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Revision as of 17:53, 2 December 2011
| Wellington School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
| , , TA21 8NT United Kingdom | |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent school |
| Motto | Nisi Dominus Frustra (The opening of Psalm 127: If God Be Not With Us, Our Labour is in Vain) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Church of England |
| Established | 1837 |
| Headmaster | Martin Reader |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Enrollment | c.750 pupils |
| Colour(s) | Navy & Light Blue |
| Former pupils | Old Wellingtonians |
| Website | http://www.wellington-school.org.uk/ |
Wellington School is a British co-educational independent school in Wellington, Somerset, England catering for both day pupils and boarders. There are currently 750 pupils on roll including 200 students in the sixth form. The Headmaster is Martin Reader.
History
Wellington School is situated in the centre of the small town of Wellington. It was founded in 1837[1] as an all boys school by Benjamin Frost (Headmaster 1837–1848). It was later purchased and run by Frost's wife and William Corner (Headmaster 1848–1879). The school first came into existence on its present site in 1837, as a private boys school. Girls were accepted in 1972. The school lies on the southern side of Wellington, at the foot of the Blackdown Hills; it has pleasant well-equipped buildings in gardens with extensive playing fields The school's arms consist of one quarter of the Duke of Wellington's arms, the dragons represent the County of Somerset and the open book represents learning. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference.
The school opened a new junior school in 2000, having previously only catered for pupils aged 10 and over. In 2003 the Princess Royal opened the Princess Royal Sports Complex, a £2.65 million indoor sports facility.[2][3]
Since September 2007, there have been no lessons on a Saturday. This has been replaced with activities that incorporate music, drama and sport as well as compulsory activities for the boarders.
Sports
The school has rugby pitches, cricket squares, football pitches, an all-weather pitch, all-weather training areas, tennis courts, squash courts, climbing wall and an indoor swimming pool.
Football was reintroduced in the 2003 school year.
Hockey is the most prestigious sport at Wellington. Many students have gone on to represent the school in county and England hockey, national athletics, county and England fencing and county rugby.[4]
Autumn: rugby union, hockey.
Spring: hockey, netball, cross-country, football
Summer: cricket, tennis, athletics, swimming, rounders.
Other minor sports: badminton, basketball, fencing, horse riding, squash, golf, climbing. Wellington's Fives court, constructed in 1905, was converted in 1959 into a squash court.
Combined Cadet Force
The school has its own marching band and active Combined Cadet Force, founded in 1901. The Combined Cadet Force is open to senior school pupils, and boasts upwards of 170 cadets across the Royal Navy, Army and Air Force sections.
The cadets learn military based skills such as drill, weapons handling, map and compass, battlecraft, climbing, abseiling and leadership development. There are various CCF camps, military training weekends and cadet competitions each year, during which the cadets go on field manoeuvres in order to apply the skills they have learned in a practical situation.[5] Wellington School is unique in having three field exercises a year, each lasting three days and two nights. There is a commissioned officer who is a full time member of staff at Wellington School who runs the CCF. He is assisted by an experienced warrant officer. The cadets are required to present themselves for inspection by the masters in charge of each section on a weekly basis.
Notable former pupils
- John Fraser Drummond, Battle of Britain fighter pilot[6]
- Steven Kenwood, Founder and owner of Marrow world theme parks ltd.[7]
- Lieutenant-General Sir Freddie Viggers, KCB CMG MBE DL, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Secretary to the Lord Great Chamberlain and Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Lords. Senior official responsible for the day to day management of the House of Lords.[8]
- Keith Floyd, Food critic[9]
- General Sir Richard Nugent O'Connor KT, GCB, DSO & Bar, MC, ADC (1889–1981). In WW2 he was the commander of 7th Armoured Division and 4th Indian Brigade that earlier in the North African campaign had routed the Italian 10th army taking surrender of 130,000 men and 400 tanks.
- Frank Gillard BBC broadcaster and administrator.[10]
- David Suchet, Actor known for playing Hercule Poirot[11]
- Jeffrey Archer, Baron Archer of Weston-super-Mare, Author, politician and convicted fraudster.[12]
- Simon Singh, Science author.[13]
- Tom Singh, founder of the New Look chain of stores.[14]
- Peter St George-Hyslop FRS, Fellow of the Royal Society, Professor of Experimental Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and University Professor in Medicine at the University of Toronto/ Physician Scientist who discovered several genes causing Alzheimer's Disease including the presenilin genes that cause an aggressive early onset for of Alzheimer's disease.
- Herbert Gamlin, England rugby union player with 15 international caps between 1899 and 1904, known as "The Octopus" for the strength of his tackling.[15]
References
- ^ "Welcome to Wellington School". Wellington School. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Princess Royal Sports Complex". Wellington School Trading Ltd. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Facilities". Wellington School. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ^ "Fencing and hockey honours for Wellington School students". Somerset County Gazette. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ "Wellington Army Cadet Force". Wellington Army Cadet Force. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ^ John Fraser Drummond: Background, The Merseyside Few, retrieved 10 September 2010
- ^ Steven Kenwood: Background, The Merseyside Few, retrieved 10 September 2010
- ^ "Old Wellingtonian appointed Black Rod". This is the West Country. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-02.
- ^ "TV chef Keith Floyd dies from heart attack". Bristol Evening Post. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- ^ "Obituary: Frank Gillard". The Independent. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
- ^ "David Suchet - Poirot - to open Wellington School facilities". Somerset Gazette. 2010-01-11. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
- ^ Caroline Davies (20 July 2001). "He lied his way to the top". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 20 April 2007.
- ^ "Simon Singh profile: I think, therefore I will not be gagged". The Times. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
- ^ "Wellington (Somerset)". Guide to Independent Schools. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
- ^ "Death of Mr H. T. Gamlin", The Times, no. 47736, London, p. p5, 1937-07-14
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