Wellington College (New Zealand)
Motto: Lumen accipe et imperti1
Wellington College (in full, The Wellington College and Grammar School) is a state school for boys located next to Government House and the Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand. Having a history from 1853, it is a day school for boys aged 13 (Form III or Year 9) to 18 (Form VII or Year 13)2. Wellington College was also a boarding school, until the Colleges sole boarding house, Firth House was demolished in 1981.
Wellington College was founded originally as the Wellington Grammar School in 1853 under a Deed of Endowment granted by the then Governor Sir George Grey. The original site of the Grammar School was on Wellington Terrace, near the present Wellington Motorway, and instruction began there in 1867. The Wellington College Act 1872 established a second administration under a new Board of Governors.
On October 17 1874 the school opened for instruction at its present site next to Government House. Some time after, the Grammar School became affiliated to the University of New Zealand, granting the School the privilege of naming itself a College, becoming Wellington College.
The New Zealand Government has made many administrative changes to the school. Two other Wellington secondary schools, Rongotai College and Wellington Girl's High School (now College) have in the past been governed by the Governors of the Wellington College. They have since been made independent of the College, however they mainain a connection through the use of a common crest and motto. The Government in 2003 imposed a 'zone' on the College. Some of the roughly 1,400 boys educated at the College come from the 'zone'. Boys within the zone have automatic right of entry into the College.
As of July 2003, the current Head Master of the College is R.J. (Roger) Moses who succeeded H.G. (Harvey) Rees-Thomas in 1995. The Visitor to the College is the Governor-General of New Zealand.
Old Wellingtonians
General Officers (Military): Probably the most illustrious Old Wellingtonian is Lieutenant General Lord Freyberg of Wellington, who won a Victoria Cross in World War I and also served as Governor-General. Air Marshals Sir Arthur Coningham and Sir Roderick Carr served in RAF Bomber Command during World War II, the latter also serving as Air Officer Commanding, India in 1946.
Governors and Governors-General: Four Old Wellingtonians have served as Governor-General of New Zealand and one as a British Governor. These old boys are Governors-General Lord Freyberg (see above), Sir Denis Blundell, Sir Paul Reeves, Sir Michael Hardie-Boys and Governor Lord Grey of Naunton.
Some of the other well known old boys include Sir William Pickering, Sir Brian Barratt-Boyes, Sir Ron Brierley, Sir Francis Renouf, Sir Louis Barnett and Keith Quinn.
See also
1. The arms are derived from two principal sources: The crest and motto are from the seal of the College Governors, and the shield is derived from Freyberg (Or, on a chief Sable, four mullets of the field).
2. What is known as the "Upper Sixth Form" in the UK is known as "Form VII" in New Zealand and thus the "Lower Sixth Form" is just "Form VI". Otherwise, the English system is usually followed -- See school years.
Referenced By
Auckland Grammar School | Bernard Cyril Freyberg, 1st Baron of Wellington and Munstead | Bernard Freyberg | Bernard Freyberg, 1st Baron Freyberg | College | College of education | Colleges | Teacher-training college | Wellington College
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