The Master's End of Year Letter

Dear Parents,

As we approach the end of the 2024-25 academic year, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and trust in our school’s journey. Together, we have witnessed remarkable growth in our pupils and celebrated countless milestones that define Wellington’s spirit.

This year, our school continued to shine as a leader in international education. In November 2024, Wellington Tianjin was honoured as the "Echo 2024 Leading International School in Comprehensive Strength" at the Tencent News Education Channel. This June, Forbes China recognised us in its prestigious rankings: our Senior School placed 15th nationally, Junior School ranked 9th, and the NEST earned a spot on the national list, making us Tianjin’s only school to receive Forbes accreditation across all age groups.

Throughout the past year, we have strengthened our teachers' professional development, encouraging themto explore innovative teaching approaches and utilise modern technology toenhance teaching effectiveness. This has allowed us to better develop ourpupils' language application skills, independent thinking abilities and overalllearning competencies. 

We are delighted to see ourpupils making remarkable progress not only in their academic studies but alsoin various national and international competitions, where they continue tochallenge themselves and achieve outstanding results. In this graduation seasonfilled with hope and joy, Wellington College Tianjin's Class of 2025 hasdelivered an exceptional performance, marking a perfect conclusion to theirSenior School journey. 

They have received an impressive total of 130 university offers, including 15 from the UK's prestigious G5 super-elite universities, 5 from US News Top 30 institutions, and 12 from Hong Kong's Top 5 universities. Notably, 31% of our pupils secured offers from QS Top 10 universities, 41% from QS Top 20, 72% from QS Top 50, and 85% from QS Top 100 institutions worldwide.

Beyond our outstanding academic achievements, Wellington has flourished in delivering a truly holistic education this year. Our pupils have embraced countless opportunities to shine through an array of co-curricular activities – from sports tournaments and art exhibitions to domestic and international educational trips that have broadened their horizons. The extraordinary talent displayed in this year's musical Miss Saigon, the Chinese drama My Memories of Old Beijing, and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet left us in awe of their artistic expression and stagecraft. 

Building on our established programmes, Senior School pupils embarked on an enriching geography field study to Indonesia, while our Business and Economics department led a combined research expedition and volunteering initiative in Guizhou.

The Junior School's production of Oliver! Proved equally captivating, demonstrating that remarkable performances know no age limits. These diverse experiences perfectly encapsulate Wellington's educational philosophy: true growth occurs not merely through classroom learning, but through the meaningful interactions, collaborations and real-world engagements that shape well-rounded individuals.

Our community bonds have never been stronger. The inaugural Parent Executive Committee transformed "Friends of Wellington" into a pillar of support, while local partnerships enriched pupils’ experiences with martial arts and folk music. 

Our Summer Fair raised RMB15,000 for HongqiaoPeizhi School. 

This year, we have placed special emphasis on nurturing our ties with Wellington alumni around the world. Last October and again this January, we hosted well-attended alumni gatherings in New York and London, reconnecting with graduates across different year groups. The highlight came this June with our inaugural Alumni Day on campus, where over 20 distinguished alumni from various graduating classes returned to share their university experiences and career journeys with current pupils. These remarkable individuals, now studying at world-leading institutions or making their mark in professional fields, served as inspiring role models, demonstrating the enduring value of a Wellington education and the global pathways it opens for our pupils. We enjoy productive partnerships with all sister schools of Wellington College China, working in close cooperation to share best practices and resources. It remains our priority to deepen these collaborative networks, thereby enriching the educational provision for all our pupils and supporting their holistic development.

This year, our non-academic team has demonstrated unwavering professionalism and dedication, providing comprehensive support to pupils, staff, and parents alike. Alongside our commitment to academic excellence, we have made significant strides in campus digitalisation and smart upgrades. Our sustainability initiatives have included introducing a plastic-free canteen policy, installing water dispensers across campus, implementing smart air-conditioning and lighting controls, and transitioning to energy-efficient LED lighting, all while encouraging active pupil and staff participation in eco-friendly practices.

This summer, we will host our fifth annual Wellington Tianjin Summer Camp, offering pupils aged 5–12 four weeks of exciting cross-disciplinary experiences. Additionally, we will upgrade teaching spaces, facilities, and our EDU365 communication platform, enhancements that will further enrich our learning environment.

The stability and dedication of our staff have been instrumental in the school’s continued success. I am delighted to share that our staff turnover this year was just 5.5%, reflecting a steady decline over the past five years, a testament to our team’s professionalism and loyalty. At this time of year, we bid farewell to departing colleagues with sincere appreciation for their contributions to our school. Their dedication has made a lasting difference, and we wish them continued success. We are pleased to welcome new staff who will be joining us as planned. Their arrival ensures our school's continued growth and excellence in the coming year.

Finally, I extend my deepest appreciation to all parents for your steadfast support, which has strengthened the bonds within our Wellington family and made true home-school collaboration possible. As the long summer break begins, it may be a time of relaxation and cherished family moments. Wishing every member of our community a joyful and rejuvenating holiday, we look forward to reuniting in the new academic year, ready to empower our pupils to become the best versions of themselves!

Be You. Be More. 

With warmest regards,

Yang Yang

Master

Wellington College Tianjin