Video丨Congratulations to our Class of 2021!

What an extraordinary year it has been for our year 13 graduates. More than 50% of them are holding offers from the world’s top 20 universities. There are two offers from the University of Cambridge; one from the University of Oxford; one from The University of Pennsylvania; three offers from Imperial College London (two of which are unconditional); 9 from University College London; four from the University of the Arts London; 13 from the University of Edinburgh; one from Peking University; two from New York University; two from the University of Toronto; and six from the University of Hong Kong as well as many, many more.

We are so pleased that, once again, Wellingtonians go on to study a wide range of subjects at university – a testament to the broad education and the excellent teaching and learning that they received at school. Our pupils will be going on to the next phase of their education to study subjects as diverse as Neuroscience, English Language and Literature, Chinese, Anthropology, Fine Art, Fashion, Product and Furniture Design and Mathematics. The breadth and quality of these offers is testament to the hard work and perseverance of all pupils, parents, teachers, and university counsellors here at Wellington College in Tianjin. Every year 13 pupil has benefitted from a bespoke programme of support throughout the application process, focused on the needs of the individual and ensuring that they all have access to their ‘best fit’ university destinations.

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The graduation ceremony on 21st May marked the achievements of all our year 13 pupils in true Tianjin style. The afternoon began with a procession of the graduates around the estate, applauded all along the route by our wonderfully enthusiastic pupils from the Junior School. It was so touching to see younger pupils sharing in the celebrations and the graduates were obviously very moved by the acclamation. 

This was followed by our graduation ceremony in the Seldon Theatre. Senior School pupils were joined by our guest of honour, Mr Matthew Ford, Principal of RGS Guildford, Nanjing, Wellington College China’s founder and chairman, Ms Joy Qiao, the group CEO, Mrs Helen Kavanagh, and the Master of Wellington College in Hangzhou, Mrs Kath Richardson.

There was live music in addition to the speeches and presentation of the graduation certificates. Daniel and Marcos, both going on to study at leading universities in China, sang a very moving rendition of the Chinese song Those Bygone Years《那些年》and the ceremony came to a close with all the graduates singing We Go Together from the musical Grease.

Ms Qiao spoke movingly during the ceremony, commenting that “Wellington College Tianjin is almost like a first child in a family – getting the most attention, but also carrying the most responsibility”. She spoke about how Wellington College Tianjin is giving hope and confidence to all our newer schools and that our culture of excellence is something that they all aspire to achieve. She said, “excellence is the result of always striving to do better” and that is certainly a mindset we hope to display here in Tianjin.

Ms Qiao finished with a quotation from the American singer Jon Bon Jovi: “You just stay the course and do what it is that you do and grow while you are doing it. Eventually, it will either come full circle or at least, you’ll go to bed at night happy”. We hope that all our graduates will be happy and successful as they embark on their unique journeys, and we wish them all the best of luck as they move on. Remember: once a Wellingtonian, always a Wellingtonian.

After the ceremony, the entertainment continued outside as our talented pupils performed for the guests. It was yet another glorious graduation ceremony and community celebration.

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