Wellington College
Crowthorne, United Kingdom. Practice coming soon.
Independent schools · Test: ISEB Common Pre-Test, then own assessment day
Wellington College is a co-educational boarding and day school in Crowthorne, Berkshire, whose main entry is Year 9 (13+). Children sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test in the autumn of Year 6, and those who do well, with a strong head teacher reference, are invited to an assessment day at the College in the spring. Offers are made in March of Year 6.
Key facts
checked 19 October 2026
- Selective entry
Children sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test and, on the basis of their results and the strength of their head teacher's reference, are invited to spend a day at Wellington. About 500 children come to these selection days each year.
- School type
Independent co-educational day and boarding school, run as a charitable trust, with 16 boarding houses.
- Boys, girls, boarding and day
Since 2025 the pupils are 50% boys and 50% girls. 80% of new pupils join as boarders and 20% as day pupils.
How does Wellington College decide entry?
Wellington College is a co-educational boarding and day school in Crowthorne, Berkshire, whose main entry is Year 9 (13+). Test used: ISEB Common Pre-Test: an age-standardised series of tests in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, usually sat at the current school; a small number sit it at Wellington. Facts last checked on 19 October 2026.
At a glance
Last checked 19 October 2026. Every fact is from the school’s own pages unless marked Reported by prep providers or Our view
- Selective entry
Children sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test and, on the basis of their results and the strength of their head teacher's reference, are invited to spend a day at Wellington. About 500 children come to these selection days each year.
- School type
Independent co-educational day and boarding school, run as a charitable trust, with 16 boarding houses.
- Boys, girls, boarding and day
Since 2025 the pupils are 50% boys and 50% girls. 80% of new pupils join as boarders and 20% as day pupils.
- Founded
1853
- Location
Duke's Ride, Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG45 7PU
- Age range and size
The inspectors list ages 12 to 19 and 1,173 pupils, of whom 939 board (September 2025).
- Regulator inspection
Routine ISI inspection, 16 to 18 September 2025: the standards for leadership and governance, quality of education, wellbeing, social and economic education, and safeguarding were all met. One recommended next step, on assessing the language needs of pupils with English as an additional language.
- Entry points
About 275 new pupils join each year: around 200 at 13+ (Third Form, Year 9), a small number at 14+, and around 60 at 16+. Girls and boys finishing Year 6 elsewhere can join Wellington College Prep for Years 7 and 8.
- Main entry point
13+ (Year 9). The assessment is in Year 6, three years ahead of entry.
- Year your child must be in now
For 2029 entry, Year 6 now: standard registration closed on 30 June 2026 and Stage 1 is in October and November 2026. For 2030 entry, Year 5 now: registration closes on 30 June 2027.
- Assessment stages
Stage 1: ISEB Common Pre-Test in October and November of Year 6, plus references. Stage 2: a day at Wellington in January and February of Year 6 with collaborative lessons, problem-solving activities and an interview.
- Test used
ISEB Common Pre-Test: an age-standardised series of tests in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, usually sat at the current school; a small number sit it at Wellington. Overseas candidates can sit it at a British Council or an approved testing centre.
- Registration deadline
30 June of Year 5. For 2029 entry the date was 30 June 2026; for 2030 entry it is 30 June 2027; for 2031 entry 30 June 2028.
- Registration fee
£400, non-refundable, paid by credit or debit card or by bank transfer.
- Entrance fee and deposit
The 13+ pages read give no entrance fee and no acceptance deposit. Offers are made in March of Year 6; the amount due on acceptance is not published there.
- Tuition, 2026/27
Boarding £21,690 per term including VAT; day £15,930 per term including VAT. These are the 2026/27 fees; the page does not give the fee for the entry year.
- Offers
March of Year 6, conditional on a favourable report on satisfactory completion of schooling from the current school at the end of Year 8.
- Scholarships
A small number of 13+ academic scholarships are awarded before entry through an exam and interview in Year 8; most are awarded at the end of the Third Form. Music awards are by audition and interview at the end of January in Year 8. Scholarships do not reduce fees.
- Fee assistance
Means-tested awards from 10% to 100% of fees. In an average year about 20 pupils are admitted with an average award of around 50%.
