Inside Wellington College International Lagos: an exclusive feature and interview by Yetty Williams, Founder of LagosMums
As parents in Nigeria seek an education that balances world-class global standards with local cultural relevance, the announcement of Wellington College International Lagos opening in September 2027 has generated immense excitement. Set on a master-planned 40-acre campus in Alaro City, this pioneer institution marks Wellington’s first campus on the African continent.
To help parents get a true sense of what Wellington College International Lagos will offer, we had the opportunity to conduct a deep-dive interview with the leadership team. Here is everything parents need to know about Wellington College International Lagos’ ethos, academics, boarding life, university pathways, and admissions process.
Key Takeaways & Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening Date | September 2027 (Opening for Early Years to Year 10, plus founding Year 12 / Sixth Form) |
| Location | Alaro City, Lekki Free Zone, Lagos |
| Curriculum | English National Curriculum leading to IGCSEs and A-Levels (integrated with African/Nigerian history & languages) |
| Capacity & Class Sizes | Phased growth up to ~1,500 students; Nursery/Reception (max 16), Years 1–11 (max 20) |
| Boarding Options | Boarding available from Year 5 (Full, Weekly, and Flexi-boarding for Year 6/7+) |
| Headmaster | Christine Haslett (Leading a founding team with over 40 years of combined Wellington experience) |
| Scholarships | Scholarship applications for the September 2027 founding Year 12 cohort close on 15 November 2026 |
About Wellington College International Lagos
Why bring Wellington College to Lagos?
Lagos, one of Africa’s largest and most dynamic socio-economic hubs, is a natural home for Wellington’s first school on the continent: a global city with ambitious families seeking an education that combines international excellence with local relevance. Wellington College International Lagos brings Wellington’s educational heritage and ethos to Nigeria, thoughtfully adapted to its context rather than simply replicated from the UK.
Why choose Alaro City?
Alaro City gives that vision room to grow. Its scale and secure, master-planned environment enable a purpose-built campus where academics, boarding, sport, the arts, and wellbeing come together as one educational experience. Beyond the school gates, Alaro City offers families a safe, connected community within a city built for the future.
What is the school’s mission, and how does the Wellington ethos carry over from the UK?
Across the Wellington College Education network, our purpose is “pioneering education to serve and help shape a better world.” In Lagos, that means developing young people who are future-ready, internationally minded, and grounded in identity. Students who are confident to engage with the world while remaining deeply connected to who they are and where they come from.
Underpinning this are Wellington’s values of Kindness, Courage, Respect, Integrity, and Responsibility. They provide the common foundation across the Wellington College Education network, while how they are lived in Lagos will reflect the culture, character, and community of Nigeria. The ethos is, therefore, distinctly Wellington, but its expression will be authentically Nigerian.
Which bodies will inspect and accredit the school?
As Wellington College International Lagos prepares to open in September 2027, the relevant accreditation processes are underway. We are working towards the rigorous standards associated with leading British international schools. The College plans to seek membership and accreditation from leading international bodies, including COBIS, HMC, and CIS, once it meets eligibility requirements.
Wellington College is also actively involved in the College’s governance, quality assurance, and annual reviews, ensuring that academic standards, safeguarding, and educational philosophy remain aligned with the founding UK school.
What is the age range, student capacity, and class size structure?
Wellington College International Lagos will open in September 2027 from Early Years through to Year 10, alongside a founding Year 12/Sixth Form cohort. The school will grow progressively to a full capacity of approximately 1,500 students.
The College is organised into four connected stages:
- Early Years (Ages 3–5): Builds the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Class sizes have a maximum of 16 students, supported by a qualified teacher and two dedicated teaching assistants.
- Junior School (Years 1–6): Develops core knowledge, curiosity, and independence. Maximum of 20 students per class, supported by a teacher, teaching assistant, and specialist teachers (PE, Design Technology, Art, Chinese).
- Senior School (Years 7–11): Deepens subject expertise leading to IGCSE qualifications. Maximum of 20 students per class.
