golf - Jules Akel

92 w e l l i ng ton y e a r b oo k 2 0 07 − 2 0 0 8w e l l i ng ton y e a r b oo k 2 0 07 − 2 0 0 8 93BURSARY NOTESy e a r e n d i ng s u m m e r 2008Aparticular feature about Wellington Collegefireworks display as well as the Summer Spectacular raisethat has struck me during my first year of workingin this community has been the very largenumber of visitors who are welcomed here, with minimaldisruption to the day to day workings of the College as aschool, but which significantly enhance its standing locally,nationally and internationally.During term the events to which we welcome visitorsinclude the usual range of school activities such as theMaster’s Lectures, concerts, plays,matches, events for Prep Schoolsmoney for local charities which we also support throughoffering use of College facilities for fundraising, meetingsand training. The local orchestra, choral and dramaticsocieties hold their regular performances in College andthere are over 2000 members of the Wellington CollegeSports Club. In late August the College gardens wereopened in aid of the Berkshire Air Ambulance and wewere pleased to participate again in the national HeritageOpen Days, with thanks to ChrisPotter and to John Sworder forsuch as a Rugby Festival with over “During 2007/8 over 90 pupils leading the tours.fifty schools participating, the received bursaries in addition to Profits from the Sports Clubregular Wellington Conferences the 130 scholarships. We are very and letting activities are channelledthat focus on wide variety of topicalissues such as wellbeing and positivepsychology. The conference focusinggrateful to the ows who have madegenerous contributions.”into the College’s entry bursaryfunds, thereby clearly demonstratingthe benefit to College from theon positive psychology was attended by over a hundreddelegates, most of whom worked in areas such as mentalhealth, counselling and psychiatry. It was inspiring to findWellington taking a lead in bringing these non-educationalprofessionals together.During the school holidays residential courses thisyear included a Language School for six weeks, training forelite young athletes, an academy of young rugby players,women’s cricket teams, over two hundred members ofthe Baha’i faith for their summer schools, young musiciansof the National Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, an iapsMusic Course, and more. The first residential WellingtonCollege Leadership course was held as well as training forteachers of the International Baccalaureate.We are keen to ensure that members of the localcommunity can enjoy our fine facilities. The Friends ofWellington scheme is popular. The annual Novemberlettings programme, despite the occasional tensionsand irritations. In a recent edition of the Wellingtonian,the pupils’ commentary on Wellington life, one girlcomplained about having to clear her study bedroom outevery holiday for The Lets. However, the next editionincluded a fascinating article written by a pupil who hadassisted at this summer’s Peace Insight Conference hostedat Wellington, which brought together an equal numberof young Israelis and Palestinians for a month with thepurpose of engendering better understanding betweenthem. Our young Wellingtonian was proud that his schoolhad been selected as the venue for this Conference andwas also amazed at how much was going on in Collegeduring a school holiday.The Charity Commission’s review of Public Benefithas continued to receive considerable media attentionduring the year, with questions about independentThe new Modern Languages Instituteschools’ ability to prove their charitable status. Everyschool will be assessed according to their circumstanceand at Wellington we have been reviewing the spectrumof our relevant activities, of which there are many. Theprovision of means-tested bursaries is an important aspectof public benefit, so as not to preclude potential pupilspurely on financial grounds. During 2007/8 over 90 pupilsreceived bursaries in addition to the 130 scholarships. Wethe generosity of some ows who have provided financialsupport for specific pupils, on account of a particularsporting or artistic strength. In terms of Public Benefitthe development of the Wellington Academy is important,together with our local partnership with schools to hostcourses in the ‘gifted and talented’ programme.As last year, I can again report a significant range ofbuilding projects during the year. In June the new Modernare very grateful to the ows who have made generous Languages Department was completed. This building,contributions to the College’s bursary funds in the past andthis will be continue to provide an important focus of thework of the Development Office. Also, we acknowledgeopposite the Old Gym and appropriately bedecked bycolumns of national flags outside the entrance, includesten spacious classrooms, a language laboratory, staff room