The Turret - Spring/Summer 25

Headmaster’s Welcome

Speech Day 2025

S6 Charity of the Year: Over £42,000 Raised for Blood Cancer UK

Blair & Oliver Selected for Glasgow Warriors U16 Training Squad

Sports Day 2025

Former Pupil Q&A - Robyn Munro

The DigiInventors Challenge

Challenge Plate Success for Junior Hockey Team

2025 Ski Trip to Folgaria, Italy

Spanish Exchange 2025

New Study & Welfare Areas for Pupils

European Ambassador School Award

Wellington School Dance Show 2025: A Night of Iconic Performances

Music Department Spring & Summer Term Highlights

Junior School Shines in 2025 Production of Annie Jr.

Inspiring the Future: S2 Careers Event at Wellington School

Sophie & Eva Reached the Junk Kouture London Final MARS Club

Model United Nations Conference

India Trip 2025

Talking Point: Speech and Debate at Wellington Continues to Grow

Debating Q&A

Successful Season for Wellington Netball Teams

Geography Department Iceland Study Tour March 2025

Physical Education Department Update

Postcards from France

Former Pupil Q&A - Christine Ross Lockhart

International School Award

A Message to our Former Pupils

A

Welcome From Mr Johnson, Headmaster

As the darker days of autumn fall, I was delighted when this edition of ‘The Turret’ arrived on my desk to brighten the day. As always, it documents the extraordinarily rich kaleidoscope of Wellington life, and I invite you to join me in turning the pages and looking back over the last six months.

A month seldom passes without a trip of one kind or another, and in this edition you get a chance to join S5 and S6 pupils on their own ‘Passage to India’, enjoy the delights of Huesca with our Spanish Exchange group and travel to Germany as a Model United Nations delegate, to mention just some of the opportunities from which our pupils have benefited. Far from being just holidays, pupils return from these trips older and wiser, with broader horizons and a better understanding of this complex world in which we live.

Closer to home, you will get an insight into the wide range of sporting successes that we have celebrated, in addition to the successes of so many pupils in national competitions and events. Meanwhile, musical theatre is an important part of school life, and you cannot miss the interview and the images that remind us of last term’s wonderful junior production of ‘Annie Jr’.

You do not need any more spoilers from me. Instead relax, sit back in your favourite chair and enjoy this edition of your favourite magazine!

Speech Day 2025

At the end of June, we concluded the term with our annual Speech Day at Ayr Town Hall, a special occasion where we gathered to celebrate the achievements of session 2024/25 with our pupils, staff, Governors, families, and friends.

Well done to all our pupils, as well as the orchestra and performers, for their outstanding contributions. A special thank you to our guest speaker and former pupil, Professor Julie Fitzpatrick CBE FRSE. It was wonderful to welcome you back and hear all about your experiences and successes since leaving Wellington!

Senior School Prize Winners

General Excellence in Primary 7

Lucia Cornelius

Benjamin Freestone

James Levisianos

Aarna Mangalampalli

Finlay McFadzean

Zechariah Wilks

Ruari Wittiveen

The Torrance Cup for Progress

Charlotte McGaughey

General Excellence in Senior 1

Louie Balmer

Joe Conetta

Penelope Dunlop

Grace Longman

Sibyl McLaren

Noah Ritchie

Riley Stevenson

Senior 1 Progress

John Wynne

General Excellence in Senior 2

Mia Barbour

Olivia Caldow

Ellen Clachan

Eva Cowan

Fallon Kyle

Sian McLaughlin

Grace Thomson

Senior 2 Progress

Cameron McGeoch

Senior 3 Merit

Sophia Borthwick, Charlotte Dale

Scarlett O’Sullivan

Eva Taylor

Amber Thomson

Saraswati Unnam

Senior 3 Progress

Roisin Renwick

Senior 4 Merit

Aimee Clitheroe

Anastasia D’Angelosante

Jessica Ewer

Calum Kelly

Ada McLaren

Alexander Melvin

Alexander Paisley

Senior 4 Progress

Ava O’Brien

McMillan/Kilpatrick Prize for Achievement in S3/4

Freya McAleese & Daisy Windows

The Cup for Effort in Senior 5

Madison Niven

Coats Challenge Cup for Golf

Robbie McFadzean

Wellington School Scratch Golfer of the Year

Quintin Dunlop

Ross Cricket Cup

Oscar Kirkwood & Jake Woodhouse

Primary Football: Player of the Year

Sandy O’Sullivan

Primary Football: Most Improved Player

Peter McGlone

Netball Player of the Year

Emma Henderson

Trophy for Rugby

Presented by Shiona Douglas

Charlie Windows

1st XI Hockey Player of the Year: Girls

Iona-Mary Fairbairn

1st XI Hockey Player of the Year: Boys

Jamie Crumlish

The Cala Trophy for Services to the PE Department

Oonagh Clark

The McLaughlin Cup for Outstanding Effort in Sport

Emily Goodwin

Willians Plate

Rory Cumming

The Junior Boys’ Sports Championship Trophy

Rory Cumming

Dale Quaich

Awarded for the Most Meritorious Performance in a Championship Event

Lemoni Allan-McLaughlin

The Craig Trophy

Senior Boys’ Sports Champions

Blair Black & David Ness

Primary Girls’ Sports Champion

Lucia Cornelius

Belcher Family Cup for Swimming

Callan Forsyth

The Victor Ludorum (Primary Boys Sports Champion)

Sandy O’Sullivan

1st Year Championship Trophy (Girls)

Sofia Manners

1st Year Championship Trophy (Boys)

Matthew Borthwick

Logan Trophy

Junior Girls’ Sports Champion

Mia McKinstry

Wellington Rosebowl Senior Girls’ Sports Champion

Lemoni Allan-McLaughlin

The Morrison Cup for Best All-Round Sports Boy

Charlie Windows

Laughland Cup for Best All-Round Sports Girl

Emma Henderson

Special Prize for Higher Accounting

Harry Morton & James Morton

Reynolds Cup for Art, Awarded for Outstanding Work in S4

Anastasia D’Angelosante & Ada McLaren

Special Prize for Higher Art & Design

Isabelle Wilson

Prize for AH Art and Design

Sophia Girgis

Gainsborough Cup for Art, Awarded for Outstanding Work in S5/6

Sophia Girgis

WSA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Art & Design in the Senior School

Sophia Girgis & Charlotte Linton

Special Prize for Higher Biology

Isla Hall

Prize for AH Biology

Emma Henderson

Special Prize for Higher Business Management

Hannah Dunlop

Prize for AH Business Management

Jake Woodhouse

Special Prize for Higher Chemistry

Isla Hall

Prize for AH Chemistry

Emma Henderson

Special Prize for Higher Classical Studies

Sophia Girgis

Cup for Higher Computing

James Watson

Prize for AH Computing

Katherine Paisley

The Rosebowl for Higher English

Milla Potts

Prize for AH English

Charlotte Linton

Sir Thomas Moore Cup for Primary 7 Public

Speaking

Freya Vennard

Prize for S1 Debating

Louie Balmer, Rebecca Black & Luella Hutton

Ayrshire Debating Cup Best Team Performance

Evie Mae Cattanach & Amalie Cotter

Old Girls’ Public Speaking Cup

Jessica Ewer

MacDonald Prize for Creative Writing

Euan Alexander

The Terras Cup for General Services to the School

James Morton & Isabelle Wilson

The McKinlay Trophy for Commitment to the School

Amber Brodie & Oonagh Clark

Milne Cup for Citizenship

Megan Seales & Charlie Windows

The Cup for Higher Modern Languages (French) Anastasia D’Angelosante

Prize for AH French

Isla Hall

Special Prize for Higher Geography

Isla Hall

Prize for AH Geography

Annabel Barrett & Charlie Windows

Special Prize for Higher German

Rachael Hainey

Clark Prize for Higher History

Ivy Richardson

Taylor Cup for AH History

Monty Saunders

Special Prize for Higher Latin

James Watson

MacFarlane Cup for Higher Mathematics

Isla Hall

Prize for AH Mathematics

Benjamin Richmond

Special Prize for AH Mathematics of Mechanics

Benjamin Richmond

Trophy for Higher Modern Studies

Jamie Wardrop

Prize for AH Modern Studies

Megan Seales

Cup for Higher Music

Tiffany Cai

Prize for AH Music

Megan Seales

Special Prize for Higher Music Technology

Flynn O’Donnell

Prize for AH Music Technology

Euan Alexander

The Ayr Amateur Opera Senior Vocal Award

Monty Saunders

The Quartz Cup for Commitment to Music

Juliet Cartner

The Brady Award for Performing Arts

Megan Seales

Special Prize for Higher Physics

Joshua Brennan

Prize for AH Physics

Benjamin Richmond

Special Prize for Higher Physical Education

Iona-Mary Fairbairn

Prize for AH Physical Education

Jake Woodhouse

Special Prize for Higher Spanish

Cara Wilmer

The Patrick Smith Prize for Outstanding Contribution to School and Community

Ewan Johnstone

Sinclair Cup for All-Round Achievement in the Senior School

Jonathan Dunn & Emma Henderson

The Kenneth Manderson Prize for Academic Excellence in Sixth Year

Sophia Girgis

Proxime Accessit for Session 2024-2025

Tiffany Cai

Dux of School for Session 2024-2025

Isla Hall

Retiring Head Girl 2024-2025

Megan Seales

Retiring Head Boy 2024-2025

Charlie Windows

Head Girl Session 2025-2026

Isabelle Wilson

Head Boy Session 2025-2026

James Morton

S6 Charity of the Year: Over £42,000 Raised for Blood Cancer UK

The Class of 2025 S6 pupils chose to support Blood Cancer UK as their nominated charity for the 2024–2025 school year.

The inspiration behind this decision to support Blood Cancer UK came from Montgomery House Captain, Amber, whose family has a personal connection to the impact blood cancer can have on young people and their loved ones. Six years ago, Amber underwent surgery to donate bone marrow to her younger brother, who has now been cancer free for several years.

Throughout the year, the S6 pupils demonstrated outstanding teamwork, resulting in a highly successful and memorable year of fundraising. A wide range of activities and events were organised to support the charity, combining long-standing favourites such as House Charity Days, non-uniform days, and the ever-popular cake and candy stalls with exciting one-off events including the Glasgow Kiltwalk, the ‘Dip with a Nip’, a Charity Football Tournament, and the first ever ‘Wellington Does Strictly’ dance competition. These events were not only enjoyable for all involved but also incredibly effective in raising both awareness and funds for a very worthy cause.