- Sixth Form (Years 12–13): Focused A-Level study and preparation for university admissions. Smaller seminar-style classes.
Who is leading the school?
Christine Haslett has been appointed Headmaster of Wellington College International Lagos. The founding leadership team includes Adam Shaw (Director of Pastoral Care), Rachel Chadwick (Director of Admissions and Operations), Laurianne Gidrol (Director of Marketing), and Adetutu Oloko (Director of Finance). Together, they bring over 40 years of combined Wellington experience.
Curriculum, AI & Teacher Recruitment
Our curriculum is grounded in the English National Curriculum but designed specifically for students learning in Nigeria. Nigerian and African perspectives are meaningfully integrated across subjects, helping students understand their regional history and culture. Specific provision for art, music, design, Nigerian and African history, and Nigerian and African languages is being developed ahead of opening.
What subjects will be offered at IGCSE and A-Level?
At IGCSE, core subjects include English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, plus three options chosen from Additional Mathematics, Computer Science, History, Geography, Economics, Business Studies, French, Mandarin, Fine Art, Music, Drama, Design & Technology, and PE.
At A-Level, students study 3 or 4 subjects from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, English, Economics, Business Studies, History, Geography, Fine Arts, Moving Image Arts, Design & Technology, and Music Technology. Personalised pathways also include the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
How are AI and entrepreneurship integrated into daily learning?
Central to our vision is a future-facing education that prepares students not simply to adapt to change, but to help shape it.
In the Early Years and Junior School, this begins by nurturing creativity, problem-solving and digital confidence through purposeful, age-appropriate experiences with technology, design and hands-on learning.
In Senior School, students progress into AI literacy, coding, design thinking and enterprise, learning to question AI outputs and use technology safely, ethically and creatively. By Sixth Form, they apply these capabilities more independently through research, innovation and entrepreneurial projects addressing real-world problems.
This is strengthened by the Wellington College AI Institute, which helps shape the safe, effective and ambitious use of AI across the Wellington College Education network. And on campus, our Creative Economy Labs will provide spaces to design, prototype, create and turn ideas into practical solutions, making innovation part of how students learn every day.
From the Early Years, students engage with age-appropriate technology and design thinking. In Senior School, students progress into AI literacy, coding, and enterprise, learning to question AI outputs and use technology ethically.
Where are the teachers recruited from?
Our teachers will be recruited both internationally and within Nigeria, with a clear focus on UK-trained and internationally experienced teachers. We have not set a fixed percentage for UK-trained teachers because our priority is the quality of every appointment: excellent subject knowledge and teaching, strong pastoral practice, and alignment with Wellington’s values and educational philosophy.
Recruitment is already underway, with rigorous selection designed to build a faculty that combines international expertise with a strong understanding of the Nigerian context. All teaching staff will be fully qualified, with expatriate teachers holding postgraduate teaching qualifications, and every appointment follows a strict safer recruitment process, including police and reference checks.
World-Class Campus & Facilities
What’s on your campus?
Designed by the award-winning British firm MICA Architects, the College’s purpose-built 40-acre campus is conceived as an extension of the education itself: a setting where academic learning, creativity, sport, wellbeing and community life connect naturally.
The facilities include:
- Academic & Creative: Science & STEM labs, Creative Economy Labs, art/design studios, music recital rooms, and a 450-seat theatre.
- Sports: Olympic-size outdoor swimming pool, 400m athletics track, two full-size football/rugby pitches, indoor sports complex, and outdoor courts (basketball, tennis, volleyball, badminton).
- Healthcare & Security: On-site medical facility with 24/7 healthcare for boarders, 24/7 campus security, and controlled access within Alaro City.
- Boarding Houses: The purpose-built boarding houses, dining facilities, and extensive outdoor and social spaces will complete a campus designed for students to learn, create, compete, and flourish.
Medical facilities
We will provide a dedicated on-site medical facility for first aid, routine health needs, initial assessment and response to illness or injury, supported by a partnership with a leading healthcare provider. For boarders, medical support will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including overnight access to care.
