A Summer School to Remember at Wellington College UK

At Wellington College Education (China) - Hangzhou, we believe that education extends far beyond the classroom and assessments. It is to guide pupils beyond their familiar surroundings onto a broader world stage, where they can experience, explore, reflect and grow.

As part of the global Wellington family, we share a common heritage with Wellington College UK. We maintain a close and continuous connection with the College in terms of our educational ethos, curriculum framework and core values. Each July, our pupils have the opportunity to travel to Crowthorne, England, for a two-week summer school held on Wellington College's own campus. More than a journey across the world, this is an immersive learning experience that allows them to engage in an authentic Wellington education.

The summer school programme creates a shared platform for Wellingtonians from around the globe; pupils from the UK, Thailand, China and India live, learn and exchange ideas side by side on the same campus. They experience first-hand the College's history, elegant architecture and distinctive boarding culture, while embodying the five core values that unite every Wellington school worldwide: kindness, responsibility, respect, courage and integrity.

The Wellington College was founded in 1853 as the living memorial to the Duke of Wellington, described by Queen Victoria as 'the greatest man this country has ever produced'. For over a century and a half, this boarding school in Berkshire has stood among Britain's most prestigious schools.

The 400-acre campus blends heritage with modernity: ancient Gothic buildings stand as witnesses to the passage of time, while state-of-the-art teaching and boarding facilities embody a spirit of advancing with the times.

During the summer school programme, pupils from Wellington College Education (China) - Hangzhou become part of this living tradition. They experience first-hand an educational philosophy as well as the Wellington spirit that transcends both cultures and centuries, an ethos that combines academic excellence, pastoral care and the cultivation of leadership.

Wellington education emphasises the cultivation of leadership, not the pursuit of power.

Across twelve hours of leadership sessions, pupils engage in team missions, public-speaking exercises and personality exploration tasks. They learn to speak with confidence, to listen actively and communicate effectively, and to grow through challenge.

By identifying their strengths and potential, they reflect on their values and responsibilities, discovering that true leadership lies not in directing others, but in inspiring them and enabling the entire team to succeed.

These experiences provide pupils with clarity and conviction as they navigate future academic and life choices.

Over the two-week programme, pupils step beyond the school gates and into Britain's history and culture.

Day excursions take them to London, Oxford, Windsor and Hampton Court Palace - places where history converges with contemporary energy.

✨ They wander through ancient colleges of Oxford University, hearing echoes of centuries of scholarship;

✨They explore Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, tracing history of England's naval strength;

✨ They visit Hampton Court, imagining the court life of Henry VIII;

✨ They stroll the royal gardens of Windsor Castle, admiring their elegance and scale;

✨ They ride the London Eye for a panoramic skyline, and journey through 4.6 billion years at the Natural History Museum.

These immersive experiences transform pupils into cultural explorers rather than tourists, as they explore history by walking in its footsteps, and building a worldview by living it.

The dining hall at the Wellington College is renowned for its elegant oak panel decorations and welcoming atmosphere. Here, pupils share meals with teachers and friends, enjoying fresh and flavourful dishes that blend British classics with international cuisine.

The catering team accommodates all dietary needs—vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, halal, etc.. On excursion days, the kitchen prepares refined picnic lunches, allowing pupils to replenish their energy as they explore.