A huge thank you must go to the entire Wellington community for their overwhelming support, whether by taking part in events, sponsoring pupils, or donating generously.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to S6 parents, who went above and beyond in support of the school’s fundraising efforts. Highlights included a charity concert hosted by Mr and Mrs Cartner, Mr Cooke’s impressive Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle challenge, Mr Window’s 24-hour golf challenge which took place at Royal Troon Golf Club, and Mrs Saunders’ virtual cycling challenge.

The S6 charity continues to have a profoundly positive impact throughout the school, uniting pupils from nursery to S6, as well as parents and staff, in achieving outstanding results year after year. It is thanks to the efforts of the entire Wellington community that the school has once again raised an extraordinary sum for a worthy cause, with Blood Cancer UK receiving an incredible £42,507.99.

A huge well done goes to our Heads of School, Charlie Windows and Megan Seales, and the rest of the S6 year group, for their unwavering commitment, enthusiasm, humour, hard work, and determination in leading so many of this year’s charity initiatives. Whether they were fundraising, giving school tours, mentoring younger pupils, or taking on any number of tasks asked of them, they did so with confidence, kindness, and a consistently positive attitude. They have been outstanding ambassadors for the school and have left a lasting impression on all those around them.

Blair & Oliver selected for Glasgow Warriors U16 Training Squad

Back in March, Blair Black and OIiver King were selected for the Glasgow Warriors U16 training squad, marking a significant milestone in their rugby careers. The pair have been playing together as teammates for the Ayr Wellington U16 team.

Oliver’s rugby journey began at just five years old when he first started playing Mini Rugby for Ayr Rugby. Since then, he has shown great commitment to developing his skills and contributing to his team’s success.

Blair, on the other hand, was a latecomer to rugby and only began playing at the age of 12. Prior to playing rugby, Blair was an avid horse rider, representing Scotland multiple times in mounted games at the U12 and U15 levels. Despite being a latecomer to the sport, Blair has made impressive progress. He recently transitioned into the role of lock forward, where his height, athleticism, and natural physicality make him a strong presence in the second row and a valuable asset to the team.

As members of the training squad, Blair and Oliver train twice a week at Ravenscraig. Each session begins with an hour and a half in the gym, focused on weightlifting and plyometrics. They work on proper technique for lifts such as overhead squats, deadlifts, clean and jerk, military press, and bench press, while also targeting position-specific areas like neck strength, scrum posture, and ankle mobility. This is followed by an hour and a half of on-pitch training, combining set-piece work, including lineouts, scrums, and kick-offs, with conditioning drills to improve speed and agility.

“ I really enjoy the District Training as it has helped me improve different aspects of my game and has helped bring my performance to the next level. It has given me an insight into how professionals train, which is something I aspire to be in the next few years. ”

Oliver King, S4

“ The thing I enjoy the most about District Training is that I’ve met loads of new friends from different clubs around Scotland, that I keep in regular contact with. I also really enjoy the training and the support I receive from the coaches. They challenge me to be the best I can be as well as providing technical feedback on how to improve. ”

Blair Black, S5

Speaking with Blair and Oliver, both emphasised how being part of the training squad has boosted their confidence and motivated them to bring a more professional mindset to their hometown team.

Their selection is a testament to their talent, work ethic, and potential. We look forward to following their continued development and future success on the rugby field.

Sports Day 2025

The sun was shining for our 2025 Sports Day, which took place at the Riverside Sports Arena back in June.

As always, the day started with House Marching, where pupils took to the field grouped in their houses - Churchill, Curie, Montgomery and Nightingale. We welcomed back Former Pupil, Robyn Munro to judge the marching, who watched along with staff and parents as the pupils marched in unison to the famous House Marching anthem, (former pupils will agree, that still to this day when they hear the song, their limbs start moving involuntarily to start marching!) Congratulations to Curie, who were crowned the winners of Sports Day 2025 Marching.

Sporting events filled up the afternoon with pupils competing in various races including, Egg n’ Spoon, Sack Race, Skipping, Track Races and the famous Relay races which had everyone cheering in excitement. The day ended with an inspiring speech from Robyn, who encouraged pupils to always chase their dreams and noted that with hard work, you can achieve big goals in both sport and academic studies simultaneously. Prizes were given out to the top sporting performances, which you can read about in our Speech Day article at the front of this edition.

Thank you to the PE department for putting on such a great day full of sport, and for working with the pupils all year round to help them achieve thier goals. Well done to all our pupils who took part and a massive thank you to Robyn Munro, we hope you enjoyed coming back to Wellington for the day and we hope to see you again very soon!

Former Pupil Q&A

Name: Robyn Munro

Nickname at School: Munro

Boarder or Day Pupil: Day - Travelled by train from Stranraer every day!

Position of Office: Nightingale House Captain

What house were you in? Nightingale

When did you attend Wellington? 2017-2021

Class of: 2021

Further Education: BA (Hons) Politics & International Relations

Occupation: Graduate

What did you want to be when you were younger?

Successful! (I didn’t have a specific career in mind and arguably still don’t!)

3 favourite memories of your time at Wellington:

• Sports Day

• Performing in Phantom of the Opera

• Prom

Name of Headmaster/Mistress: Mr S Johnson

Favourite Subject: Modern Studies

Favourite School Trip: Salzburg 2018 Orchestra and Choir Trip

Favourite School Lunch: Chicken wraps/Pepperoni Panini

Did you play a musical instrument? If yes, what was it and what grade did you achieve?

Piano & Violin to Grade 5

Favourite Sports Activity at School: Hockey

Did you continue with the sport after school? If so, please tell us where and who you played for: I didn’t play hockey after school, but I played curling professionally.

Earliest memory playing your sport: Earliest memory playing hockey was my first games class when I joined the school in 2017, I hadn’t been introduced to it at my old school. First memory of playing curling was with my Mum at my Grandparent’s Hotel and Ice Rink when I was 4.

What position did you play?

Right Strike in Hockey and Third in Curling.

First competition at school playing your sport: Scottish Schools Championship in 2020, first time Wellington had ever had a curling team (I think!)

First major competition outside of school playing your sport:

I competed for Team GB winning gold in the European Youth Olympic Festival in Sarajevo in February 2019 for which I was awarded International Sports Colours.

Highest result playing your sport:

World Junior Curling Champion 2023, World University Games Mixed Doubles Champion 2025, Scottish Women’s Champion 2025.

Favourite place/country visited and competed whilst playing your sport: Lake Placid, USA - World University Games 2023

Best life lesson learned playing your sport: Be patient - if you put the work in, the results will follow!

Most important item in your kit bag: Deodorant!

Any pre-event rituals you like to follow?

Set out clear goals and expectations for the event.

What is your proudest achievement?

Balancing training full time alongside my final year of university and managing success in both - winning gold at the World University Games and graduating with a First.

Do you have a message for current pupils?

Dream big and don’t let anyone stand in the way of you achieving those dreams!

Have you been back to Wellington since Speech Day in S6?

I was very honoured and excited to present the prizes at this year’s Sports Day.

Favourite curling rink to pay on and why?

Stranraer Ice Rink, because it’s home.

Your dream curling partner?

Lukas Høstmælingen (My Norwegian Boyfriend who is also a World Junior Champion!)

The DigiInventors Challenge

Back in January, our Primary 7 pupils embarked on an exciting journey as they began recording their submissions for the DigiInventors Primary Challenge, a competition designed especially for young innovators in P5 to P7 across Scotland. The challenge is all about teamwork, creativity, and using digital ideas to help people live healthier, happier lives. It offers a fun and inspiring way for pupils to explore the world of digital technology, entrepreneurship, design innovation, science, and creative problem-solving while also developing essential STEM skills for the future.

As part of the challenge, pupils were asked to talk about common daily health and wellbeing challenges such as healthy eating, staying active, or managing stress. They researched how digital tools such as apps, games, or smart devices could offer solutions. Pupils then worked either individually or together in teams to plan a simple idea or solution. They showcased their ideas using a PowerPoint presentation, which was later recorded as a short video pitch.

Primary 7 pupils embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and creativity, working on their ideas over several weeks. After submitting their video pitches, they waited eagerly for the results. In March, we received the exciting news that two Wellington School entries had been recognised, one as a winner and one as a runner-up.

Congratulations to Jane Hopper, whose app ‘Grow and Glow’ was chosen as one of the winning entries. Her idea empowers children to make healthier choices and build positive habits in a fun and engaging way.

A huge well done also to Dava Shaw and Aarna Mangalampalli, whose app ‘Nelly & Bert: Autism Heroes’ was awarded runner-up. Their project was designed to support young people with autism, providing helpful tools in a thoughtful and inclusive digital format.

Both teams had a chance to celebrate their success at the Winner’s Award Ceremony in Glasgow, joined by their proud parents and teachers, Mrs Clachan and Mrs Bradley.

Challenge Plate Success for Junior Hockey Team

The Scottish Schools Junior Challenge Plate team has had an incredible run in this year’s competition, finishing the tournament as champions of the Girls’ Challenge Plate at the 2025 Junior Schools’ Cup.

Their journey began with a 4-2 win, securing a place in the semi-final against Gordonstoun. The team continued their strong form with a 3-0 victory, earning a spot in the final at the Glasgow National Hockey Centre, which took place on the 7th March 2025.

Although the final match did not go ahead as scheduled due to the opposing team’s absence, the team was awarded the win and officially crowned champions.

Congratulations to the players and coaches on an outstanding tournament and a well-earned title!

2025 Ski Trip to Folgaria, Italy

By Mr Ness

On Saturday 8th February, a group of 46 pupils from S1 and S2, along with 6 members of staff, took off for a week of skiing in Folgaria, Italy. Nestled high in the Trentino Highlands above the stunning Lake Garda, Folgaria provided the perfect backdrop for a week of fun, learning, and memorable experiences.

Each day, pupils spent five hours on the slopes, developing their skiing skills and making impressive progress throughout the week. They enjoyed lunches featuring authentic Italian cuisine at mountain restaurants.

The fun continued into the evenings with a variety of activities, including quiz nights, pizza nights, and games nights.

The trip was a fantastic success and everyone made lots of amazing memories.

Spanish Exchange 2025

By Mrs Coontz

At the start of the spring term, eight boys and girls set off for Huesca on our Spanish Exchange. Our new partner school is the Colegio Salesiano San Bernardo which is usually referred to as ‘Los Salesianos’.

Huesca is in Aragon, far from the tourist areas of Spain, and three hours inland from Barcelona. This gave everyone a taste of a traditional area of the country.

