Widening Access Scholarship Programme


We are changing lives...

Central to the ‘Inspire!’ campaign is the need to widen access and open our doors to boys and girls of promise, ambition and talent but with limited financial means.

PROJECT COST: £1M PER YEAR

Programme Target: £1m per year

By raising £1m per year we will be able to provide funding for many more students to benefit from a Wellington College education each year.

Our scholarship students are motivated, aspirational and committed to transforming their lives by taking advantage of all the experiences that an education at Wellington can offer. All scholarship students must have the potential to be able to cope and thrive in the busy and high-achieving atmosphere of Wellington College. This promise is likely to manifest itself in terms of academic potential and character, but may also be in other areas of school life, whilst taking into consideration the lower levels of support and opportunities that each student may have been given up to the point of entry.

Our successfully run scholarship programme has three key elements:

FUNDING

Funding comes from very generous donations from the Wellington Community; parents, OWs and friends. Our scholarships are awarded to both day and boarding students to cover fees and additional costs when required, to cover items such as clothing, equipment, trips, laptops and stationery.

SELECTION

We consider each application on a case-by-case basis. Successful candidates show potential academic ability and preferably offer potential excellence in other areas of College life. Whilst direct contact is an acceptable route to applying for a bursary, the College has close affiliations with partner organisations including; Springboard, Eastside Young Leaders Academy (EYLA), Into University and others. All our partners have rigorous systems of selection to ensure due diligence and selection based on our criteria.

TRANSITION PROCESS AND ONGOING PASTORAL SUPPORT

We understand that our scholarship students and their families may need additional pastoral support, both when they begin and throughout their time with us, and to this end there are a range of initiatives to support the process including: familiarisation days, parent/carer get-togethers, a ‘buddy’ system for the students as well as the parents/carers.

Latest News

Angus Neale (Bn 18) completes the Marathon des Sables in memory of Haydn Robarts (Bn 18)

05 May 2026

In March, we shared that Angus Neale (Bn 18) would be running the Marathon des Sables in memory of his friend and fellow OW, Haydn Robarts (Bn 18). It is a self-supported, 270km race which takes place over seven days in the Moroccan Sahara. Crossing desert dunes in ferocious heat, it has been dubbed the […]

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Adam Wilkie (Bn 11): In My Father’s Lane

21 April 2026

Old Wellingtonian, Adam Wilkie (Bn 2006-11), son of Olympic champion David Wilkie MBE, has quit his job to take on an extraordinary challenge: to match his father’s world record-breaking 200m breaststroke time – 50 years after it made history, and just two years after his father’s death from cancer. David Wilkie was one of the […]

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OWs Deliver Life-Saving Medical Supplies to Ukraine

16 April 2026

In December 2025, Neil Polley (Pn 75) and Christopher Hill (Pn 75) drove more than 3,000km across Europe to Lviv, Ukraine, delivering medical supplies and support vehicles to those working on the front line.  Neil and Christopher volunteered with Driving Ukraine, a charity established in 2022 that has organised 54 convoys to date. The organisation provides vehicles, medical […]

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Upcoming Events

12 May 2026

Creative Industries Networking Evening

The Other House, South Kensington, London

 

 

One of our most popular networking evenings, this event brings together parents, OWs and Sixth Form students working in or interested careers in the creative industries. Tickets are complimentary and include welcome drinks and canapés. Click here to see the current guest list.

Wellington pupils interested in attending this event must register with Mr Webber, Head of Careers, via jmw@wellingtoncollege.org.uk

Book your place »

16 May 2026

Wellington Parent Choir

Concert Room, Wellington College

 

 

Saturday 16th May 11:00am-12:00pm

The Wellington Community invite you to join the informal and fun Wellington Parent Choir, led by our inspirational Director of Music Simon Williamson. Designed for singers of all abilities. To register your place please email: community@wellingtoncollege.org.uk


03 June 2026

Wellington Wildlife and Grounds Walking Tour

V&A, Wellington College

 

 

Wellington College Grounds and Gardens Manager, Mark Dodd, will lead a tour of the College’s grounds, offering fascinating insights into the delights and challenges of maintaining this 440-acre estate. He will share how his team manages wildlife conservation, landscaping, and the diverse array of plants across the site.

Mark will also guide us through the College’s nature reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)—a remarkable beacon of biodiversity containing nationally scarce habitats and species. He will explain the conservation efforts that protect this unique ecosystem and the wonderful wildlife that thrives within it.

 

Book your place »

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