- Fee assistance, who can apply at 13+
Applications for fee-assisted places are accepted only for children in Year 5 or Year 6. Families needing less than a 90% reduction register on the full fees route and ask for assistance later.
- Overseas candidates
There is no separate process for overseas pupils. About 20 to 30 international pupils join at 13+ and 16+ each year. At 13+ UKiset results are optional, because every 13+ candidate takes English and verbal reasoning in the ISEB Pre-Test.
- Boarding or day
If you do not know whether your child will board, the College strongly recommends registering for a boarding place, because it is rarely able to move a pupil from day to boarding after joining.
- What the school looks for
Selection is not only academic: the school also considers each applicant's character, interests, talents and personality. In the school’s words: “Selection for entry is not solely based on academic criteria”
The admissions journey.
Step 1From November 2026 (see the visits page)
Visit the College
Book a Visitors Day, a Master's Reception or a Director of Admissions' Reception through the visits page.
Visitors Days are on Saturday 14 November and Saturday 30 January, at 10:30. Director of Admissions' Receptions are on Friday 20 November and Friday 4 December at 12:45. The page gives no year; the weekdays fit 2026 and 2027.
Master's Receptions are on Friday 6 November (fully booked when we looked) and Friday 26 February at 12:45.
Step 230 June 2027
Register by 30 June of Year 5
Register online and pay the £400 registration fee. If unsure about boarding, register for a boarding place. Estimate any fee assistance you need before choosing the route.
The registration closing date for 2030 entry is 30 June 2027.
The closing date for Year 6 assessment is 30 June of Year 5; the non-refundable registration fee is £400.
Early registration improves the chance of a first-choice House, because the date of registration is a factor when allocating Houses.
Step 3After the registration closing date
Fee assistance form (if requested)
If you asked for fee assistance, complete the confidential statement of financial position that the College sends.
A link to the online confidential statement of financial position form is sent after the registration deadline to families requesting fee assistance.
Step 4October and November of Year 6 (autumn 2027 for 2030 entry)
Stage 1: ISEB Common Pre-Test
Your child sits the four ISEB tests, usually at the current school. The College also asks the current school for a reference.
Stage 1 is the ISEB Common Pre-Test in October and November of Year 6; tests are usually completed at the current school, and references are also requested.
On the school's entry-year table, Year 6 for 2030 entry is the 2027-28 school year, so Stage 1 falls in autumn 2027.
Step 5After Stage 1, before January of Year 6
Long-listing
Wait to hear whether your child is invited to Stage 2. The invitation rests on the test result and the strength of the head teacher's reference.
Children are invited to spend a day at Wellington on the basis of their ISEB results and the strength of their head teacher's reference.
Step 6January and February of Year 6 (early 2028 for 2030 entry)
Stage 2: a day at Wellington
Your child attends an assessment morning or afternoon and is interviewed by a senior member of staff.
Stage 2 is an assessment morning or afternoon in January and February of Year 6, with collaborative lessons and problem-solving activities, and an interview with a senior member of staff.
About 500 children attend these days each year, and there are no more tests or exams.
Step 7March of Year 6 (March 2028 for 2030 entry)
Offers
Watch for the offer, which is conditional on a favourable end of Year 8 report.
Offers are made in March of Year 6, conditional on a favourable report on satisfactory completion of schooling from the current school at the end of Year 8.
Step 82030 entry
Start in Year 9
Your child joins the Third Form (Year 9).
The school's table lists 2030 as an entry year for 13+ (Third Form, Year 9), with a registration closing date of 30 June 2027.
The assessment.
What the school says
Wellington uses the ISEB Common Pre-Test as Stage 1 of 13+ entry, then invites long-listed children to a day at the College. In the school’s words: “children sit the ISEB Common Pre-Test in either Year 6 or 7”
Stage 1 is the ISEB Common Pre-Test, an age-standardised series of tests in English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning, sat in October and November of Year 6.
The tests are usually sat at the current school, though a small number of candidates may sit them at Wellington; overseas candidates can sit them at a British Council or approved testing centre.