In many ways, Los Salesianos is very similar to Wellington. Classes are small and there is a strong sense of family. There are marked differences: there is no school uniform; no mobile phones; there is a school café; school starts early and finishes at lunchtime and pupils call teachers by their first names.

We stayed in Huesca for a week. On school days there were joint activities for the guests and hosts. The stay started with a tour of the school and of the town of Huesca. Mr McDougall offered a mini-Model United Nations conference to encourage everyone to work together on a common project.

The group settled into the task and gained experience of collaborating on a complex project. There were three excursions. The first was to Jaca, a pretty town in the foothills of the Pyrenees; the second was to Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon and the third was to Montearagón, a hilltop castle near Huesca.

In the evenings, the pupils all met up to spend time together. On the Sunday, all the families met up for paintballing and a meal together and the parents also organised a farewell party for everyone.

In March, Wellington hosted the Spanish group in Ayr. We offered a range of workshops in school including Lego Spike robotics, a European quiz, and a morning of sports with the Sports’ Leadership pupils. The Spanish pupils also spent some time attending normal lessons to experience life in school. Excursions included a day in Glasgow and a visit to Sky Academy where everyone made a short video. Mr Ness introduced the Spanish pupils and teachers to Scottish Culture by organising a ceilidh for the exchange group.

Some of the group met up during the summer holidays. Lifetime friendships have been made.

New Study & Welfare Areas for Pupils Complete

By Mr Stewart

Our ongoing project to make better use of the classroom space on campus was completed in the summer with the refurbishment and conversion of Rooms 7 and 8 in Carleton Turrets, to provide bespoke study and welfare areas for our senior pupils.

After investment into new classrooms and facilities for Modern Languages, Business Management and English, providing two areas for our senior pupils to study independently and socialise and relax in a calm environment completed the final stage of a two-year project.

Room 8 is our Senior Pupils Study Area and our Maintenance Manager, Mr McCall, with the support of his facilities team, exercising his usual skill and creativity has provided 12 individual study spaces, set around a conference style table. An ideal environment for working on individual final year projects, embedding classroom knowledge with personal study, or learning by discussion and co-operation with classmates.

Our teaching staff haven’t been forgotten either and there is a teaching desk available for when additional study requires to be directly supervised.

Room 7 is an area where our senior pupils can relax in a bit more comfort and in a different atmosphere from that in the smaller common room area. New flooring, painting and softer furniture make this a haven to come to when the need to relax and be mindful strikes during the school day. The newly refurbished room will continue to provide an alternative area for exams for those occasions when the traditional exam hall isn’t suitable.

We hope that these changes will be an investment into the S6 experience for all our pupils. Certainly, we can provide a very practical and meaningful bridge into the world of independent study and personal self-care as they get ready for making the next steps towards greater independence in their academic and personal lives.

European Ambassador School Award

At the end of the summer term we were delighted to learn that we have been awarded Accreditation from the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme.

Throughout the school year, our Junior Ambassadors have been busy organising activities for their peers and taking part in events. A highlight was our pupils’ participation in Euroscola in Strasbourg last October, which gave them the chance to debate in the European Parliament for a day.

In March, we enjoyed a visit from EPAS to coincide with our Spanish Exchange. Our language ambassadors provided help sheets for the Primary 7 pupils to assist them in writing Valentine’s Day messages to their pen pals in France and Germany.

Several ambassadors played key roles in the Model United Nations conference in Germany in February and, while there, visited the European Central Bank in Frankfurt.

The most popular event of the school year was Dot and Dave’s Europe Day celebration lunch! We’ll make sure that’s in their diary for 2026.

The Junior Ambassador group is for pupils from S3 to S6. Activities started again in September and all are welcome.

Wellington School Dance Show 2025: A Night of Iconic Performances

Back in March, Wellington School was alive with energy and excitement as pupils took to the stage for the annual Dance Show. This year’s event, produced by Miss Banks and Mrs Penton, celebrated the theme of ‘Icons’, paying tribute to legendary music, style, and performance through dance.

Dance is an integral part of the Physical Education curriculum at Wellington, and several of the pieces performed were developed through classwork. To further enrich this experience, a specialist workshop was offered to Higher and Advanced Higher PE pupils, as well as selected senior pupils. This session was choreographed by Lisa Muir from LJM, giving pupils the opportunity to further develop their technique and performance skills.

In the lead-up to the show, auditions were held for pupils who wished to contribute their own dances. These included routines learned from external dance schools, exam pieces, and original choreography created by the pupils themselves.

The audition process highlighted the pupils’ creativity and commitment, with many spending weeks rehearsing and perfecting their routines.

On the night, over 100 pupils took to the stage, performing more than 20 routines that showcased a wide range of styles, including tap, ballet, and modern. Highlights of the evening included a vibrant 90s disco mash-up by Primary 6 and 7, which had the audience dancing in their seats, and an adorable whole-class performance from Primary 1, showcasing the youngest dancers in the school. Senior School pupils also impressed with their polished showcase, demonstrating fantastic technique and teamwork.

The audience enjoyed a memorable evening of ‘Iconic’ dances and songs, brought to life by the enthusiasm and talent of the pupils. As always, the event was a great success, and a testament to the hard work of both the performers and the staff behind the scenes.

Music Department Spring & Summer Term Highlights

By Mrs Docherty

The Music Department was busy in the Spring term with SQA Performing exams and the Ayrshire Music Festival. Our external examiner visited our National 5 and Higher candidates in March and was treated to a range of different performances and a successful day was had by all. We always have a large and varied representation at the Festival, and this year saw record numbers of pupils entering the competitions; many of these entrants were placed in their classes. Well done everyone!

We expanded our Scottish Young Musician competition to all pupils in the school, from P1-S6 and were pleased to be able to welcome Mrs Louise Williamson and Miss Laura MacMillan as our guest judges. There was stiff competition in each of the categories, with Tiffany winning the Senior School category, and Junior School winner was Ava.

Throughout the year, the Music Department is the Local centre for Trinity College London Music exams, where entrants can use the facilities to sit their exams in a variety of instruments. We had a representation at most grades with a large number of piano entries this year; Full Colours were awarded to Adam, Alex and Amber following their successful Grade 6 exams.

The Summer term saw the Visiting Examiner for Advanced Higher join us for a day of Music from our most senior students. This was particularly memorable as we managed to tie in our Piping examiner, and it was probably the hottest day of the year so far at the time!

Our Autumn term is looking busy already, with our Senior production of Footloose. We chose to stay in Ayr Town Hall once more, as we will make use of some the original features that the building can offer us! With some upbeat songs, hot dance moves and a hugely talented cast, this is one not to be missed.

We have several other events planned throughout this coming school year too, all of which will be advertised either through our pupils or social media channels.

Junior School Shines in 2025 Production of Annie Jr.

By Miss McKinlay

In June, we were delighted to showcase Primary 4 to Primary 6 pupils in their 2025 production, Annie Jr., in Carleton Turrets Hall. Our Junior School shows are run as an after-school club, and pupils had been rehearsing since October of last year.

Mrs Bradley worked her magic once again, this time transporting us to New York City. We also benefitted from the generosity of Ayr Gaiety Partnership lending us lighting for the week of the show. The addition of the extra theatre lighting along with the school’s sound equipment allowed our Junior School pupils to get a real theatre experience.

The pupils worked extremely hard throughout the rehearsal process which was evident from their confident and enthusiastic performances on stage over the three nights, and it was really special seeing the confidence of our pupils grow with such a supportive audience in front of them.

A special thanks to all the staff and senior school pupils who helped backstage and out front the week of the show. We are also grateful to a number of volunteers, who have a wealth of experience in theatre, who gave their time during this week too. We are excited to get rehearsals going again in October, this time with P7-S2 pupils for their production of Rock of Ages – Youth Edition, in June 2026!

Catching Up with the Cast of Annie Jr.

By Laura Paterson

It’s been a few months since Annie Jr. lit up the Carleton Turrets Hall stage, but the fun hasn’t been forgotten! S6 pupil, Laura sat down with some of the cast memebers to hear what they loved most about being in the show.

Annie – Ava Hair-McDonald

How was it auditioning for a main part in the school show? Was it nerve-wracking or were you quite calm about it?

I was kind of nervous but I’ve done other shows before, such as Annie and Mary Poppins.

How was the preparation for the show, was learning your lines easy?

Well, it was a bit hard but for the audition we had to learn quite a lot of the lines already, so I already knew most of them. The rest was just attempting to learn it, but we had a lot of time to prepare.

Who did you prepare with?

My parents helped me learn my lines along the way and so did the teachers.

Miss Hannigan – Isabella Livingstone

Did you enjoy performing on stage? If so, what was your favourite part?

Yes I liked it! It was my first show that I had to speak and sing by myself, so that was exciting. I had done other shows before but never a main part.

What was your favourite part of the show?

I think my favourite part was probably at the end when we were celebrating Christmas together and I start a choir. I thought that was very funny. That would be a peak part of the show.

What was the hardest part about performing on stage?

I think it was probably Easy Street because I think it was holding my breath because I had to do a 12 bar count of a word whilst doing a dance and I thought that was really hard.

What was your favourite song?

My favourite song was probably Little Girls. As it was the most fun to perform.

Oliver Warbucks – Ethan Maxwell

How was it auditioning for a main part?

It was kind of easy. Most of the boys were in the one room and we were asked to recite the lines that we had practiced and the song that we had learnt for the audition.

Was it nerve-wracking or were you quite calm about it?

I think I was prepared, so I was quite calm because I’d been practising for the audition.

How was it preparing for the show and learning your lines?

I guess it was a long time and a lot of preparation, but it was fun getting to see some of my friends that I don’t normally see most of the time, they’re in different classes to me so it was good to see them, plus it was just quite fun.

Did you make any new friends while doing the show?

I guess I became better friends with Sam, Brodie and some of the new Primary 5’s.

Duffy & July – Chanel Bawa & Lisa Good

How did you feel the night of the first performance?

Alright, because I do quite a lot of dance shows at Dansearena and other things.

If there is anything you could go back and do differently surrounding the school show, what would it be?

Definitely, if you’re on for the next act, I’d like to be there and know yourself instead of everyone trying to get to their spots at the last minute.

Did the school show bring you closer to your co-stars?

Yes, it brought us quite a bit closer with the younger years. Especially the ones we wouldn’t normally hang around.

Grace Farrell - Eva Campbell

What was your hardest part about being in Annie Jr.?

The hardest part would be remembering your lines. I found that the hardest.

What was the hardest line to learn and remember?

