History & Background of Wellington College
Wellington College Education traces its origins back to 1859, when Queen Victoria founded Wellington College in Crowthorne, England. It was a national monument to Arthur Wellesley, the first Duke of Wellington and one of the country’s most renowned military figures and statesmen.
More than 160 years later, the College remains one of the most respected educational institutions in the UK. Its global network of 10 schools empowers more than 10,000 pupils in England, China, India, and Thailand with schools soon to open in Indonesia, the US and South Korea.
Expanding in China and Internationally
In partnership with Wellington College, the Wellington College China (WCC) group opened its inaugural British international school in China, Wellington College International Tianjin, in 2011. The school continued to expand in China with the addition of Wellington College International Shanghai in 2014 and the bilingual Hiba Academy Shanghai in 2018.
That same year also saw the opening of two more schools in Hangzhou: Hiba Academy Hangzhou and Wellington College International Hangzhou. Most recently, in 2022, WCC launched its flagship boarding school, Hiba Academy Nantong. The group continues to flourish as it takes its bicultural education model overseas with Hiba Academy Bay Area, which is set to open in Fall 2026.
Bicultural Education Approach
Wellington College China's bicultural education begins with a collaborative teaching model, featuring both a foreign teacher and a nationally trained Chinese educator. Together, they guide the class using two languages, English and Chinese, encouraging pupils to express themselves, follow their curiosity and make connections in their learning.
