On Friday 10th February 2017, the day before the Chinese Lantern Festival, over 120 guests from all over the world gathered at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai to celebrate the first cocktail reception held by Wellington College Education (China) Community. The attendees include representative parents from member schools, school leadership teams, teachers and as well as guests from our sister school at Berkshire, UK. Mr. Murray Lindo, Head of Wellington Community joined the event and brought the best wishes for this special occasion from Wellington College.
Within just eight years, Wellington College Education (China) has grown rapidly, with over 1500 pupils and 600 staff across the group. Recognized as the leading international and bilingual education providers in China, Wellington College Education (China) is perceived as a brand of quality and progressive education. In addition to the academic excellence, tradition and prestigious reputation, what makes Wellington College Education (China) truly proud is the strong and active community formed by our Wellington pupils, parents, teachers and staff, as well as old Wellingtonians.
As Ms. Joy Qiao, Chair of Governors ofWellington College Education (China) said,‘The Wellington values of courage, respect, integrity, kindness and responsibility apply not only to the education we offer, but also to who we are and what we represent as a community. The Wellington community is also a special one because it is a truly international one, closely and deeply linked to the Wellington community in the UK. The thousands of pupils and parents of Wellington College Education (China) are now part of a global network formed by tens of thousands of current and former pupils and parents of The Wellington College, with its 158 years of history. That is a prestigious and powerful network!’
In fact, the community of Wellington College Education (China) has existed for a while, but it is the first time that the group is
officially announced as a cross-school organisation, supported by the Wellington community in the UK. With a long –
respected history, the Wellington Community serves as a platform where all members are invited to meet up, build
friendships, rediscover old friendships, share ideas, make contacts and create business opportunities. As Murray Lindo,
Head of Wellington Community explained, ‘You all represent an extraordinary pool of talent and experience – and in many
ways, you can see my work as being rather like a match-maker – to match interests, passion and skills to the areas where
Wellington needs support. To harness the talents of the Wellington Community we have created a number of programmes
where we feel members of the Community can get involved in and benefit from a wide range of programmes / services such
as educational pastoral support, careers, business, social, cultural and philanthropic.’
The Wellington College Education (China) community aspires to be a caring community that imbues the Wellington values and identity.
Dr. Ahmed Hussain, Director of Schools of Wellington College Education (China) introduced Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou,
which is the latest addition to the Wellington College family of schools in China. It is planned to open in 2018. . As
he said, “The Wellington College Education (China) Community will be enhanced through the introduction of our latest member which is
Wellington College Bilingual Hangzhou, that will build on the success of the International schools in Tianjin and
Shanghai and also the launch of Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai.”
Launched in Shanghai, Wellington College Education (China) community is expected to create a diverse and vibrant environment with
multiple opportunities and challenges as it develops. As the Master of Wellington College International Shanghai, Gerard
MacMahon gave his special wishes and prospect of the future of this new community, “Already, after just two and a half
years, Wellington College International Shanghai is being talked of as one of the best international schools in the
city. Those of you who are close to the college will be aware of the very many ways in which we wish to continue to
improve, but we already have a community to which people are proud to belong.” also welcomed OWs in Shanghai, and
visiting Shanghai, to the College or maybe to take advantage of the College’s outstanding facilities to host a meeting,
a charitable function, a sports event, or a performance.
Chinese Lantern Festival symbolizes the end of the Lunar New Year holiday and a brand new start of another prosperous
year. The cocktail reception ended in forging of friendship across the representatives of the Wellington College Education (China)
Schools.