Probably when I had to tell Annie that we’ll find her mother and father, or that when I had to say the birth certificate, I found that quite hard.

What was your highlight of the being in the Junior school show?

I quite liked the ending where we sang Tomorrow together.

Was this your first ever show?

If you’re including the Nativities and P3 and all that, then no, but if you aren’t then yes.

Rooster– Brodie Ramsay

What was your favourite song?

Probably ‘The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow’. It’s a classic.

What was your favourite scene in Annie Jr.?

The beginning scene where Annie got taken off stage in the trolley.

How was it auditioning for a main part in the school show?

I felt pretty nervous about it. However, I felt pretty prepared.

What did you feel like on the opening night of your first performance?

I felt very nervous as I’ve never done a show before.

Did the show bring you any closer to any of your peers that you were working with?

I made one new friend. He played the part of Drake in Annie. We became very close during the show.

Inspiring the Future: S2 Careers Event at Wellington School

In February, Wellington School hosted a Careers Event for our S2 pupils, offering them a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of career paths and gain valuable insights from professionals working across diverse industries.

We were delighted to welcome 11 fantastic guest speakers representing sectors such as construction, aerospace, dentistry, research, banking, media, and more. Among our speakers were Jennifer Simpson, Chair of the Board of Governors, who shared her experiences in the pharmaceutical industry; Alice Wilson, a former pupil and now a Senior Associate and Chartered Rural Surveyor; Dr Hardeep, a specialist in restorative and cosmetic dentistry; and Samantha Keith, a parent, former pupil, and Commercial and Specification Manager in the concrete industry.

Over two periods, all S2 pupils rotated around four different workshops, each lasting 25 minutes. The sessions were interactive, with pupils engaging in discussions, asking questions, and showing genuine curiosity about the speakers’ career journeys. The event offered pupils a valuable chance to learn about a variety of career options, hear real-life experiences, and understand what steps they might take build their own future careers.

Thank you to our speakers for their time and expertise, and to Miss Banks for organising such a successful event.

“ The aim of the event was to introduce pupils to career options they may not have considered previously, or have even heard of, and to give them an insight of the world of work in a variety of industries before they make their first subject choices. ”

Miss Banks, P.E Teacher and Careers Coordinator

“ In my final year of school, I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted to do, but I knew I had a real passion for geography and farming. I went on to study Geography at the University of Glasgow, but my interests remained with the countryside. That led me to complete a Master’s in Rural Estate Management at the Royal Agricultural University, and I’m now proud to be working as a Chartered Rural Surveyor at Galbraith in Ayr. I love my job and the variety it brings; no two days are the same and it’s incredibly rewarding to advise clients and safeguard their interests for future generations.

Returning to my old school to talk about my career was an enjoyable experience. It was inspiring to meet current pupils, share my journey, and hear their ideas and ambitions. I hoped that by sharing my experiences, I could encourage them to explore new career paths and follow their own passions. ”

Alice Wilson, Senior Associate

Sophie & Eva Reached the Junk Kouture London Final

Back in April, S2 pupils, Sophie Alexander and Eva Cowan, earned a place in the London Final of Junk Kouture, a nationwide competition that celebrates creativity and sustainability.

Junk Kouture is a global platform that challenges young people to design and construct highfashion outfits using only recycled materials. Targeted primarily at secondary school pupils, the competition encourages participants to reimagine everyday waste—such as plastic, paper, metal, and fabric scraps—into wearable works of art. In doing so, it not only raises awareness about environmental issues but also nurtures skills in design, performance, and teamwork. Finalists showcase their creations at dynamic fashion shows, where they are judged on creativity, craftsmanship, and commitment to sustainability.

Sophie and Eva impressed judges with their imaginative and thoughtful design: a striking ensemble comprising a corset, skirt, and accessories made from discarded materials. Their outfit incorporated repurposed ribbons from old horse-riding rosettes, CDs, feathers, magazines, and newspaper, all creatively transformed into a cohesive and eye-catching design.

Inspired by Global Goal 13: Climate Action, their work highlighted the devastating impact of deforestation on wildlife, particularly birds, and the urgent need to protect natural habitats. The centrepiece was a corset formed from layered newspaper and expertly paper-mâchéd over a tinfoil mould. It combined structure with an organic aesthetic and was vividly painted and adorned with handcrafted details to create a unique visual effect.

Although Sophie and Eva were not selected for the 2025 Junk Kouture World Final, their journey to the London stage remains a significant achievement— particularly as they were among the youngest competitors in the entire event. Their dedication, creativity, and message left a lasting impression and exemplified the spirit of Junk Kouture.

“ Junk Kouture is an incredible opportunity for schools to engage students in sustainability, creativity and innovation. ”

Mrs Morton, Head of Art

MARS Club

By Mrs Hyslop

This year, History teacher Ms Hyslop ran a fortnightly Rock Music club (MARS – Metal and Rock Society) alongside S6 appointed captain Euan Alexander, S5 captain Erica Baird and support from other enthusiastic staff: Andrew McPhee and Leon Mooney.

The project was born after Ms Hyslop and Euan Alexander came up with the idea on an Advanced Higher trip to Glasgow University. The basis of the idea was to create a safe space for likeminded staff and pupils who share a special interest for alternative music.

The club covered various themes such as: the history of rock music, rock trivia, rock image, engaging discussions on different genre styles, symbols of rock, band alphabet challenge and quizzes. The pupils particularly enjoyed Mr Mooney’s rock covers quiz.

The club page covered gig reviews and band recommendations. Many pupils who attended enjoyed the inclusive space of discussing their shared for passion this type of music with likeminded staff and pupils from S1-S6. Ms Hyslop has always been a fan of the alternative music scene, and her husband Ian is a talented musician whose recent bands (Halo Tora and Beneath a Steel Sky) have played progressive rock festivals such as Arctangent and released a charity single which raised money for SAMH

MARS Club Mission Statement:

• To enjoy listening to and talking about Rock & Metal music.

• To participate in themedc discussions & activities.

• To share reviews of gigs & band recommendations.

• To create a MARS Spotify playlist.

• To meet like-minded people & welcome new fans.

• A safe place to be yourself.

• To respect all tastes with no judgement (soft-heavy).

• Overall, to be an inclusive, nonjudgemental society.

(one of our previous S6 charities). His current band’s interview and album review will be featured in the next edition of Metal Hammer Magazine.

Our captains are also talented upcoming performers who have participated in the school choirs, bands and shows. Euan Alexander has his own rock band (Fyre Flys) who have started playing gigs in Ayrshire. Erica Baird has also been part of the school folk and madrigal groups and hopes to start her own band one day like her dad.

The club hope to restart again at some point this session if the interest continues. If you are interested in joining MARS club, please contact Mrs Hyslop.

“ Thank you to all staff, captains and pupils who took part in this niche project. This was certainly something a bit different and our members appeared to have enjoyed it! ”

Mrs Hyslop, Head of History

Model United Nations Conference

By Milla Potts

Our third international Model United Nations conference took place in Germany in February. The event was led by Wellington pupils. In total, 86 young people from ten partner schools in five countries participated. Below, Milla Potts (S5) describes the conference from a participant’s point of view.

For many of us at the 2025 annual MUN conference in Bad Homburg, the sound of a banging gavel would bring an end to several hours of heated debates, although it didn’t always work out that way as heated discussions continued in corridors and during meals. Over 80 students from 10 different schools across Europe worked together in their own respective committees to resolve hotly debated worldwide issues such as nuclear proliferation, water sanitation, fast fashion, refugee crises, and women’s rightsand a lot of the time we had more success in proposing solutions than the organisation we were mimicking.

How did it all work? Well, firstly every student would be given a country to represent. A lot like playing a character, we had to stick to the strict position that the allocated country’s government had laid out for us, and, in my opinion, it is one of the best parts about the conference. You might get lucky and land yourself defending a position you agree with, or you might find yourself saying things you would never have dreamed of expressing. Then, we were all organised onto one of five committees: Health, Environment, Politics, Human Rights or the Security Council, each tailored to very different and very important issues that plague our modern world, and each committee was run by a fellow Wellington student.

The international conference was an experience like no other, where we as students were given the opportunity to run our own committees, holding our own in debates that would usually be left up to adults. Our understanding of global issues and of international politics has greatly expanded as we were given these important subjects to study, and this also gave us a glimpse into how world issues are solved. Those of us who took part in this conference will have left with a greater

appreciation for the intricacies of politics and international relations, as well as the framework needed for these important issues to be resolved in the future.

The entire conference was student-led, with our two Secretaries General, the people in charge of opening and closing the event, being Lara Bryce (S6) and Erica Baird (S5). Each committee had two main issues to solve, and every country had to present their own position paper on the subject and go on to defend their country’s viewpoint.

Outside committee work, there were many other events going on. On the afternoon of the first day, we were split into mixed groups and went on a selfie tour of Bad Homburg. The day after that, once all individual committees had wrapped up on their topics, all 80 of us gathered in the main hall for a General Assembly - a surprise issue was sprung on us, and each country had to create a stance, a solution, and find allies of their own, figuring out how to solve it. Quiz night was very competitive. We played in international teams and were amused to see how keen the staff teams were to beat each other. At the very end, there was a trip into the city of Frankfurt and to the European Central Bank, that I know I’ll never forget. The conference concluded with a dance in the main hall for all delegates to end their days of debating with a bit of fun.

Even during committee work hours, we delegates were still making memories. In the Security Council specifically, every veto to an amendment or even once to an entire position paper was met with an outraged hilarity. Even with all the work we put in, a debate can still end up with just as much progress as is made in an actual United Nations meeting. Even when the debates were still serious and we were focussed on playing our respective roles - such as North Korea trying to avoid our demands for nuclear proliferation - there was still enjoyment to be had. We learned a lot about the issues haunting our political landscape, whether it be facts we had never heard before or a more insightful look into the individual relationship between each country present, and a shared passion for change that had inspired every delegate to speak their mind and hold their own.

Not only does MUN give you opportunity to refine skills in debating and teamwork, but it is also an amazing gateway to meeting new people from many of our partner schools, each with unique experiences of their own. In the evenings, people would gather around in the communal areas and groups from all the different schools would play card games, sit and chat, even outside of committee work. At dinner, chat was hardly confined to just politics, rather we could talk about everything and anything.

Last year, at my very first MUN conference, I remember being nervous about sharing rooms with people I’d never met before. However, this has always worked out to be one of the most interesting parts of the conference. On the final morning, I can remember hugging the same people goodbye a grand total of eight times. Both years it has never failed to amaze me how such close bonds can be made after only knowing someone for five days. We had some free time before we were set to leave on our final morning, and the group of Scots went out into town. Although we had already hugged goodbye, this didn’t stop us from trying to find our French friends when we were all out. To us, it was all worth it to say goodbye one more time.

