1.    Is Wellington College International Tianjin a for-profit school?

Wellington College International Tianjin is a non-profit organisation run by Wellington College in the UK and local partners, with the full backing of the Tianjin municipal and Hongqiao district governments. The aim of everybody involved in the College is to strengthen Tianjin’s position in attracting foreign investment through the provision of world-class education for families with ex-pat status and Chinese with foreign passports, and to foster international exchanges and strengthen educational links for students and teachers at Wellington College in the UK. Any financial surplus generated by the College will be re-invested in educational resources, both human and material, at the College.

     2.  Why is Wellington College in the UK setting-up schools abroad?

Wellington College in the UK is seeking opportunities to work with local partners and governments abroad, to provide the same high standard  of education as exists at the College in England around the world.

     3.  How strong is the partnership?
 
From top to bottom there are the strongest of links between the two schools, or more precisely between three, not forgetting Eagle House, with the curriculum, uniforms, house names, school language and our status as a royal foundation. We welcomed the Duke of York to Tianjin in September 2010 for the Inauguration of the College and he is now our Visitor to the College. This is unprecedented amongst international schools.

We can highlight three other areas, where the partnership is highly visible and productive. There are two Wellington UK members on the governing body, including Dr Seldon, the current Master. We have followed Wellington UK in adopting the Eight Aptitudes model of education, including the now-famous happiness or well-being lessons. Finally, we are bringing Wellington teachers to Tianjin.

For these reasons, both Dr Seldon and Mr Cook, the Master at Wellington in Tianjin, believe there is no closer partnership between two schools in the world.

    4.  But Wellington is still a new school without any proven track record?

Every school has to be new at some time or other. Being new does not mean we cannot be very successful. Wellington has the advantage of state-of-the art facilities and the most modern of resources, such as in our commitment to ICT, the Performing Arts, Media Studies and sports. You will see this the minute you enter the College buildings. We have brought the very best teachers from English native-speaking countries to the College, while behind us of course we have the traditions and expertise of Wellington College in the UK. So we are in a sense unique, embracing the freshness and vitality of youth with the heritage and success of our rather older partners in England.

     5.  Have you the best teachers?

Yes. They are all fully qualified teachers, native language speakers, coming with experience of top British and international schools, and all are totally committed to the ethos and values of the College. Some have come from Wellington College in the UK and the reputation of the name Wellington was crucial in attracting what is probably the best teaching staff in China, if not the Far East. 

Moreover, Wellington in Tianjin is an ideal place to teach with small class sizes, wonderful facilities and resources, motivated students, supportive parents and considerable professional development opportunities.

     6.  What is the Wellington Curriculum?

The Wellington Curriculum in Tianjin is shaped by the College in the UK, principally with the Eight Aptitudes model of education, which in turn is based on the English national curriculum.  However, we are an international school and thus the College has decided to offer the IBDP at sixth form level, subject to IBO authorisation, which is the leading pre-university qualification in the world. We are also fully aware of being located in China and this is reflected in our enhanced Mandarin programme and general awareness of Chinese culture and heritage.

     7.  Are you going to offer any A-levels?

The College is committed to teaching the IBDP at sixth form level, subject to authorization from the IBDP. However, demand from Year 12 students has meant we have taught A-levels in nine subjects from August 2011, a course which will last until June 2013.

Both the IBDP and A-levels remain the principal means of entry to leading universities around the world. There are, however, several differences. The IBDP is more international in outlook and takes a broader approach to sixth form studies, while still incorporating considerable specialization. Probably the greatest difference is the Core in the IBDP, or the Extended Essay, the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) paper and the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) element.

      8.  What universities will your students go to?

Our pupils will be aimed at the very best universities in the world. The  expectations are that most will head for North America or Britain. We will fully prepare all our students for the challenge of university entrance, such as filling out application forms and, toughest of all, the interviews. Here we can draw upon the experience of our own teachers, most of whom have been to leading universities, not forgetting the extensive university contacts of Wellington College in the UK.

      9.  What facilities does Wellington have?

Wellington has probably the best facilities of any international school in China and they probably compare with any school in the world. The campus itself has extensive sports facilities, the state-of-the-art 500-seat Seldon Theatre, the College Library, science laboratories, an art gallery, ICT and DT workshops, the list is seemingly endless. The main teaching building itself is one of the most attractive in Tianjin, a city full of memorable historic buildings.

Wellington also benefits from being in an inner city location, so has immediate access to facilities in the surrounding area, which include various cultural venues and a multitude of sports facilities, including tennis and squash courts, a 50-metre swimming pool and, even, a little further away an equestrian centre.

  10.  Are there going to be sporting and cultural exchanges at Wellington?

Yes. There is ample scope for sporting and cultural exchanges with many schools. We are developing such a relationship with other schools in Tianjin, both Chinese and international. Beijing is very close and, through the recently-established British Partnership Schools Foundation, we are establishing close ties with Harrow and Dulwich, and, with the fast rail link, Shanghai is only five hours away.

