Dear Parents,

As the academic year draws to a close, the final notes of our Summer Concert still seem to linger in the air around the campus. As I sit down to write this letter, what comes to mind is not a set of statistics, but a series of very real moments: the children whose eyes lit up during a debating competition, the graduating pupils quietly wiping away tears at the final curtain call of the school musical, and our youngest pupils in Early Years, wearing their small graduation caps and still finding their balance.

This year, we have achieved many things together that are truly worth remembering.

Academically, our pupils have produced a solid and commendable set of outcomes. In the Senior School, 130 pupils took part in 38 academic competitions, achieving 9 gold medals in the UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge and 5 bronze medals in the International Biology Olympiad. In the Junior School, the results were equally encouraging, with over half of participants receiving awards. Several gold medallists in English and Mathematics were invited to national training camps, continuing to shine on a broader stage.

We are particularly proud of the Class of 2026. 50% of pupils received offers from universities ranked in the global Top 20 (QS World University Rankings), 68% will progress to Top 50 universities, and 89% to Top 100 institutions. Among 32 offers from G5 universities, two were from Oxford, six from Imperial College London, and 24 from UCL. Outcomes in Hong Kong have also been strong, including four offers from the University of Hong Kong and five from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Beyond the numbers, however, what matters most to us is whether each young person has found a pathway that is right for them.

This year, our educational systems have continued to evolve. Our annual review once again confirmed the stability and strength of our operations, with external reviewers praising our “streamlined and highly efficient” assessment model. This recognition reflects the consistency, quality, and maturity of our academic and operational systems. We were also shortlisted for the British Chambers of Commerce “People Development and Wellbeing Award”, and named “2025 International School with Outstanding Reputation and Influence” at the Sina Weibo Education Awards.

Yet what truly matters to us is not the awards themselves, but the unseen everyday work behind them: how educational technology is making learning more engaging; how pupil leadership initiatives are enabling more pupils to find their voice; and how our English language acquisition pathways are helping each child learn in a way that suits them. Our structured pastoral care programme, personalised university guidance, and rich co-curricular offer together form the foundation of a genuinely holistic education.

This year’s production of The Addams Family was performed three times on campus. Ten graduating pupils continued rehearsing through the most demanding period of exam preparation, bringing the curtain down on their Senior School journey with a performance that was at once eccentric, humorous, and warmly uplifting.

Our Chinese drama production, Strange Faces From A Chinese City, brought Feng Jicai’s Tianjin stories to life on stage. Music has run throughout the year—solo performances, choirs, chamber ensembles—each note the result of sustained daily practice.

At the same time, pupils’ artwork was exhibited beyond the school, at the Art Museum in the Lujiazui Centre in Tianjin, allowing their creativity to be seen by a wider audience. The stage itself was modest, but it held an extraordinary depth of passion and commitment. The bows at the end of performances, the embraces backstage, and the final beam of light before the curtain fell all remain among the most moving moments of the year.

The partnership between home and school has also grown stronger. Our inaugural Parents’ Committee Dinner, charity walks, and “Education Partner” workshops have helped turn the idea of “one community” into something genuinely felt.

Books and musical instruments have been donated to rural primary schools in Guizhou, and hospital-based educational visits have helped pupils gain a deeper understanding of life beyond the classroom.

Our alumni network is also expanding, with recent graduates already beginning to support and inspire younger pupils.

This year, the school was also awarded dual ISO certification—ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety)—making us the first school within our group to achieve this milestone. This is not about a label, but about a message to our pupils: that their environment is cared for with seriousness and integrity, and that their wellbeing and safety are protected with quiet dedication.

Beyond all these achievements, what I most want to express is gratitude.

To every member of staff: thank you for turning teaching into genuine education.

To every parent: thank you for your trust, and for the partnership you extend in supporting your child’s journey.

And to every pupil: thank you—you bring meaning to each day at Wellington through your individuality, effort, and spirit.

The academic year may be drawing to a close, but education does not pause for the holidays. It simply continues in another form, growing within families and everyday life.

May this summer bring each child time to rest well, play freely, and feel deeply cared for. Most of all, we hope every family returns safely, happily, and ready for the year ahead.

We look forward to seeing you in autumn.

Master

Yang Yang