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Wellington to offer support to nearby comprehensives

Posted on 18th July 2008

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In a bid to comply with the Charity Commission's public benefit test, Wellington College has announced a new initiative.

The prestigious independent school will welcome gifted pupils from nearby comprehensives to special summer schools, reports the Times Educational Supplement.

Lessons, running over four days, will focus on biology, chemistry, physics or maths and could go a long way towards helping the private school qualify for charitable status.

Master of Wellington College Anthony Seldon told the publication that he believes these initiatives will prove more beneficial than bursary schemes, arguing this is "the way forward".

"Bursaries are driving the two sectors apart. They take the best [pupils] from the state sector, so you are sending a message to it that it is not, somehow good enough," he added.

Wellington will also provide year nines with the opportunity to spend four days at the schools during the autumn half-term, studying a range of subjects.

Last month, Mr Seldon told the Times that he is concerned about new plans to encourage universities to favour state school pupils.
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