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Students on the Wheeler Programme came to Wellington College for the final time this week for a graduation ceremony.
Each graduate was given a certificate by Nick Wheeler, founder of the Charles Tyrwhitt clothing company and of the programme.
He told the group, who had brought family and friends to help celebrate: “You are an exceptional group of students and you can do anything you set your mind to.”
He added: “There are people here in the Wellington community who will help you – just don’t be afraid to ask. They can’t help you if you don’t tell them what you need.”
The group was able to reminisce about the five years they have spent on the programme, during which they took part in two residential stays at Wellington, study days, university visits and sports.
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 2026 are the fifth group to graduate from the Wheeler Programme. Four other cohorts are currently enjoying the programme and recruitment will start for a new cohort in September.
