Wellington College

Established in 1867, Wellington College is one of New Zealand’s most distinguished high school for boys. The school buildings reflect the prestigious history of the college, which today provides a very modern and successful learning environment. Wellington College provides a unique learning experience and a world-class education for international students aged 13 to 18 (year 9 to year 13). Our teachers work closely with students to help them build confidence and prepare for further education.

Studying at Wellington College is an exciting opportunity to gain a world-class education in a stimulating environment. Our school roll Wellington College has 1700 students in years 9 to 13. Our school roll is 74% New Zealand European, 15% Asian, 7% Maori, and 4% Polynesian. We maintain a maximum number of international students, which is 5% of the total school roll. 

The school year has four 10-week terms with 2 weeks vacation between terms. The summer vacation is in December and January. Senior exams are in term four. Choose what you want to study Wellington College offers a balanced and challenging academic programme. 

Choose how long you want to study. Many international students study at Wellington College for their full 5-year high school programme to prepare for tertiary study. Choose when you want to study. We take enrolments at the beginning of terms one, two, and three (January, April, and July). Students entering year 10 or students interested in outdoor experiences may start at the beginning of term four. All students wear our Wellington College uniform. 

Our non-academic programmes promote competitive interest in over 35 sports and cultural activities. Wellington College is a national leader in sports. Our students succeed at a top level in rugby, football, tennis, swimming, sailing, and basketball. Similarly, our students have a proud record of success in the arts, including music, and drama. Students can choose to take part in a wide range of cultural activities from public speaking, chess, and debating to language clubs, theatre sports, and creative writing.

Programs

We are proud of our reputation for achieving some of the highest academic results in New Zealand. Our students excel in all of the internationally recognised NCEA curriculum subjects. We have a record-breaking history in achieving more scholarships than any other school in the highly competitive New Zealand Scholarship Examinations.

There are three NCEA qualifications: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 offered at Wellington College.

As the choice of subjects at Year 12 becomes much more diverse, it is important students make a careful and planned selection of subjects. Up until Year 11, the choice of subjects has been directed toward providing a strong grounding across the different learning areas of the curriculum.

For over 20 years, our teaching staff, who oversee academic and English language programmes, have provided the highest level of academic support for our international students. Students have a wide range of courses to choose from, and we encourage them to select courses they enjoy. English as a Second Language (ESOL) courses, with small class sizes and teachers who are ESOL specialists, provide the English language development required for students to succeed in academic subjects.

Wellington College international students have the opportunity to join school-organised activities, including outdoor education trips and cultural trips. We also offer an outdoor adventure programme in November for boys who are not sitting NCEA exams. Many recommended commercial tour operators provide international students with one- and two-week tours of the North Island or the South Island. We can help with the arrangements if you would like to join one of these tours. Wellington College enjoys a strong partnership with our sister school, Wellington Girls’ College. Our partnership creates plenty of shared activities both in and out of school time.