Model United Nations 2026

The next Model United Nations conference will take place in Bad Homburg in February 2026. The MUN Society is open to all interested pupils in S4 and above.

India Trip 2025

In July, 14 pupils from S5 and S6 embarked on an unforgettable journey to our partner school, St Edmund’s, in Jaipur, India, accompanied by Mrs Coontz, Mr Johnson and Mr McDougall.

The visit marked a special occasion, the 15th anniversary of our partnership, which coincided with St Edmund’s own 50th anniversary celebrations. During their trip, the group not only joined in these milestone events but also collaborated with their peers and had the chance to fully immerse themselves in Indian culture.

Below, you’ll find a day-by-day account of the trip, as told by the pupils themselves. Discover their experiences, highlights, and reflections as they share what made this adventure so memorable

An entire day of travelling is not for the faint of heart, especially if it is your first long haul flight. When we boarded I felt the instant rush of jealousy looking at the first class: pristine cabins and reclining seats. I vowed there and then I would fly first class when I’m older. Although, for this 8 hour flight I was entertained by the small tv screens and array of movies. The food on the flight was my first taste of India: curry for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A recurring theme.

Outside we were greeted by a wall of heat and our bus and tour guide, alongside stray dogs roaming around. The roads in India came at a shock to everyone on board as we feared for the people on motorcycles skirting through the waves of tuk tuks. However, what surprised me the most was how green Jaipur was. No wonder some cities in India have less CO2 emissions than Glasgow!

The first hotel was my favourite. We were greeted by the music and puppets, of a performer who quickly caught on that we would be a great audience, so never left. The food was sublime and a rooftop pool provided great views of the surrounding areas. The staff were kind enough to keep the pool open long enough for us to enjoy it before we all returned to our rooms, excited for the rest of the trip.

To kick off our incredible experience, we enjoyed lots of sightseeing in Jaipur, visiting some unforgettable sites, beginning with Hawa Mahal, a striking sandstone palace which extends to the Zenana at the edge of City Palace. En route to the next stop, we were lucky enough to drive past Jal Mahal, or ‘the water palace’. This amazing building can be seen floating in the middle of the Man Sagar lake, but is not visited by the public, making it even more unique and beautiful to see.

The main event of our first day was a trip to Amer Fort, a stunning building, composed of a combination of Mughal and Hindu style architecture. Located on an Amer hilltop, it’s 11km from Jaipur and a faced-paced jeep ride to the top. We saw some superb sights, before rounding off our day with a trip to City Palace and the Jantar Mantar observatory. This was a highly interesting experience, in which we were guided around huge sun dials, learning about astrology and ancient methods, all whilst soaking up the intense Indian sun! City Palace, formerly used for the rulers of Jaipur, gave us a chance to take in the immensely rich history of the city, along with some thoughtprovoking facts from our tour guide.

Finally, after a jam packed day, we headed back to the hotel to enjoy a swim and relax!

Day 3 by

Fraser

On the third day, we had the opportunity to visit St Edmund’s School, a highlight of the trip that offered insight into local education, culture and community. We attended a talk where we learned about the future of AI and we were informed of how computing is taught at St Edmund’s. The ingenuity of the students and faculty at St Edmund’s was one of the many virtues that became apparent on our visit. There was an overwhelming sense of community and togetherness all throughout the school and what made this sense of community even more prevalent was the lavish celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the school’s establishment, which we were lucky enough to be invited to.

We were also invited to have henna done by the students of St Edmund’s. Connor intrepidly chose to have the words “Ayr India” on his hands, while most other students chose to have intricate floral patterns done, which were all masterfully drawn by the students of St Edmund’s. Soon after dinner we were lucky enough to be guided through Fashion Street by a local ambassador from the school, Neeti Maam who helped us to negotiate prices as we navigated from shop to shop, purchasing different articles of clothing, ranging from very swanky looking shirts to equally glamorous saris. That night we all went to sleep tired, fulfilled, and with significantly lighter wallets.

Day 4 by Laura

Day 4 started off nice and early with us heading to St Edmund’s. We all took part in a mini Model UN. It was brief as we had the rest of the day packed full of fun activities! In the end, there were joint winners: India and Israel. Canada was third. Straight after completing MUN, we headed to the government school, where we were greeted by a few young girls in beautiful saris. After this, we were then treated to a performance that included traditional Bollywood dancing. Once they had all finished, we were asked to do some traditional Scottish dancing. This was when all of the Christmas dance lessons came in handy!

After we attended the school, we headed to Blue Pottery where we watched all the stages of their pottery being made, from the dough being moulded into shape, painted and finally put in the kiln. Soon after we were taken to the shop where the pottery was being sold. We all went bonkers buying all different types of pottery because it was so pretty.

Later in the afternoon we headed out to the Birla Temple in the centre of Jaipur. It was an absolutely stunning piece of architecture built entirely out of white marble. Amazing!

Day 5 by Connor

On the morning of day 5 we packed up and loaded up the bus after another early rise, leaving our first hotel for the long day of travel ahead to our next stay in Agra.

The morning’s first stop was to St Edmund’s School again. Although it was a Saturday, classes were in full swing. This time, we had a tour of the school and saw all areas from the pre-primary to the school roof, which is used for PE lessons. Before leaving school, we were given snacks. These were the biggest and tastiest samosas you can imagine and they are very filling!

School finishes at lunchtime so we headed off on our journey to Agra. We passed many points of interest on the streets, including grand statues of Hindu mythology and fascinating wildlife such as Zebu, monkeys and palm squirrels. One particularly memorable stop was at the Harshat Mata Temple, still standing from its construction in the 8th century, situated next to the astonishing Step Well, named for the breathtaking 100 foot steps to the heart of the well. Our day culminated with the arrival of the bus at our final destination of the day to our hotel in Agra where we unpacked and prepared for another exciting day in India.

Day 6 was an early one! We woke up at 4am to get a picturesque sunrise view of the Taj Mahal without the usual crowds. A quick bus ride and breezy shuttle took us to the entrance, where most of us gasped at our first glimpse of the mausoleum. We heard the romantic story of the building, built by the fifth Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, as a tomb for his wife, whom he nicknamed Meera Taj, or “my crown”, hence the name of the building. He wished for his own mausoleum opposite the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River, but was imprisoned in Agra Fort by his son, where he later died. His daughter entombed him next to his wife in the Taj Mahal, making his coffin the only asymmetrical object on the grounds.

After taking photos, touring inside, and marvelling at monkeys running through the gardens, we headed to Agra Fort. We only saw 20% of this impressive structure, as 80% is still used for military purposes. We learned about the fort’s defence tactics and saw the quarters where Shah Jahan was imprisoned, with a beautiful view of the Taj Mahal, which I found rather poetic.

Later, we visited Mehtabagh Garden, on the opposite side of the Yamuna River, for one final sunset view of the landmark before heading back to our hotel for a well-deserved sleep!

Day 7 by Blair

The bus ride to Delhi on day 7 was extremely quiet for the most part, as many of us were still recovering from waking up at 4am the previous morning. However, when we got to Delhi, we spent the latter half of the afternoon sightseeing around the capital, with the highlight being Humayun’s Tomb. When we entered through the gates, we were astounded by the size of it, as it only took 11 years to build this back in the 1500s, which was extremely impressive given the challenge of not having modern equipment back then.

It still amazes me how buildings of this size were constructed solely for the purpose of serving as a final resting place for an emperor. The tomb as well was surrounded by multiple small streams which you had to hop over so you could get in, and the main tomb itself was built on a raised platform so flooding wouldn’t ruin the building. After spending a few hours walking around this amazing location, we travelled to the hotel, which marked our final whole day in India.

Day 8 by Ava

On the last day of our trip, we visited the Akshardham Temple, an extremely intricate monument, which we learned was hand-carved by thousands of volunteers and artisans between the years of 2000 and 2005. There were very strict rules for the temple, such as no mobiles or photography, as well as no talking after entering the building – which I think is something we all struggled with. Another landmark we visited was Raj Ghat (Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial) – it was an amazing experience going into his resting place, as his legacy had such a powerful influence on the world in creating peace and a culture of antiviolence.

We also did a tour between Old and New Delhi. The heat and humidity had got to us, so we decided to remain on the bus throughout. We stopped off at different monuments such as the India Gate and Qutab Minar – the highest tower in India when it was built. We also drove past the Red Fort, which was another magnificent building – the traffic finally benefitted us and gave us enough time to snap some photographs. During our last dinner in India, all the pupils sat as a group, giving us a lovely final night. We really enjoyed our time with each other throughout the trip, as it gave us the opportunity to bond altogether. I think I could say for all of us that we wished the trip could have been even longer, and we were all extremely saddened to have to leave India, especially saying goodbye to our wonderful tour guide, Vivek, and our bus crew!

Talking Point: Speech and Debate at Wellington Continues to Grow

By Jonathan Dunn, Debating Captian

The 2024/25 academic year was another successful year for competitive debating at Wellington, and a significant year for growth in the opportunities we provide pupils.

The year began with the 2024 Ayrshire Cup in August. This event is still relatively new and is an opportunity for all pupils in Scotland to compete in a full day of debating at Wellington. It is currently the only national competition for all year groups in Scotland that is run by a school, and has truly put Wellington on the map. The 2024 edition featured sixteen teams from across Scotland, including three Wellington teams. After three rounds, one of our teams reached the final with the highest score out of all teams. The final was won by Broxburn.

Other significant achievements this year included Freya McAleese and Sophie Hastings reaching the final of the Glasgow Bar Juniors competition, which gave them the opportunity to debate in the prestigious venue of Glasgow City Chambers. Wellington also reached the finals of the Mace debate and the semi-finals of the Law Society of Scotland’s Donald Dewar Debate, both for the second year in a row.

Our outreach programme, through which we provide expert debate coaching for our own pupils as well as schools in our local community, also grew substantially this year. In the spring term, we were delighted to welcome Ibby Eldredge from the University of St Andrews’ Debating Society to deliver a six-week course for beginner debaters. We also welcomed pupils from other local schools in Ayrshire to allow them to prepare for the Ayrshire Cup. We had over 30 students turn up regularly for these sessions. They were very well received, providing pupils with expert coaching that they would otherwise not have access to.