Stage 2 is an assessment morning or afternoon at Wellington: collaborative lessons, problem-solving activities and an interview with a senior member of staff, with no further tests.
The 13+ decision considers ISEB scores, the information in references, and performance on the assessment days, both in interview and in a variety of lessons.
The ISEB Pre-Test includes English and verbal reasoning, so 13+ candidates do not need to offer UKiset results.
ISEB describes four online, adaptive, multiple-choice tests that take 2 hours 15 minutes in total, with results age-standardised against a sample of pupils applying to independent schools.
ISEB says the maths test follows the National Curriculum to the end of Year 5, that pen and paper are allowed for working and are not marked, and that the aim is to show potential rather than current knowledge.
ISEB says it has not supplied questions or test-player information to test-prep companies other than Bond Online Premium Plus, the only practice platform it endorses.
Source: Joining at 13+ - Wellington College (opens in a new tab)
Source: Our Selection Criteria - Wellington College (opens in a new tab)
Source: International Pupils - Wellington College (opens in a new tab)
Source: ISEB Pre-Tests (11+) Information for parents and families (opens in a new tab)
Source: Preparing your child for the ISEB Pre-Tests (11+) - ISEB (opens in a new tab)
Parent questions.
- Does Wellington use the ISEB Common Pre-Test?
Yes, at 13+. Stage 1 of selection is the ISEB Common Pre-Test, sat in October and November of Year 6, usually at the current school.
- What happens after the Pre-Test?
The College asks the current school for a reference, and long-listed children are invited to a day at Wellington in January and February of Year 6. The day has collaborative lessons, problem-solving activities and an interview, with no more tests.
- When are offers made?
In March of Year 6, conditional on a favourable report from the current school at the end of Year 8.
- When must we register?
By 30 June of Year 5. The closing date for 2030 entry is 30 June 2027, and for 2029 entry it was 30 June 2026.
- How much does registration cost?
£400, non-refundable, paid by credit or debit card or by bank transfer.
- What are the fees?
For 2026/27, £21,690 per term for boarding and £15,930 per term for day pupils, both including VAT.
- Should we register for boarding or day?
If you are unsure, the College strongly recommends registering for a boarding place, because moving from day to boarding after joining is only possible in exceptional circumstances.
- What if we missed the deadline?
There are two late routes. Route 1 is for registrations by 30 June of Year 6, following the same stages 12 months later. Route 2 is for families who first contact the College in Year 7, with a May to June registration window and a waiting list as the usual outcome.
- Is financial help available?
Yes. Means-tested awards run from 10% to 100% of fees, and in an average year about 20 pupils are admitted with an average award of around 50%. At 13+ applications are accepted only for children in Year 5 or 6.
- We live overseas. Is the process different?
No. There is no separate process for overseas pupils, and overseas candidates can sit the ISEB Pre-Test at a British Council or approved testing centre. The panel considers each child's educational context.
- What about entry at 11+?
Girls and boys finishing Year 6 elsewhere can join Wellington College Prep for Years 7 and 8. That process starts with an activities morning in the autumn term of Year 6, and the ISEB Common Pre-Test is taken during November.
- Can we visit?
Yes. Visitors Days are on Saturday mornings at 10:30, and there are also Master's Receptions and Director of Admissions' Receptions on Friday afternoons. Book through the visits page.
Tell me when it opens.
The school’s own pages
Always check dates and requirements with Wellington College directly. These links open the school’s site in a new tab.
- Admissions overview(opens in a new tab)
- Joining at 13+(opens in a new tab)
- Our selection criteria(opens in a new tab)
- Entry year and registration closing dates (document)(opens in a new tab)
- College fees(opens in a new tab)
- Assistance with fees(opens in a new tab)
- Scholarships(opens in a new tab)
- Visiting Wellington(opens in a new tab)
- International pupils(opens in a new tab)
- Joining at 11+(opens in a new tab)
- Inspections(opens in a new tab)
- ISI inspection report, September 2025 (PDF)(opens in a new tab)
- ISI profile(opens in a new tab)
- ISEB Pre-Tests: information for families(opens in a new tab)
Mockplan links to schools; we never ask a school to link to us, and nothing here implies endorsement. Facts last checked 19 October 2026.