2022-23 review

As Wetherby Senior pupils returned to Marylebone in September 2022, our Class of 22 were starting at top universities around the globe. Our sixth formers achieved a string of outstanding results in summer 2022, which meant 70% of those staying in the UK joined Russell Group universities like Imperial, UCL, Manchester, Edinburgh and York. However, with 43% having applied outside the UK, we saw nine alumni join US colleges (including our first at an Ivy League institution), five at Canadian universities and four in Spain, Italy or The Netherlands.

These fantastic results look to be echoed this summer, with our Class of 23 currently holding over 100 offers for world-leading universities in the UK and continental Europe, and more than a dozen offers for prestigious North American colleges (including NYU Stern School of Business, Notre Dame in Indiana, and Canada’s McGill University). Our sixth formers hold offers for 21 of the UK’s 24 Russell Group universities, which includes our Deputy Head Boy 2022-23, Benjamin, joining Cambridge this autumn, and three boys have places at IE Business School, a world-renowned college in Madrid.

Behind this higher education success is the strong support given at Wetherby Senior. Starting in Year 11 – earlier than most schools – each boy is assigned a personal university advisor to provide bespoke guidance on future higher education options. As well as supporting plans to study in the UK and continental Europe, our two US Advisors assist with applications to North America.

Matteo, Wetherby Senior’s Head Boy 2022-23, has been accepted by Ivy League institution, University of Pennsylvania, this year. He said: “The US admissions system is so different to the UK, and I feel very lucky to have had Wetherby Senior staff to support and guide me. During Year 12, our US Advisor offered great advice on different universities, plus an invaluable insight into what colleges were looking for in application essays.”

Alongside outstanding university guidance, Wetherby Senior helps boys prepare for the future with a unique, pupil-centred careers development programme that starts from day one – again, earlier than most schools – to inspire, support, and encourage each boy to fulfil their potential.

In 2022-23, through a unique partnership with an internationally renowned coaching and consulting firm, Wetherby Senior’s careers programme saw sixth formers learn to be ethical leaders. Linking with Magnolia Tree, who normally works with executives and decision-makers, our boys undertook a five-month programme, examining value-based leadership and how to make the right decisions under different circumstances.

Ms Holmes, Head of Careers, explained: “Our sixth formers enjoyed workshops with Magnolia Tree, which brought to life what it means to be an ethical leader and enabled them to identify their strengths, build resilience, and examine how to respond to life events. It was an unforgettable journey for all!”

In March 2023, Wetherby Senior’s Skills Day saw Year 12 undertake mock interviews, with respected professionals from different fields, and workshops on important work-based topics, like event management, presentation skills, and technology.

Our School’s programme of industry expert talks continued throughout 2022-23, meaning boys could connect with professionals visiting our Marylebone home. This year, speakers ranged from the UK Space Agency to banking and from pioneering female barristers to leaders in medicine.

Alongside their academic studies and future planning, our pupils were kept busy in 2022-23 with co-curricular activities, experiences and opportunities to take learning beyond the classroom.

Residential trips in September for Year 7 (in West Sussex) and for Year 9 (in Dorset) helped our newest pupils settle in. Further trips in 2022-23 saw Wetherby Senior make the most of our central London location and, while we don’t have space to mention every trip, some highlights include: Year 7 exploring the Natural History Museum; Year 8 learning about World War Two at Bletchley Park; Year 9 linguists testing their language skills at Instituto Cervantes; Year 10 historians conquering Kenilworth Castle; Year 11 examining cutting-edge science at the Francis Crick Institute; and our sixth formers touring the Houses of Parliament. Our geographers regularly attended inspiring talks at nearby Royal Geographical Society, our artists admired the Frieze exhibition in Regent’s Park, and our theatre enthusiasts watched Hamilton, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Wicked, and more at London’s many theatres.

The creative talents of our pupils were evident throughout 2022-23. Our Upper School play took place at RADA in December, our Trib Drama saw boys star in an exciting whodunnit with an external judge assessing their hard work, and our Lower School play (with girls from nearby Francis Holland, Regent’s Park) wowed audiences before the summer. Our musicians performed regular concerts, both at our School and at venues across London, as well as at Disneyland, Paris. Our GCSE Art exhibition showcased the outstanding work by our young artists, and our half-termly pupil-led magazine, The Barometer, continued to provide an opportunity for boys to see their work in print.

Indeed, the writing abilities of our young people were highlighted throughout the year. In January, Aditya, in Year 10, was awarded first place in the prestigious ISA Poetry Competition. Then, in May, two Wetherby Senior pupils – Frankie in Year 12 and Frederick in Year 8 – were highly commended for their fab submissions in the ISA Essay Competition 2023. In addition, our Deputy Head Boy, Benjamin, was awarded second place in The Lexden Prize for Sixth Formers, which celebrates the most remarkable sixth formers found at ISA member schools.

Throughout 2022-23, our School’s active and successful community engagement programme ensured every boy was regularly involved in valuable, important, and transformational activities. Within Year 12, sixth formers visited two local primary schools weekly to support learning, and our School continued to nurture a meaningful relationship with two organisations supporting older members of the community. Firstly, sixth formers visited Marylebone Library fortnightly, to work with Age UK Westminster on one-to-one tutoring to build the online skills of residents. Secondly, events with Penfold Community, a group of Westminster residents aged 50+, included an afternoon tea at our School, our woodwind quartet performing at Penfold Community Hub, and Penfold members watching our Upper School play.

In 2022-23, with a focus on local charities, our boys elected to work closely with West London Mission, which supports London’s most vulnerable and operates just metres from our Marylebone Lane home. Fundraising included our second sponsored spin in March, which raised over £6,000 and became our School’s most successful single fundraising event.

Mr Thornton, Head of Charity, explained: “Together over a quarter of our School (pupils and staff) cycled over 1,000 miles in our state-of-the-art spin studio, representing their Trib and racing to be the first Trib to cycle 346km (aka the length of the Thames). Competition was fierce – the sixth former, who recorded the best distance, narrowly beat our Headmaster!”

Sport remains a key feature of life at Wetherby Senior, with every boy taking part in PE and games at Ealing Trailfinders (which has equipment and pitches also used by professional teams) and at Marylebone Lane (where we have a fully-equipped strength and conditioning suite, a superb spin studio, an excellent boxercise studio, and space for yoga). Throughout 2022-23, Wetherby Senior’s different sport teams took part in numerous fixtures and, no matter the result, demonstrated the resilience and strong character of each boy.

Alongside these team fixtures, there have been a number of notable individual success stories amongst our pupil body, ranging from football (Tommy and Yousif, in Year 9, were both selected to represent Wetherby Senior by a prestigious national football association in May) to fencing (Zehen, in Year 9, took part in the European competition in Croatia in April, representing England within the U14 and U17 age groups), and from athletics (Luke, in Year 8, ran magnificently in the ISA National Athletics Competition in June, coming seventh with a phenomenal time of 04:58:04) to swimming (Marty, in Year 8, took home thirteen medals at the county championship in February).

Mr Silvester, Headmaster, said: “It has been another fantastic year at Wetherby Senior and I continue to be proud of the achievements of our young people, who show ambition, compassion and enthusiasm in all that they do, every day, at Wetherby Senior.”