The debating year concluded on 19th June with a revamped edition of the Ayrshire Cup. The competition was moved to a weekday and hosted before the summer holidays to allow more teams to attend. This resulted in a 28-team tournament, significantly more than the previous two tournaments, with a separate junior final for S1-3 speakers. A total of 15 schools took part from across the country, effectively doubling the size of the event. Of the five Wellington teams that competed, two of them broke to the Junior Final; congratulations to Ella Freestone, Hannah Briggs, Amalie Cotter and Evie Mae Cattanach. As the highest scoring Wellington team, Amalie and Evie Mae received a new prize that was presented at Speech Day. The Junior Final was won by Craigmount High School, while the Grand Final was won by St Ninians, who beat the defending champions.

As I depart Wellington after 15 years, with 6 of them being spent debating, I would like to thank Mr Howie for his hard work and dedication to growing debating at Wellington. By 2025, we now host our own debating tournament, compete in all nationwide tournaments, and regularly reach the finals of them. We have even had pupils be selected for the training squad for the Scotland National Team. His hard work often goes unnoticed, but it is clearly producing great results and I am confident that debating at Wellington

will continue to go from strength to strength. This year has seen record high attendance at both our lunchtime and after-school meetings, and I would like to thank the pupils that regularly attend for their dedication and enthusiasm. Finally, I would like to thank Senior Management for supporting Mr Howie and myself throughout the year. Running a full debating tournament on a school day was no easy task, but the support of Senior Management made the whole day run like clockwork.

I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage pupils to try debating next year. It has taught me so many valuable skills that I will carry on to University and beyond. It is able to contribute positively to so many fields. You may think that everyone who does debating would study law, but I can tell you from firsthand experience that this couldn’t be further from the truth. Debating teaches you the ability to communicate clearly, articulate your viewpoints, and understand pressing issues affecting society. These skills are useful in fields such as medicine, engineering, the sciences and social subjects, not just law.

Finally, I would like to wish the Debating Captain for the 2025/26 academic year the best of luck. This role has been incredibly rewarding for me and I’m sure it will be the same for the new captain.

Debating Q&A

By Laura Paterson & James Watson

Mr Howie, Head of English

How can the debating society impact a student’s future in the real world?

Coming to debating can offer many benefits to a pupil in their future and within school life. First and foremost, it’s going to make you a more confident person who learns more about the world and who develops their critical thinking skills and ability to articulate themselves in a more intelligent way. That’s so important for getting good grades at school and securing the place in university that you want. Universities often appreciate it when you’ve done debating, especially Oxford and Cambridge. Crucially, it’s going to make you a superior communicator throughout your life, and many opportunities will follow from that skill.

A lesser known benefit is that I often see the social and emotional wellbeing of pupils improve through debating - our club meetings are a fun, inclusive environment where all voices are heard and relationships are built, and this camaraderie extends to the friendly encounters we enjoy with pupils from other schools in competition. So, I think there are many advantages to debating that pupils perhaps don’t realise, and I would highly recommend that they try debating to build those skills.

What is your best highlight over the years of being in charge of debating and public speaking?

Our biggest achievement in competition would be Kathryn Taylor winning the senior category of the Young Speakers Scotland public speaking competition. She performed a speech that she worked very hard on and delivered excellently. She was competing against pupils from across Scotland and had to progress through two rounds to emerge the winner. It was one of the biggest achievements that we’ve had in recent years.

A personal highlight for me has been establishing the Ayrshire Debating Cup, which we’ve never had before at Wellington. It’s a national competition where we invite schools from across Scotland

to come to the school to debate for a full day. This started two years ago, in collaboration with Glasgow and Edinburgh universities. The competition has grown and grown to the point where last year we had 15 schools attend in total. It’s a great opportunity for us to not have to travel as far to debate. And I would highly recommend that if people come to the debate club, they now know that they’re going to have an opportunity right on their doorstep every year.

Is there a specific type of pupil that you predominantly see in the world of debating?

I can honestly say that there is no accurate definition of a debater - there has never been a specific type of pupil at Wellington that comes to debating during my time here. If anything, one of the things that makes debating so interesting for me is that I get a very wide range of pupils, not only across year groups but also in personality types. What they want out of debating can also vary very much from pupil to pupil. You see friendships form within the club that wouldn’t necessarily form otherwise. Of course it’s effectively a trip every time you go for a competition and there are many of them throughout the year, so it’s an opportunity for pupils to become more socially confident over time.

Debating fundamentally changes you. I’ve seen people that were quite quiet when they first came along begin open up and become supremely confident verbally. It can form and shape your personality and make you a more extroverted person if you let it make you that way. So in short, everyone is welcome in debating and I would highly recommend that everyone gives it a go and know that it’s a very welcoming environment that is not filled with only a certain type of person.

Milla Potts, S6

What skills have you been able to develop for everyday use through debating?

I think communication is the most obvious skill that you can gain from debating because a big

part of it is being able to put your point of view across correctly and clearly. Everyone has to be able to understand you. I think it helps with critical thinking, being able to look at the world more objectively. And definitely when I’m wanting to argue with folks in my family, it’s become a useful skill. And even with Mr Howie, who doesn’t love it, because he’s taught me debating and now I’ll debate with him about everything.

Would you continue debating after you leave school?

I’ve considered it, definitely. It’s something that I enjoy. I like getting the rush out of it and if it’s available to me and I have the time, I think I would definitely heavily consider continuing debating once I’m out of school.

What’s your favourite part about debating?

There’s a few different things I really like about debating. I really like, first of all, the sense of community you get from debating, if that’s even just within the school, when we’re all at the lunch clubs and the after-school clubs, it’s getting to know everyone better, creating inside jokes about everything. And then even when you go off to different events at other schools, I think there’s a strong sense of community amongst debaters because once we come out of debates, we’re all just making jokes at each other. It’s a very friendly environment, everyone’s pretty like-minded, and it’s actually pretty fun.

Do you have a highlight from this year?

My highlight of my last year of debating was probably last year’s Ayrshire Cup or the Donald Dewar debate, which I felt like was one of my strongest so far because I felt I spoke very clearly, I got all of my points out, I was able to impact them correctly, and I was proud of myself that night.

Is there anything else you would like to say to prospective or upcoming debaters?

Yes, another important thing about debating, I think, is the challenge it provides because you’re always wanting to be able to increase your personal best. You’re always thinking about ways you’re able to improve yourself. And even just standing there in front of a room of people and

judges, it’s a massive adrenaline rush. It is very challenging. I do think it takes a lot of confidence and bravery to be able to go up there. But after a while, those are skills that you’ll be able to develop and you’re able to speak clearly and you’re able to handle the stress much better. And I think it’s definitely able to increase your confidence overall. And that’s one of the important life skills debating can give you.

Hannah Briggs, S3

What skills have you been able to develop for everyday use through debating?

Debating really brings out a lot of skills that I use in everyday life. It allows me to express my opinion but also to know that some people think different things. It really gives me an understanding that everyone knows different things about all subjects and it really has improved my English skills. Before I started debating my language and my variety of vocabulary wasn’t as good but debating really enhanced it.

When did you first get into debating?

I started debating in Primary 7 when I was introducing for someone at a school debate and then I really started getting serious about it at the start of S2. It’s a really welcoming environment to be in.

What’s your favourite part about debating?

To be honest I just love debating as a whole. It’s really expressive and you can be part of a team and work together and I think that’s really important because you have to listen to everyone in debating and I just love hearing everyone’s ideas and I just love it on a whole.

Do you have a highlight from this year?

Yeah, I really did enjoy the Ayrshire Cup. I think that was one of my favourite debates that we do every year and it’s really fun to take part in and some of the extra debating training sessions with Miss Eldridge were really fun as well.

Successful Season for Wellington Netball Teams

By Mrs Craig

This year has been an outstanding one for Netball at Wellington School, marked by exceptional commitment, competitive success, and growing enthusiasm across all year groups. With 57 pupils from S1 to S6 participating, it’s been one of our strongest seasons yet.

Team Participation & Achievements

We entered six teams into the Ayrshire League— three in the S1/2 league and three in the S3/4 league—as well as one senior team in the Scottish Schools Cup:

• Our S1/2 League 1st Team had a fantastic season, finishing 2nd out of 32 teams, narrowly missing out on first place in a very close final match.

• Our S3/4 League Green Team were Champions, finishing top out of 28 teams across Ayrshire, a true testament to their hard work and team spirit.

• Our Senior Scottish Cup Team competed with great resilience. After a narrow loss in the opening round, they entered the Plate competition, progressing through four tough rounds to reach the Quarter-Final, where they were just edged out of a semi-final spot.

District Netball Representation

Wellington has once again had strong representation at the District Netball level, with many pupils competing at both U15 and U17 levels:

For the 2024–25 Season:

• U15 District Players: Sophie Alexander, Eva Cowan, Holly McKenzie, Lara Marshall, Freya McAleese, Holly Carter, Elissa Wilmer.

• U17 District Players: Emma Henderson and Holly McNeilly.

Looking ahead to the 2025–26 Season:

• U15 Selected Players: Sarah Melvin, Sophie Alexander, Eva Cowan, Luella Hutton, Mia Barbour, Sian McLaughlin, Freya Innes, Poppy Williamson and April Baird.

• U17 Selected Players: Freya McAleese and Holly McNeilly.

We are incredibly proud of the pupils who have stepped up to this level, showing their skill, commitment, and love of the sport.

Kit Sponsorship

A special thank you goes to Barassie Engineering for their generous sponsorship this year, providing all of our netball dresses. These have been a real highlight—boosting team identity, confidence, and pride. The teams not only played with passion but looked absolutely fantastic doing so.

Netball Awards 2024–25

Overall Netball Player of the Year

• Emma Henderson (S6) – A true leader, Emma has been a consistent and dedicated force in Wellington Netball throughout her school career. She finishes her time with us having set an exceptional standard for younger players to aspire to.

S3/4 Awards

• Player of the Year – Lemoni Allan. Recently transitioned into defence, Lemoni has been nothing short of unstoppable. Her presence on court has earned praise from opposition teams and coaches alike—she is truly a force to be reckoned with.

• Most Improved – Elissa Wilmer and Lara Marshall. Both Elissa and Lara joined District Netball this year and have demonstrated tremendous growth. Their confidence has soared, and they now consistently read the

game well and work fluidly with teammates.

S1/2 Awards

Player of the Year – Mia Barbour. Mia is our quiet assassin on the court—composed and clinical, barely missing a shot. Her performance this year has been exceptional, consistently leading by example.

Most Improved – Grace Robinson and Sian McLaughlin. Both girls are relatively new to netball but have shown incredible enthusiasm and determination. Their willingness to learn and adapt has been fantastic—they’ve soaked up every bit of coaching and are progressing rapidly.