Clear escalation protocols will ensure prompt referral or transfer to appropriate hospitals and specialist services where required, and a member of staff will accompany any student who needs hospital treatment, remaining in close contact with parents.
Global Wellington Network & University Pathways
What global opportunities exist across Wellington College Education’s 12 international schools?
Being part of the Wellington College Education network means Wellington College International Lagos students will belong to a global educational community spanning the UK, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and India.
Across the network, students already connect through international exchanges, summer schools, collaborative projects, competitions, leadership and sustainability initiatives, teacher secondments, and shared academic programmes, including international summer schools for Year 8 and Year 11 students and online collaborative learning across continents. Our students will progressively participate in these network opportunities, building relationships with Wellingtonians across different countries and cultures.
The precise programme for Lagos, including exchanges, sports tours, joint competitions, teacher secondments, and hosting our own edition of the renowned Festival of Education, is being developed with Wellington College Education ahead of opening.
Can students spend a term or a year at another Wellington College Education school?
One of the benefits of joining Wellington College International Lagos is that a student becomes part of a wider global Wellington community. This creates opportunities to learn alongside, build friendships with, and experience life at other Wellington College Education schools through international exchanges and shared programmes.
Arrangements for longer placements, including spending time at another Wellington College Education school, are being developed with Wellington College Education and will be confirmed ahead of opening.
Will teachers rotate between Wellington schools for training?
Secondments are available across the Wellington College Education network, offering teachers opportunities to learn from each other’s experiences across the Wellington community.
Teachers at Wellington College International Lagos will also benefit from shared professional learning, research and training across the network, with online and in-person opportunities for specific subjects, departments and areas of educational practice. This includes engagement with our professional learning arm, The Bridge at Wellington College, alongside specialist work in areas such as AI and Human Flourishing.
The annual Festival of Education at Wellington College extends this professional learning further. Founded in 2010, it is now one of the UK’s largest gatherings of educators, bringing together nearly 7,000 participants and more than 500 speakers in 2026 for two days of ideas, debate and practical learning across teaching, curriculum, AI, leadership and wellbeing.
For our teachers, it offers access to thinking and practice beyond the Wellington College Education network: learning from educators, researchers and school leaders, building professional connections, and bringing relevant insights back to Lagos. Wellington College international schools host their own Festival(s) of Education, too, helping connect to the wider education community in their context, and we are committed to doing the same here in Lagos!
What university outcomes do Wellington students achieve?
Our university pathway begins well before Sixth Form. From their first IGCSE subject choices, students are guided to align their academics, co-curricular interests and later A Level choices with their university ambitions.
A close partnership with the Higher Education team at Wellington College gives students specialist expertise in competitive global admissions, including Oxford and Cambridge, the Russell Group, leading US and Ivy League universities, and institutions across Canada, Europe and beyond. Support covers subject selection, admissions strategy and testing, essays and personal statements, interviews and one-to-one counselling.
Across the Wellington College Education network, students progress to institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, Brown, Columbia, Yale, Imperial, LSE and UCL.
What university counselling will students get, and from which year?
Careers and future-pathway exploration begins in the Senior School, helping students gradually understand their strengths, interests and the possibilities ahead. From Year 9, guidance becomes more focused as students make IGCSE choices with future A Level and university pathways in mind.
In Years 10–11, they begin exploring courses, universities and admissions requirements while refining their Sixth Form choices.
In the Sixth Form, university preparation becomes highly individualised, with one-to-one counselling on university and course selection, admissions tests, personal statements and essays, recommendations, interviews and applications. Students also benefit from the expertise of the Higher Education team at Wellington College, particularly for competitive global admissions.
How will you support students applying to US universities alongside A-Levels?
Those applying to US universities will not have to navigate this process on their own. They will receive individual guidance on university selection, application strategy, SAT/ACT requirements where relevant, personal and supplemental essays, recommendations, interviews, and the academic and co-curricular profile expected by US institutions.
