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A video of a day spent at Sky Studios was the highlight of a graduation ceremony held at Wellington College.
The 11 graduates of the Wheeler Programme laughed as they watched their younger selves acting as reporters and presenters on a mock Sky report.
And they were able to reminisce about the five years they had spent on the programme, during which they also took part in a residential stay, study days, university visits and sports.
Graduate Megan said: “We did an economics day in Year 12 which was interesting. It gave us techniques, cemented my subject knowledge, showed me a different perspective and the teacher was very engaging.
“Information about apprenticeships was helpful and the coaching sessions were useful as we didn’t do that at school.
“I also enjoyed the residential. It allowed me to meet new people and it was a real confidence booster.”
Fellow graduate Jamie, who is joining the army to train to be a cyber engineer, said: “The thing I liked most was the rifle shooting and then the Sky Studios trip; it was amazing going behind the scenes.
“The Wheeler team also sent me info about apprenticeships and Welly Connect to see potential employment around the area.”
The graduates were presented with certificates by Nick Wheeler, founder of the Charles Tyrwhitt clothing company and of the programme.
He told the group and their families: “This event takes me back to seven years ago when Murray Lindo rang me up to persuade me to provide some money for bursaries for people who come to Wellington.
“And I said: ‘The problem with a bursary is it gives money to help one person come to Wellington. Why can’t we do something that will help a lot of people come to Wellington?’
“I’m proud I went down the route of having a cohort of 20-plus people. I think you are all amazing.”
He added: “Wellington has an amazing ethos and I hope the Wheeler Programme has given you that amazing experience.
“I’ve been impressed with seeing you when you were 13 and now today. A lot has gone on and I hope you will have exciting careers and exciting lives and achieve things you never thought possible.”
Other graduates in the class, who were not able to be present on the day, were sent their certificates.
Established in 2017, the Wheeler Programme is a fully-funded educational programme for around 100 selected state school pupils.
Twenty-four students are selected in Year 9 and the college helps support them until their graduation from the programme at the end of Year 13.
They start the programme with a five-day residential course at Wellington, where they experience life in a boarding school, and then take part in three or four study days a year, tailored to their age.
The Class of 2023 are the third group to graduate from the Wheeler Programme. Three other cohorts are currently enjoying the programme and recruitment will start for a new cohort in September.