Looking Ahead

Wellington Netball is in a strong position for the 2025–26 season. With rising talent from Primary 7, an influx of district-level players, and continued commitment from our senior pupils, the future of the sport at the school looks incredibly bright.

Geography Department Iceland Study Tour March 2025

By Mr Ledingham

Earlier this year, 40 pupils from S3 and S4, accompanied by myself, Mr Byers, Mr Mitchell, Mrs McIntyre, and Mrs Windows, flew from Glasgow to Reykjavik. The Icelandair flight lasted just 2 hours and 30 minutes, but in that time, it managed to transport us to another planet. As we departed the terminal in Keflavik and boarded our coach, the thermometer peaked at 0°C as snow fell all around us. We drove outwards across lava flows, many only a few months old, with steam rising as we passed by.

Our first stop was the world-famous Blue Lagoon. Spending two hours in the geothermal pools and saunas was the perfect way to de-stress and launch ourselves into our Arctic adventure. With renewed vigour following our clay facial treatments, we hopped back onto the bus and travelled into Reykjavik to check in to our hotel.

With our evening meal nestled in our bellies, we ventured out for a night-time walk along the shorefront towards the city centre. In the distance to the south a faint glow on the horizon hinted at the possibility of seeing the northern lights, but nothing was guaranteed.

The copious hotel breakfast was well received at the start of Day 2 and many took advantage of the self-serve cooked food, cereals, yoghurts and fresh fruit on offer. With water and packed lunches in our day sacks we boarded the bus for our first curricular visit - Hellisheiði Power Station. Following the interactive tour and presentation, we were able to explore the geological and engineering displays - although being Geography pupils the colouring in activities proved most popular(!). Another short coach ride and we arrived at Friðheimar Farm, where we were treated to a tour and an endless supply of freshly baked bread and soup - made from the tomatoes that are grown in the immense greenhouses that dominate the area.

After lunch, our focus shifted from the ingenuity of human activities which harness the raw power of the island, to the jaw-dropping landscapes of the natural world. Our first stop was Gullfoss Waterfall – the largest two-tier cascade in Europe. As snow buffeted our faces, we walked through the wilderness to catch a glimpse of this legendary show, before beating a retreat back to the relative warmth of the well-stocked gift shop.

From here, we travelled down the road to see Great Geysir at Strokkur. Crystal-blue pools of mineralrich water and a strong smell of sulphur greeted the group as we disembarked from the bus, and the ‘oohs’ and ‘aaahs’ of nearby tourists beckoned us on. Nearing the main event, it was easy to see what had elicited such gasps, as frequently erupting plumes of boiling water shot 15 metres into the sky in a breathtaking display.

Next up was Þingvellir National Park, and a perfectly timed solar eclipse added an air of mystery to the already impressive formations that lay in front of us. Assembling in the original Norse parliament, our tour guide explained the lore and mythology of the country before leading us along the only on-land section of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – straddling the gap between Europe and North America.

After dinner the evening’s entertainment was a visit to Laugardalslaug Geothermal Swimming Pool.

A 10-minute walk from our hotel, this public pool boasts two huge pools, flumes, saunas, jacuzzis and numerous naturally heated hot tubs at varying temperatures. Having made the most of every second throughout the day, we returned to the hotel for some well earned rest, whilst a handful of our ever-growing teenagers ordered family size pizzas as a pre-bedtime ‘snack’.

Day 3 started with a walk around Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, where waterproofs were essential! Being able to explore behind the tumbling torrent was a unique experience and this was added to further when our tour guide revealed a second secret waterfall, unknown to staff despite previous trips to the same area.

Shortly after this stop, the heavens opened, and a deluge of snow and icy winds blasted the lunar landscape. It quickly became apparent that the inclement weather would prevent the muchanticipated glacier walk. However, whilst our tour guide started working on alternative options, we managed to don our ‘yak traks’ and push on to the snout of the Sólheimajökull Glacier to marvel at the depositional power of the ice. Our next stop was Reynishverfi Volcanic Beach: a well-known film location due to its barren, jet-black sands, gargantuan waves, and powerful rip tides. We explored the sea caves and posed for photos on the basaltic columns before returning to the coach to escape the bracing conditions.

The first of our unplanned ‘back-up’ activities was a visit to the Lava Show in the town of Vík. Sitting in the small indoor amphitheatre, we were treated to a fascinating recounting of Iceland’s volcanic past as the host skillfully manipulated real lava right in front of us. At temperatures of over 1,000°C, the molten rock heated the room, and the need for our protective goggles quickly became apparent. Our second stop was the FlyOver experience in

Reykjavik, where a 4D ride suspended us over the beautiful landscapes of the country, many of which we would otherwise have missed during our visit. After a hearty meal at the Hard Rock Café, we ventured through the city to the stunning cathedral, Hallgrímskirkja. Pausing for a moment in the light rain allowed for some personal reflection on all that had been experienced, before we headed back to our hotel to pack and sleep.

Whilst the 3.30am breakfast was a bit of a shock to the system for most, our short journey to the airport provided one final opportunity for us to stare at the moon-like surface of Iceland’s countryside. Unsurprisingly, the flight home was quiet as many caught up on sleep, but a handful spent time reminiscing about an unforgettable trip.

Touching down in Scotland, our phones buzzed with news of a volcanic eruption at Grindavík, covering roads and preventing access to several of the wonderful sights we had visited just 24 hours earlier. For a fleeting moment, many thought of the missed opportunity to witness such an event, but for staff, pupils, and parents alike, a sense of relief quickly took over as we could return home safe in the knowledge that the trip had been a blast –metaphorically, and not literally(!).

Physical Education Department Update

Pupils have enjoyed participating in a range of sports, including Dance, Netball, Football, Cricket, Rugby, Tennis, Athletics, Hockey, and Golf.

Hockey

We have observed continued success at district level with Sophie Alexander and Eva Cowan competing at U15 level for South West in the Inter district tournament in May. It is encouraging to see so many individuals going forward for selection and the efforts of all involved should be commended despite some narrowly missing out on selection.

Congratulations to Lemoni Allan-McLaughlin, Iona Fairbairn, Emily Goodwin, Freya McAleese, Daisy Windows and Jamie Crumlish on their selection for Brave Academy, the talent pathway for Scottish Hockey. We are proud of our players’ success and commitment to this programme with the players attending additional training and competitive opportunities.

This year we entered 3 teams (1XI, Junior and Boys) into the Scottish Schools competitions. Our 1XI were victorious in the first round of the Scottish School Senior Challenge Cup competition and went on to play St Margaret School. The team were up against some tough weather conditions and were unfortunately beaten in a close game.

Our junior team are this year’s Scottish Schools Junior Challenge Plate Champions! We are very proud of this team’s achievements and their effort and dedication throughout this season. The Senior Boys team attended the Scottish Schools Aspire Cup in October, where they had the opportunity to apply their skills and play a range of teams.

Through regular Saturday matches, players from P6 to the 1st XI have benefited from consistent exposure to a competitive environment, leading to strong results across the board. Every team secured victories in over 50% of their fixtures, a fantastic achievement for a small school. Throughout the second half of the season, our teams also took part in several tournaments, including the High School of Glasgow 7s, the new 5-a-side format at Hutchesons’ Grammar, the S2 tournament at Hutchesons’ Grammar, and the P7 tournament at Glasgow Academy. The P7 team reached the plate semi-final, where they drew and were narrowly defeated in running penalties by a strong Hutchesons’ Grammar side.

We ended the season with our Whole School Tournament, where over 70 pupils, parents, and staff enjoyed a fun morning of hockey. It was a great way to celebrate those committed to hockey throughout their time at Wellington and to thank Dot for her many years of Saturday morning catering at Doonside.

Netball

Netball at Wellington has enjoyed an outstanding season, marked by exceptional commitment and growing enthusiasm across all year groups. With 57 pupils participating, it’s been one of our strongest seasons yet. You can read more about our Netball success on page 40 & 41. .

Dance

Dance is a key part of both the curriculum and extra-curricular life at Wellington, with lunchtime clubs for Primary 3 to S6 led by Mrs Penton, Miss Banks, and Mrs Mitchell. Senior pupils also took part in a workshop choreographed by Lisa Muir (LJM). Routines from the workshop, along with curriculum pieces and pupils own dances, were performed at this year’s Dance Showcase — a fantastic evening of talent. You can read more about the showcase on page 20.

Rugby

Rugby has had a strong year at Wellington, with the U15, U16 and U18 teams all reaching the West Cup Finals in March. The U15s secured a fantastic result by winning the West Shield. Several pupils have also been selected for District and National training squads, including Lucy Reid, who earned a spot in the Glasgow District team, after only

starting the sport in October. Oliver King and Blair Black have also been chosen for District training, with Oliver receiving an invitation to train with the Scotland U17s squad.

Our Junior School teams have participated in several fixtures against local schools, delivering excellent performances. The S1 boys have shown great individual and team progress, consistently representing the school with pride.

Football

This season, Wellington’s football teams took part in the South Ayrshire Schools League, with Mr Graham leading the primary team and the PE Department running the U13, U14, U16, and U18 teams. The U14s competed at the Carrick tournament for the first time in May and reached the semi-finals..

Ayrshire Schools Cross Country Championship Finals

Wellington was represented by 8 pupils from S1 to S3. Out of a field of 250 runners, strong performances were recorded with the pupils finishing in the top third of their field. Lewis Relly was our highest placed pupil, finishing in 2nd place where he was narrowly beaten in the final metres of the course.

Scottish Schools’ Cross-Country Championships

The event was held in the majestic grounds of Hopetoun House, Queensferry on Wednesday 5th March. Representing the school were Hannah Briggs, Ella Freestone, and Lewis Relly. Despite cold, windy weather and a challenging hilly course, all three ran with determination and finished strongly.

Scottish Schools’ Aquathlon

In April, Lewis Relly competed in the Scottish Schools’ Aquathlon, with over 300 pupils from 80 schools participating. After swimming 400m and running 3km, Lewis finished impressively in 3rd place.

Athletics Inter School Competition

150 pupils have enjoyed the challenge of participating in a variety of athletics events, with personal bests and new school records being achieved. Wellington competed and had wins in various age groups against schools such as St Columbas School, Lomond School, Queen Victoria School, and Hutchesons’ Grammar.