The process will be planned around each student’s A Level workload, with clear timelines and one-to-one support from our Higher Education and Careers team. Through our close partnership with the Higher Education team at Wellington College, students will also benefit from established expertise in highly selective US admissions. For parents, this means one coordinated pathway: the school helps each student manage both their A Levels and US applications strategically, rather than leaving families to navigate two demanding systems independently.
What results and university destinations do Wellington College Education schools achieve?
Wellington students have a strong record of progressing to leading universities worldwide. In 2025, 94% of Wellington College students secured their firm (first) or insurance (back-up) university choice, with 35 securing places at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial, King’s and LSE, and 117 at Russell Group universities. Wellingtonians also progressed to universities across the US, Canada and Europe. Across Wellington College international schools, 2025 results included 73% A*/A grades at IGCSE, and 96% A*–B and 62% A*/A grades at A Level.
Wellington students have secured places at institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT and Stanford, alongside destinations such as Western University in Canada, IE Madrid and the University of Bonn. Across the wider international family, Wellington schools have also reported offers from universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, Toronto and NYU.
For parents considering Wellington College International Lagos, these outcomes matter because the school will draw on the same established Wellington expertise in university preparation and global admissions, rather than building its university guidance model from scratch.
Since Lagos opens in 2027, can you share success stories from Wellington students elsewhere?
Although Wellington College International Lagos will welcome its first students in 2027, Nigerian families are not new to Wellington College. A number of Nigerian alumni have already experienced a Wellington education and gone on to build successful careers internationally.
Luqman Edu, an Old Wellingtonian (Class of 2005), has spoken about the lasting value of his Wellington experience and global network, and the significance of his own children now being able to access a Wellington education while remaining rooted in Nigeria.
Tobi Akinrimade progressed from secondary school in Nigeria to Wellington College, then to the University of Exeter, where he studied Economics, before beginning his career at Goldman Sachs in London.
Anita Athena Ibru, also an alumna of Wellington College, has built a career in international media and currently serves as Director of Strategy at Marie Claire.
Their journeys illustrate something larger than individual university destinations: a Wellington education connects academic preparation with the confidence, relationships and global outlook that students carry into university and their professional lives. Today, Wellington students continue to progress to leading universities worldwide, including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, MIT and Stanford, supported by an established Higher Education and Careers programme and a global alumni community.
Extracurricular Life
What sports, arts and music programmes will you run?
At Wellington, sport, music and the arts are not seen as bolt-ons to the academic programme; they are part of how students discover interests, develop character and find their place within the school community. Our approach to sport is guided by three principles: sport for all, developing people, and the pursuit of excellence. Every child participates, while clear pathways allow enthusiasts and aspiring athletes to develop further, offering enhanced provision in swimming, football, rugby, athletics, and basketball.
Opportunities will also include volleyball, tennis and table tennis, supported by facilities including a 50-metre Olympic-size swimming pool, a 400-metre athletics track, two full-size football/rugby pitches, an indoor sports complex and outdoor courts.
The arts are similarly participatory and ambitious. Students will have opportunities across performing arts, visual arts and design; from everyday creative activity to ensembles, productions, performances and exhibitions. Specialist studios, music and recital rooms and a 450-seat theatre will give those interests and passions the space and time to grow.
That breadth is characteristically Wellington. Students are encouraged to explore widely and discover where they flourish, pursuing emerging interests with increasing depth and ambition.
What clubs and activities will be available?
Students will have access to a broad and evolving programme of clubs, societies and activities spanning academic interest, creativity, technology, enterprise, leadership, service and recreation. These will include opportunities such as debate and public speaking, Model United Nations, coding and robotics, entrepreneurship, science and STEM, creative writing, music and performance, art and design, chess and other student-led interests.
Importantly, the programme will not be entirely prescribed by the school. In the Wellington tradition, students will be encouraged to start and lead clubs of their own, allowing the co-curricular programme to grow with the interests, ideas and talents of the student community.
The aim is not simply to keep Wellingtonians busy beyond lessons, but to give them room to explore interests, develop new skills, take responsibility and discover pursuits that may become lasting passions.
Is community service part of the programme?
