International Students

The Head of international Students is Mrs Ginette Vonchek

Read the policy on international students

Wellington College is an outward-looking school with many international links at pupil, parent and staff levels. We look to promote a global awareness among our students with a view to broadening their horizons, encouraging tolerance and preparing young people for the social, economic and environmental challenges of the future.

Suitable candidates to join the pupil body at Wellington College will have good academic backgrounds but it is just as important that they arrive wishing to join in a wide range of activities; they will be able to contribute through their involvement rather than merely benefit by being at the School.

We do not have an international house but prefer to place our overseas students in all the boarding houses to ensure they are fully integrated and that all pupils, both English and those from abroad, are exposed to a range of different cultures. There is a full induction programme for all those new to the school be they international or home students, but the Head of International Students will meet with all new overseas pupils shortly after their arrival and will be an additional support for them as they settle in. There is also an International Students' Committee run by the pupils themselves where they can bring up issues of concern and make suggestions for improvements.

All pupils eat lunch centrally each day, and at weekends, which gives pupils from different houses the chance to get to know each other better and provides an international feel to the school. The school is a Christian foundation but we are respectful of other religions. We will endeavour to assist all our students with any special dietary and religious requirements where possible, including the provision of halal meat or vegetarian meals.

Technology makes keeping in touch much easier these days. E-mail is very convenient, but also mobile phones, text messaging and skype mean that the world seems smaller. Formal reports are provided twice a year, along with more frequent interims, and informal communication, often by e-mail, between parents and Housemasters or Housemistresses, or the pupil's tutor, keeps everyone informed.