Ayrshire Schools Championship Finals (30 school event)

The following pupils were 3rd in their event: Oliver King – Shot, Katie Ablett – 100m, Hannah Briggs – 1500m, Callan Forsyth – 200m, Fraser Peters – 800m, Mia McKinstry – 800m, Finlay McEwen – Discus

The following pupils were 2nd in their event: Rory Cumming – 300m, Charlie Gillies – 80m Hurdles, Katie Ablett – 200m, Ella Freestone –800m, Alexa Watters – 300m, Lewis Relly – High Jump & 1500m, Mia McKinstry – 100m, Millie McKellar – Long Jump, The Senior Girls Relay Team

The following pupils were 1st in their event: Kate Robinson – 300m, James Cruickshank – High Jump, Jessica Needham – Long Jump, Natasha Hardy – Javelin, Rory Reynolds – Long Jump, James Cruickshank – Long Jump, The Senior 3 Girls Relay Team

Special Recognition – Ayrshire Schools’ Athletics Championships

The S3 girls relays team won the Shield for the best relay performance of the championships. They also set a new Ayrshire record.

Kate Robinson won the Campbell Bone Trophy for the best senior performance of the championships with her 300m run.

Scottish Schools Relay Championships

The school entered one team into the championships - U17 girls 4x100m relay. The team broke the school record which was set in 2009 (54.32secs) by finishing 3rd winning bronze medals. Their record time was 52.79secs. Team members were Katie Ablett, Lemoni AllanMcLaughlin, Zara Wightman and Mia McKinstry.

Scottish Primary School Relays

The school entered boys’ and girls’ teams in the 4x100m relay. The boys reached the final and placed 7th overall - an excellent result. The team included Sandy O’Sullivan, Campbell Lennox, Ben Freestone, and Jamie Levisianos.

The girls won their heats in the first round and

semi-final, earning bronze in the final. Their team featured Lucia Cornelius, Eden Paton-Browne, Georgia McGeoch, and Annie Cumming.

Scottish Schools’ Track and Field Championships

Wellington entered 4 pupils this year. Pupils managed to achieve personal best times or distances. Three pupils reached the semi-final stage and 4 reached the final.

Golf

Golf has enjoyed great success aat Wellington this year, with strong interest across year groups. This was showcased by 25 pupils competing in the high-standard, competitive school tournament at Seafield Golf Course.

Quintin Dunlop (S6), Hugh Dunlop (S3) and Thomas Carlyle (S3) have taken part in nationwide tournaments at St. Andrews and Crieff this year. All played at a high level throughout the year and represented the school and their club positively at these tournaments.

Cricket

Cricket has had a successful year, with lots of pupils enjoying Cricket in Games and PE lessons. Our U18s team managed to reach the Quarter Final of the Scottish Cup with some excellent performances from all the players. Oscar Kirkwood and Jake Woodhouse were selected for National U18s training squads and represented Scotland over the summer. Both play 1st XI Cricket for their clubs and are highly regarded in Scottish youth Cricket.

Skiing

In March, Wellington pupils took part in the Ayrshire Ski Slalom race at Newmilns. We entered 2 teams and I am delighted to say that both the primary and secondary teams finished 1st winning Gold medals and retaining the Bobby Pollock trophy.

Primary Ski Team - Annabel Borthwick, Georgia McGeoch, Caelan McDevitt & Jamie Levisianos Secondary Ski Team - Matthew Borthwick, Sophia Borthwick, Cameron McGeoch & Poppy Waterland.

Postcards from France

In the previous edition of the Turret, we wrote about hosting our French partners from the Institut SaintDominique in Mortefontaine. In June, it was our turn to travel to France. Read about our experiences as described in the pupils’ postcards home.

Former Pupil Q&A

Name: Christine Ross Lockhart (nee Clark)

Nickname at School: Not that I know of!

Boarder or Day Pupil: Day

Position of Office: Head Girl, Games Captain & House Captain 1961-1962

What house were you in? Churchill

When did you attend Wellington? 1949-1962

Class of: 1962

Further Education: LL.B Glasgow University 1962-1965, B.A, Open University 1973-1977

Occupation: Solicitor (now retired)

What did you want to be when you were younger?

PE Teacher

3 favourite memories of your time at Wellington:

• House Marching on Sports Day

• Saturday morning hockey matches and bus rides to away matches

• Singing (and still singing) Be Thou My Visionthe school hymn

Name of Headmaster/Mistress: Miss Donnachie & Miss Morris

Favourite subject: Latin

How would your teachers describe you?

A bit careless and trying always to do things too quickly - just like my hockey and tennis!

Favourite school trip:

I don’t think we had any - I enjoyed the bus trips on the away hockey matches.

Favourite school lunch:

Steamed pudding and custard.

Favourite teacher and the influence they had on where you are today:

Nobody in particular, they all tried their best to instil something of use in me!

Did you play a musical instrument?

Piano – grade 5. Played in the recorder band and sang in school choir.

Favourite Sports Activity at School:

I enjoyed hockey, tennis and athletics. I really enjoyed the marching to start off sports day, it was quite a spectacle.

Did you continue with sport after school?

I continued with hockey at Glasgow University then Ayr Ladies and finally Cartha Club in Glasgow. I continued to play tennis at Ayr LTC then up to Glasgow after I was married in 1967 to join Newlands LTC, where I still play.

What position did you play?

Hockey - on the forward line preferably centre forward. On the tennis court, happy to play on the left or right!

Earliest memory playing your sport:

Hockey, probably the very intense playground battles at break and lunchtime! In tennis, playing with my mother on the Stonehaven courts when staying there for the summer holiday with my grandfather.

First competition at school playing your sport: Primary school hockey match probably against Ayr Academy. In tennis maybe house matches.

First major competition outside of school playing your sport:

In hockey, I was selected for full Scottish trials in January 1963. In tennis, I played the British Junior Championships at Wimbledon in September 1962.

Highest result playing your sport:

Played hockey for Scotland 13 times between 1964 & 1973. In tennis I first played for Great Britain at aged 55 in 2000 and continued to play through the age levels for Great Britain. In 2016 I was in the GB team which won the World Team event for 70s and in the team which won the 75 age group in 2024.

Favourite place/country visited whilst playing sport:

I have been lucky enough to have played several times in an excellent tennis venue in Turkey.

Best life lesson learnt playing your sport:

For anything - “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose - until you lose” - a snoopy poster I think! It does matter if you lose and it should matter otherwise you are not being a true competitor in whatever you are taking on, but that disappointment will not seem so bad the next day and will help to prepare you for the next challenge with even more determination.

Most important item in your kit bag:

For trips away from Scotland I am known for the small Scotty touristy bag which accompanies me!

Are there any pre-event rituals you like to follow?

Not really a ritual but I make a point during a tournament of visiting local historical sights, ruins or museums.

What is your proudest achievement?

In tennis it would have to be winning a gold medal with the GB team on 2 occasions. In hockey, my first full Scottish cap in 1964 when I was 18.

Do you have a message for current pupils? Why not you?

Have you been back to Wellington since Speech Day in S6?

I was delighted to present the prizes at School Sports Day on 2 occasions and have also enjoyed a couple of Old Girls’ lunches at Carleton Turrets.

Favourite tennis court to play on:

I enjoy playing on the outer grass courts at the All England Club at Wimbledon - we are not allowed on Centre or Main Courts in our competitions! I like the fast grass surface and the grass is kinder than hard courts on your joints as you get older! And of course, the wonderful surroundings and history of the club to add to the occasion.

Your dream tennis partner:

Anyone - male or female - who makes that match enjoyableand it helps if you happen to win!

International School Award

Wellington School has been awarded the British Council’s prestigious International School Award in recognition of its work to bring the world into the classroom for the sixth time.

The International School Award celebrates the achievements of schools that do exceptional work in international education. Fostering an international dimension in the curriculum is at the heart of the British Council’s work with schools so that young people gain the cultural understanding and skills they need for life work in today’s world.

Scott McDonald, Chief Executive of the British Council, said: ‘The school has earned this prestigious award through its inspirational international work and links with schools abroad. The International School Award is a chance for schools to be recognised for their important work in bringing the world into their classrooms. This is especially commendable when schools have been deeply affected by the global pandemic. The desire to build on their international work shines through and it is with utmost pride that we celebrate their achievements.

By embedding an international dimension in children’s education, these schools are preparing their students for successful lives in the UK or further afield, empowering them to be global citizens, and are creating vital opportunities in an increasingly global economy.’

The assessors commended the school on very successfully meeting the requirements for Reaccreditation for the Full British Council International School Award. In particular, they noted the strong and active international partnerships and links we enjoy with many countries and continued:

‘Youprovideyourstudentsmanyopportunities toenhancetheirlanguageskills,through interactions with their international peers, as part ofcollaborativeprojects.Iamimpressedhowyou haveengagedallyourstudentsinactivitiesthat helpthemtodevelopasglobalcitizens.Ienjoyed watchingthevideooftheModelUnitedNations andveryawareofitspowerinencouraging youngpeopletothinkaboutthecomplexities ofglobalpoliticsandissues.Itiscreditablethat youalsoprovidedtheopportunityformembers ofthestudentbodytoorganiseeventssuchas FairtradeFortnight.Itwasapleasuretoreadyour submission.Congratulations!’

Our portfolio of evidence highlighted many of the international and global citizenship activities that our pupils throughout the school took part in last session. Our reaccreditation is valid for three years. Later in the session, the school will be invited to receive our certificate at a British Council ceremony.

A Message to our Former Pupils

Former pupils of Wellington and Drumley House Schools continue to play a vital role in shaping our present and future.

We encourage all alumni to stay connected by joining our Alumni Network. We’re also looking for stories, photos, and videos from your time at Wellington, if you have anything to share or would like to sign up, please get in touch.

Email: formerpupils@wellingtonschool.org Facebook: Wellington School Former Pupils

A Note from the Editor

We hope you enjoyed the Spring/Summer 2025 edition of The Turret! This biannual magazine aims to capture the essence of Wellington School.

I would like to start by thanking everyone who has contributed to the Turret, including our pupils, staff, and parents, for sharing stories, news, and work for display.

While it has been exciting reliving the last few months of the academic year, as always, trying to fit all our stories in can be quite tricky. If you feel we have missed something, please get in touch and we will seek to cover your story either on social media, the website or even the next edition of The Turret.

In the event of there being a factual mistake, please accept our apologies. If you get in touch, we will amend the digital version of the magazine, which is available on the School Publications page of the website: wellingtonschool.org/wellington-life/school-publications.

If you have any feedback, enquiries or requests, please contact Mrs Patton or Miss Cain via email: press@wellingtonschool.org or by telephone 01292 269321.