Service, cultural and community learning is part of a Wellington education. Children will have opportunities to engage in sustained, age-appropriate community projects in Lagos and, as opportunities develop, elsewhere in Nigeria and internationally through the wider Wellington College Education network.
Wellbeing, Boarding & School Life
How will you look after student wellbeing?
Our culture of wellbeing is built on knowing every child: how they learn, how they form friendships, where they are most likely to flourish, and well enough to notice when something changes. Our teachers and, more specifically, our pastoral teams, provide day-to-day support, whilst specialists in wellbeing and mental health are there to support and guide where the need is there.
Wellington College was the first school to introduce wellbeing as part of the curriculum, and that heritage shapes our approach through the Institute of Human Flourishing, which supports resilience, emotional intelligence and healthy relationships. That knowledge is shared across the school, with pastoral and academic teams communicating regularly so concerns are recognised early and support is coordinated around the individual child. Through regular check-ins, tutor and House time, an age-appropriate wellbeing curriculum and individual support, students know where to turn and have trusted adults around them when they need them.
Boarding highlights
- Age Range: Available from Year 5 (Full & Weekly boarding); Flexi-boarding available from Year 6/7.
- Rooming: Spacious rooming with a maximum of 4 students per room for younger years.
- Care: 24/7 residential pastoral care and medical support.
How do you support children with learning differences?
We will have a learning support specialist in place from Year One, who will be supported by our Director of Pastoral Care. This team will grow with the school, in supporting a responsibly inclusive community. Those children with specified learning needs will be considered during the admissions process on an individual basis – our aim is always to act in the best interest of the child.
Safeguarding
Every adult member of our community shares responsibility for keeping the children in our care safe. All appointed staff will have gone through our strict, beyond best-practice safer recruitment processes. This includes thorough police and reference checks.
Our Safeguarding and Child Protection team is responsible for ensuring each and every member of our team is fully trained through a termly programme of learning. They are trained to recognise signs of concern, know how to respond when a child makes a disclosure, and report concerns promptly through clear safeguarding procedures and practices.
Dedicated, qualified and experienced teams will oversee cases, coordinate appropriate action and ensure concerns are followed through efficiently and with care. Equally important is psychological safety: creating a culture in which students feel known and respected, know who they can speak to, and trust that concerns will be heard and acted upon.
Physical safety begins with our location within Alaro City, a secure, master-planned community with 24/7 security patrols, controlled access points, and continuous surveillance monitoring. Within this, the College will operate its own dedicated security, including a trained security team on site and patrolling 24/7, a campus-specific surveillance system, controlled access, visitor management, and clear emergency and medical-response protocols. The purpose-built campus adds another layer, with safeguarding considered in how students move through, use, and are supervised across different spaces.
Admissions, Tuition Fees & Scholarships
What is the admission process?
Applications for September 2027 are officially open. The process follows: Application → Age-Appropriate Assessment → Review → Offer → Enrolment.
Assessments are age-appropriate. In Early Years, this includes play-based observation; in Years 1–2, teacher-led activities; and for older pupils, assessments may include cognitive ability, English, mathematics and creative writing, alongside an interview. Parents will also have the opportunity to meet a member of the leadership team.
Wellington College International Lagos is selective, but academic attainment is only part of the picture. We consider each child’s ability, attitude, interests and potential, alongside their alignment with Wellington’s values. Early application is encouraged, as places will be offered progressively.
Is admission rolling, so children can join mid-year, or only at set entry points?
Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year, with September as our principal point of entry. Entry at other points in the academic year may be possible, subject to availability and the individual circumstances of the child. Families considering a later entry should contact our Admissions Team to discuss the most appropriate pathway.
Tuition fees & Founding Family Package
Annual tuition fees range from US$9,000 to US$30,500 depending on the year group. Tuition includes all class teaching, textbooks, exercise books, basic stationery and educational materials, public examination fees, sports and PE, educational visits and co-curricular activities, as well as daily snacks, lunch and refreshments for day students. Boarding fees include all meals and snacks.
One-time application (US$150), enrolment (US$1,500), and College Development (US$6,000) fees apply. Uniform, individual instrumental tuition, and optional trips or events are charged separately.
