Historic location
Berkshire International Summer Schools are run at Wellington College in Crowthorne, Berkshire just to the west of London and 30 minutes from Heathrow airport.
The college was established by Queen Victoria in 1859 as a memorial to the Great Duke who as well as defeating Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo in 1815 was himself twice British Prime Minister. It was setup as a ‘Royal and religious foundation’ and continues to have a royal connection with HRH Queen Elisabeth II visiting 3 times in the last 7 years.
It is set in 400 acres of lush English countryside and has facilities that are amongst the best of any Independent school in the UK. It has its own golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, extensive sports pitches, tennis courts, indoor climbing wall and sports centre. It is also very close to many other facilities that the summer school makes use of such as go karting, ice skating and bowling.
In 2014 the college was voted ‘Best Public School’ by the prestigious Tatler Schools Guide. It is currently the top performing IB school in the UK with record numbers of students achieving places at Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
Accommodation
Students are housed in one of Wellington College’s Boarding houses. Last year students stayed in the Talbot boarding house which has been designed as a spacious, well-appointed and prestigious building in character with others on the Wellington College estate. It occupies a site nestling among mature woodland and landscaped water features. It has an environment, which is homely, secure, comfortable, and conducive to study and in which social contact is natural and easy.
As well as the elegant oak-panelled Dining Room, in which students can take breakfast and supper, the facilities, which are second to none, include a large Common Room with TV, table tennis tables, two rooms for making “Brews” and a separate library room for more quiet study. There are computing and printing facilities in an alcove off the TV room, whilst the Matron’s well- appointed room on the first floor has washing and drying machines which ensure a speedy turn round of students’ laundry. Each room has a bed, wardrobe for hanging and storing clothes and a desk. Some rooms have ensuite showers and washing facilities. Outside the building, aside from the lakes and grassy areas, there is a floodlit play area.