photos
NanaSays Scorecard
Est. 1921
Year Founded
1,138
Students Enrolled
Boarding Available
Key Details
Curricula Offered
IB Diploma ProgrammeYes
IBYes
Accreditations
IB
Languages of Instruction
English
Scholarships Available
Types Available
✓Sports Scholarship — available Year 9–13 for high potential or strong current performance in sport(s); includes greater access to coaching, video analysis support, and eligibility for in-person physical training sessions
Bursaries (means-tested): Means-tested bursaries available (Prince Albert Foundation bursary scheme mentioned).
💡 Scholarship amounts and bursary likelihood analysis are in the Full Deep Report.
Merit-based Scholarships
Academic Performance
Standards Met
ISI
ISI Inspection Report
Wellington College meets all relevant Independent School Standards across leadership, education quality, pupil wellbeing, social education, and safeguarding. The school is characterized by effective leadership that prioritizes pupils' wellbeing, a rich and challenging curriculum where pupils achieve highly in GCSE, A level and IB examinations, and strong pastoral care and boarding provision. The main area for development is ensuring more consistent evaluation of language skills progress for pupils who speak English as an additional language.
Boarding Quality
Good
ISI Standards
Met
Key Strengths
Positive school environment with effective integration of boarders and day pupils within a unified community
Pupils' wellbeing at the centre of leaders' decision-making
Rich and challenging curriculum with wide range of subjects including Russian, Mandarin, and classical Greek
High-quality recreational and enrichment opportunities including sport, academic societies, and visiting speakers
Effective boarding leadership with strong pastoral care and sense of community
Teachers with high levels of subject knowledge enabling pupils to think critically
Pupils achieve highly in GCSE, A level and International Baccalaureate examinations
Clear and effective safeguarding systems with regular staff vigilance
High standards of behaviour and mutual respect upheld by pupils
Comprehensive careers guidance program preparing pupils for next steps
Areas for Development
Ensure consistency in assessing the language needs of pupils who speak EAL so that support is adapted regularly and as needed to promote their progress
Budget beyond the sticker price. Assume the real annual spend is 5–15% higher than the headline fee. Hidden costs typically include: registration fee, acceptance deposit (usually one term's fees, refundable at the end of schooling), uniform + sports kit, trips and expeditions, individual music tuition, exam entry fees, travel to/from home.
Ask the Bursar for a sample "all-in" first-year invoice before committing.
Scholarships & financial assistance
Merit-based scholarships (1 types)
Sports Scholarship — available Year 9–13 for high potential or strong current performance in sport(s); includes greater access to coaching, video analysis support, and eligibility for in-person physical training sessions
ℹ️ This school has not published the exact % fee remission for each award. Ask the admissions team directly — typical independent school scholarships range from 5% to 50% of fees.
💰
Means-tested bursaries — the school looks at your family income and can offer a much larger discount than any scholarship. Means-tested bursaries available (Prince Albert Foundation bursary scheme mentioned). Ask the Bursar directly — these are rarely advertised prominently.
About
Wellington College is a private boarding school in Berkshire, United Kingdom, authorized by the International Baccalaureate to offer the Diploma Programme since 2007. The school serves coeducational students across a wide range of subjects including languages, sciences, humanities, and the arts, with examinations held in May.
School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.