However, our greatest link is with Wellington, and such exchanges will be highlights of the academic year, predominantly in the Lent term. Another date is also set, 30th April 2012, when all the Wellingtons will come together in a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London. We will be there. As more Wellingtons are established over the next few years, Vietnam, Mauritius, Kuala Lumpur, and elsewhere in China, then the possibilities get ever greater.

  11.  Is there an extra-curricular activities programme?

Yes, very much so. There is a very extensive extra-curricular activities programme after school, or between 3.45pm and 4.45pm, as well as the Saturday Activities Programme at the weekends. The vast majority of the after-school activities are free, but individual-based ones, such as golf and musical instrument tuition will involve a charge, as does the Saturday Activities Programme.

   12.  What is the school policy towards textbooks?

Textbooks are distributed to all pupils and then collected back in, when the relevant course or the academic year is completed. Again this is normal procedure in all international schools. The only difference is the sixth form where the students purchase and keep their own textbooks.

   13.  The tuition fees are high. Will most be spent on recouping capital costs?

It is a well-known fact in educational circles that a substantial proportion of the annual budget for any school goes on staff salaries, and this is the case at Wellington, in common with all top international schools around the world. Reducing the fees substantially would inevitably endanger our ability to employ the very best teachers. The tuition fees at Wellington are also in line with those at the leading schools in Beijing and Shanghai.

     14. The College is a long way from the principal ex-pat areas. Is this a problem?

No. Wellington is located in the Hongqiao district on a historic and attractive campus, with excellent bus and metro communications on the doorstep. The new ultra-modern Tianjin West Railway Station is also nearby. The College has a comprehensive bus service for our pupils, which is the most popular means of getting to school. The vast majority of students everywhere have to travel to school and, for some people, Wellington will be farther away, but we know the very many advantages of such an education far outweigh the disadvantage of a longer journey to school. Moreover, we have found that the Tianjin road network does provide quicker, and more effective, routes from the Olympic Park area, which our buses use. These are published elsewhere on the College website. There are also an increasing number of accommodation options near the College as new developments open, including the Wellington International Community, a short walk from the College campus.

     15. How does Wellington handle the balance of different nationalities?

Wellington aims to have a balance of different nationalities within the College. As far as we are concerned, the more nationalities the better, so creating a truly international school. The most successful international schools are those that have a varied and diverse student body.

Being a non-profit organization, Wellington is not prepared to sacrifice quality of education, which requires an effective balance of nationalities, simply for numbers.

     16. How does Wellington forge links with Chinese society and culture?

Wellington has very close links with the Tianjin municipal and Hongqiao district governments. The teaching of Mandarin is very important in the College, being compulsory up to Year 9, and we want our pupils to go on to study the language at IGCSE and in the sixth form . We have excellent Mandarin teachers possible, it is indeed the largest department in the College.

We are also establishing links with other schools in Tianjin, particularly the Chinese ones, sharing INSET, sports fixtures, cultural exchanges, as well as supporting any local cultural, sporting events etc. Wellington takes its location and ties to Tianjin and China very seriously. Our aim is to be the best international school in China.

    17. Is Wellington going to seek accreditation?

Yes. The College’s intention is applying for Council of International Schools (CIS) membership and accreditation, a process which will take five years. The College has also applied to become an IBO World School. The College also faces an annual inspection from Wellington College in the UK, which will probably be the most rigorous of all! 

     18. Why do students at Wellington College International Tianjin wear school uniform?

A school uniform fosters a sense of belonging and of pride in the school. It creates a sense of identity with the student body as a whole, rather than just a group of friends, a sense of oneness, which is particularly important in such a multi-cultural environment.

School uniform also aids discipline, helps reduce bullying and creates an atmosphere conducive to learning, reinforcing the academic setting. Students are not distracted by what others are wearing and tend to pay attention better in class. The uniform also acts as a social leveller. Students are not judged by their peers on how they dress, how fashionable they are and what designer brands they possess. They are equal in the eyes of each other and the school.  As one Wellington student puts it, “I no longer worry every morning about what to wear. It’s taken the stress out of getting ready for school”. Teachers do not have to fight a constant battle to ensure clothing is appropriate. Students look smarter.

The uniform at Wellington Tianjin has a special significance. Like the design of the College buildings,  it is a very visible reminder of our partnership with our prestigious sister school in the UK, Wellington College. The basic design and colours of the uniform are derived from Wellington College, reflecting the closeness of the relationship between the two schools. All students, right down to pre-nursery, wear the school uniform. Younger children wear a polo shirt emblazoned with the school crest, while all shirts and blouses are worn with a tie which proudly bears the school colours. When our exchange programme starts next term, with some of our Senior School pupils spending two to three weeks in the UK, they will look Wellingtonian from head to toe, instantly recognisable, but with a distinctiveTianjin style. We have close family ties in a very literal as well as a figurative sense!