Wellington College International Shanghai opened its doors on August 24, 2014, welcoming its first pupils and guided by a mission to provide a pioneering education to serve and help shape a better world.
Over the last decade, the Wellington community has grown steadily, and now spans the globe. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, and a decade of building a global community, they came together for a day of celebration, reflection and looking forward to building a brighter future.
Wellington were honored to share the festivities with special guests in their College Theatre. Distinguished guests included: Joy Qiao, Founder and Chairman of Wellington College China; Xu Erjin, Chairman of the Lujiazui Group; Cai Rong, General Manager of the Lujiazui Group; Matthew Burney, HM Consul-General, British Consulate-General Shanghai; Qinjian Zhou, Director of the International Exchange Office at the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission; Sir Anthony Seldon, Founding Director of Wellington College Education and other long-standing partners.
Joy Qiao, Founder and Chairman of Wellington College China, remarked, "10 years ago, we embarked on an incredible journey when we founded Wellington College International Shanghai. We envisioned a school that would not only provide children with a world-class education but also foster international-mindedness and mutual respect through deep cultural understanding. As we look to the future, I'm filled with excitement and a profound sense of purpose. Our commitment to pioneering education to serve and help shape a better world has never been stronger. We are determined to continue being a beacon of excellence, not just for Shanghai, but for China and beyond."
To symbolize this spirit of connection, the distinguished guests celebrated a common vision and commitment to continue building the global Wellington community.
The event featured speeches from special guests who reflected on the power of strong partnerships to turn vision into reality.
Founding pupil, Alex L, now in Year 13, reflected on his formative experience at the College, citing the teachers who supported and challenged him to Be You. Be More. "Wellington has been an amazing place to grow up, full of friends who feel like family and teachers who've made every day memorable. I came to Wellington as a plain canvas, and the teachers, friends, and experiences here have colored it into a masterpiece."
Founding parent, and current Chair of the Friends of Wellington, Felix Zhang, remarked, "As I look back on the past decade, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities that this school has provided for my son and our family. We have made lifelong friends, forged lasting memories, and grown together as a community."
Assembled guests were treated to extraordinary pupil performances.
Wellington Shanghai would especially like to highlight performances from two of its alumni, Jackson Faulkner and Isabella Petry, who took time from their busy careers to join this special occasion.
In addition, Class of 2019 alumni Kevin Gong created a special gift for each guest, a hand-made, limited edition Wellington pupil figurine made from Wuxi black clay. Kevin has revived and brought back this traditional craft that is now honored as one of China's Intangible Cultural Heritage art forms.
"Wellington has grown in so many profound ways these past 10 years, and I don't just mean enrolment numbers," said Brendon Fulton, Master of Wellington College. "With each successive year, our network has grown wider and stronger. We are increasingly better equipped to be a force for positive change in our community and the wider world, and that is the ultimate goal of a holistic education."
On Sunday, November 3, the entire community of pupils, parents, teachers and partners – over 3,000 people, representing 45+ nations and territories – came together on the grass field for a joyous concert to celebrate a decade of Wellington Shanghai and a decade of building a global community.
The concert was capped by a nighttime spectacular which illuminated the night sky above Qiantan New Bund.
The concert featured pupil performances, rock bands, high-energy dancing, acrobatics, and even a magic show, showing once again that when our community comes together, magic happens.
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The concert was highlighted by the performance of two original pieces of music composed especially for the 10th Anniversary celebration.
And what is a birthday celebration without some birthday cake?
The 10th Anniversary Concert capped Wellington Shanghai's inaugural Wellbeing Festival, which has been going on all week. Pupils, parents and staff have been engaged in a variety of activities, learning about the different ways we can enhance our wellbeing.
"At Wellington, our focus on holistic wellbeing has been a defining part of our identity from the very beginning," said Dr Charles Debieux, Head of Secondary School and founding teacher. "By nurturing the whole child – intellectually, creatively, and emotionally – we are empowering our pupils to become caring, responsible global citizens who will go on to make a positive impact on the world."
This commitment to wellbeing has long been a defining feature of the Wellington DNA. Its roots trace back to Wellington College in the UK, which in 2006 became the first school of its kind to enshrine pupil wellbeing in its mission, earning it the nickname 'Wellbeington.'
In the past decade, Wellington Shanghai has marked many key milestones on its journey.
2012.11
Wellington College International Shanghai's groundbreaking ceremony.
2013.02
Shanghai Lujiazui Group signed a strategic partnership with Wellington College in England.
2015.10
Shanghai Lujiazui Group New Bund Investment Co., Ltd. signed the Wellington College Bilingual Education Framework Agreement with Wellington College in England.
2016.09
Ms Anna Shotbolt, then First Secretary and Head of Education and Skills of the UK's Department for International Trade, visited Wellington College International Shanghai.
2017.06
The College was already celebrating its first cohort of graduating pupils.
2018.02
Ms Theresa May, then UK Prime Minister, listened to pupils' science project presentations.
2019
The grand opening of the Wellington College International Shanghai Early Years Centre.
Along the way, Wellington has remained steadfast in its commitment to holistic education in academics, sports and the arts. Pupils consistently excel, achieving outstanding examination scores and gaining admission to top-ranked universities, like Oxford, Cambridge, Brown and Caltech.
Another year of outstanding IB achievements
Cambridge, Oxford, UCL and more! The offers keep coming in!
Beyond academics, Wellington develops the whole child, nurturing their intellectual curiosity, creativity, character and wellbeing, all firmly rooted in the Wellington values of kindness, responsibility, respect, courage and integrity.
At the heart of the school is the Wellington community, which radiates from its home in the Qiantan New Bund throughout the globe. For 10 years, the College has nurtured a community of caring citizens who engage in ongoing charity and outreach activities that benefit communities locally and globally, demonstrating Wellington's unique ability to make a positive impact.
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