What Makes This School Different
Duke of Edinburgh Award
all pupils undertake Bronze through Gold levels; Gold expeditions go to remote locations like Knoydart (four-day walk and boat trip to the remotest place in mainland Britain), with approximately 250 pupils regularly participating in the 'Maniacs' early morning open-water swimming tradition
independent 10-month projects for 4th, 5th and 6th formers; 549 pupils designed projects ranging from theatrical productions and recipe books to music compositions and product design
Extended Essays
compulsory 4000-word independent research essays for IB students, with pupil topics ranging from climate policy to philosophy to Chinese education reform
Service Learning
Sixth Form placements directly linked to academic studies and personal development
Malim Projects
Third Form research skills development programme
Parental Masterclasses
weekly Saturday morning sessions for parents on topics including Digital Media, Coaching, Resilience, Teenage Eating and Food Choices; won TES Boarding Initiative of the Year award
Clubs & Activities
Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze, Silver, Gold)Field Gun (Navy tradition described as 'toughest sport in the world')Real TennisGirls RugbyBoys Rugby (15-a-side and Sevens)Geography field studies and expeditionsScience laboratory and extended projectsCreative writing societyHouse competitions and inter-house activitiesChapel and spiritual activities+3 more
Expeditions include: Duke of Edinburgh Gold expeditions to Knoydart, Scottish Highlands, Uganda charity expedition (9 days) to support Mityana Charity — building education centres, visiting children's rehabilitation centres and schools for deaf children, Italy Classics trip (4th and 5th form) — Pompeii, Herculaneum, Rome, Vatican, Roman Forum, Vesuvius, St Peter's Basilica, Cevennes National Park geography fieldwork (Upper 6th) — River studies, urban sustainability, environmental impact of skiing, Blencathra Field Studies Centre geography fieldwork (planned)
Academic Results
A-Level A*
26.2%
58.7% A*/A
GCSE Grade 9
42.1%
86.7% grade 7+
Oxbridge 2024
22
13 Oxford · 9 Cambridge
University Destinations 2024
Durham34Exeter23Edinburgh17Bristol13Oxford13King's College London11HarvardYalePrincetonColumbia
Admissions
11+13+14+16+
Admissions structure referenced but detailed process not included in crawled content.
Original currency: £62,250 (incl. VAT) (boarding), £45,750 (incl. VAT) (day).
Boarding Life
Boarding Type
Weekly boarding
Capacity
1180 students
Fees include linen provision (except towels), laundry, maintenance and reasonable repair of clothes, games, physical education and swimming, normal medical treatment in the College Health Centre, personal accident and dental insurance cover.
Day Boarding, Full Boarding, Weekly Boarding (Monday to Friday), Weekly Boarding (Monday to Sunday)
Student Life
Houses
12
Facilities & Programmes
Sports
Waterloo Hall
Great School
Driver Lecture Room
Real Tennis courts
Rugby pitches
Cricket field
Hockey pitch
Swimming pool
Theatre
Library
Arts
Music
Drama
Arts
Student Demographics
School Type
co-ed
Age Range
12 – 19
Student Body
Boarding capacity1180
School Background
Governance & Ownership
private
Religious Affiliation
Church of England
Sports Programme
50
teams across 18 sports
Signature Sports
TennisRugby UnionHockeyFootballCricketGolf
Teams by Sport
Tennis
58
teams
Hockey
22
teams
Football
25
teams
Cricket
18
teams
Rugby Union
15
teams
Netball
23
teams
Rackets
20
teams
Golf
11
teams
Squash
11
teams
Real Tennis
6
teams
Badminton
7
teams
Basketball
7
teams
Fencing
5
teams
Swimming
6
teams
Rugby Sevens
7
teams
Polo
3
teams
Hockey Indoor
2
teams
Hockey Sixes
2
teams
Also Offered
Target RifleDance
Recent Highlights
NationalBoodles ISFA Cup Third Round2026
NationalSmith Construction ISFA Girls U18 Cup Final2026
NationalU18 Boys' Cup Triumph2026
NationalU16 Girls Hockey Retained National Title2018
Notable Coaches
Ryan Tulley
Master in Charge
Recent father; coached U15 National Rackets champion Freddie Bristowe
Facilities
Indoor Swimming Pool (25m x 8m, 4 lanes)Outdoor Swimming Pool (40m x 45m, 4 lanes)Real Tennis Court12 Tennis Courts (Bawden Martin astroturf)2 Outdoor Astro Pitches (Bawden Martin & Mansergh)Cricket Pitches (1 on New Ground, 2 on Turf, 4 on Derby Fields)Rugby Pitches (3 on Bigside, 1 on Turf, 10 practice pitches)Hockey Pitch (Mansergh astroturf)5-aside Football PitchesSquash Courts (x5)
Notable Alumni
James Hunt
Formula 1 World Champion racing driver
Christopher Lee
Actor known for Dracula and Lord of the Rings films
Sebastian Faulks
Novelist and author of Birdsong
George Orwell
Writer and author of 1984 and Animal Farm
Roger Bushell
Royal Air Force officer and mastermind of the Great Escape
Claude Auchinleck
Field Marshal and British Army commander during World War II
Frequently Asked Questions
The annual fees at Wellington College are £62,250 (incl. VAT) (boarding), £45,750 (incl. VAT) (day) per academic year.