The Founding Family Package (available for the first 50 families) offers:
- Full waiver of the US$6,000 College Development Fee.
- 10% tuition fee discount for four years.
- Reduced boarding fees for 3 years and enhanced sibling discounts.
- Exclusive Founding Family benefits and commemorative privileges.
Do you offer scholarships?
Wellington College International Lagos is offering A Level Scholarships for its founding Sixth Form cohort, entering Year 12 in September 2027. Individual awards range from partial fee remission to up to 100% of eligible fees and will normally cover the full two-year Sixth Form programme, subject to the conditions of the award.
The scholarship is open to current Year 11 or age-equivalent students worldwide, including students in Nigeria. Selection considers academic attainment and potential alongside intellectual curiosity, character, leadership, service and contribution.
Shortlisted candidates complete the Wellington Scholarship Assessment, including CAT4, and submit a three-minute video; finalists then take part in a 45-minute conversation with members of the Wellington College community.
Applications are now open and close on 15 November 2026. Further scholarships recognising exceptional academic, sporting and artistic achievement will be announced in due course.
Parent Involvement
From day one, we want to build a close partnership with parents, with regular opportunities to connect with school leadership, academic and pastoral teams, and the wider community through events, forums and school life.
As the College grows, a formal “Friends of Wellington” parent association may develop in response to the needs of the community. What matters from the outset is that parents feel connected, heard and actively involved in their child’s Wellington experience.
Will there be a school bus service?
We are planning a school transport service, with routes and pick-up hubs shaped around demand from enrolled families. We are currently exploring hubs serving key residential areas including Victoria Island/Ikoyi, Lekki Phase 1 and the VGC/Chevron area. Safe, practical journey times are a key consideration.
The service is expected to operate from designated secure pick-up and drop-off points rather than individual homes. Safety and safeguarding will be central to the service, with appropriate vehicle monitoring and communication arrangements. Final routes, transport fees and any discounts will be confirmed ahead of opening.
Will you run holiday or summer programmes?
The College will offer holiday and summer programmes combining academic enrichment with sport, creative arts, technology, enterprise, leadership and outdoor challenge.
Students will also have access to opportunities across the wider Wellington College Education network, including the established Wellington Family Summer School in the UK, where students from Wellington College Education schools worldwide come together for academic enrichment, leadership, cultural experiences and residential life. Older students can access programmes focused on university preparation and global pathways.
The aim is to use the holidays differently: to explore new interests, build independence and learn alongside Wellington students from around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When does Wellington College International Lagos open?
Wellington College International Lagos officially opens in September 2027 for Early Years through Year 10, plus Year 12 (Sixth Form).
Where is Wellington College International Lagos located?
The 40-acre campus is located in Alaro City, Lekki Free Zone, Lagos, Nigeria.
What are the tuition fees for Wellington College Lagos?
Tuition ranges from US$9,000 to US$30,500 annually depending on year group. The first 50 families receive a Founding Family Package with a 10% discount and waived development fees.
Does Wellington College Lagos offer boarding?
Yes, full and weekly boarding options are available starting from Year 5, with flexi-boarding for Year 6/7 upwards.
How do I apply for Sixth Form Scholarships at Wellington College International Lagos?
Scholarship applications for the September 2027 founding Year 12 cohort close on 15 November 2026. Eligible students submit an application, complete a CAT4 assessment and a 3-minute video, followed by an interview.
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How Can Parents Get in Touch?
Open Days and Parent Information Sessions are already taking place, with upcoming dates announced through the College’s social media channels. These give families opportunities to meet the team, learn more about the school, and ask questions directly.
For upcoming dates, campus tours, and bookings, interested parents can contact the Admissions Team directly, or book a visit at wellingtoncollegelagos.com/arrange-a-visit.
Our Admissions Team is available to answer questions, arrange visits, and guide families through the admissions process.
Phone: +234 707 459 2599
Email: admissions@wellingtoncollegelagos.com
Learn more: wellingtoncollegelagos.com
