Building Trust and Connection: The Wellington Way to School Admissions by Ms. Ramya Vijayan.
13 Feb 2026
When I look back to 2023, the year Wellington College International Pune opened its doors, I often smile at how it all began — with a shared dream and a blank slate. As one of the founding members, I had the privilege of helping shape not only the school’s admission process but also the spirit with which we welcome families into our community.
Those first few months were filled with conversations — sometimes in our soon-to-be-finished campus in Pune, sometimes online with parents calling from London, Dubai, Singapore and beyond — each with unique hopes for their child’s future. What became clear very quickly is that admissions is far more than forms, deadlines, or interviews. It is about trust, reassurance, and genuine human connection.
The art of understanding families
Every family brings a different story. Local families in Pune are curious about the British educational approach and how a 200-year-old Wellington College heritage adapts meaningfully to an Indian setting. Expat families, on the other hand, wonder how their children will adjust to life here — how we balance global perspectives with Indian warmth and a truly international outlook.
Those conversations are my favourite part of the job. We begin by listening — really listening — to what matters most to each parent and child: academic ambition, pastoral care, co-curricular opportunities, or simply the need for a school that feels like a safe and happy place to start again after a big move. Our mission at Wellington is to meet them where they are and to walk alongside them as they make one of the most important decisions for their family.
For expat families, we recognise that relocating to a new country presents unique challenges, including cultural adjustment, language and finding the right school fit. At Wellington, we organise welcome and orientation sessions for new families. These initiatives help children build friendships quickly, while parents have the opportunity to connect with the wider school community through our Coffee Mornings. This thoughtful approach ensures that expat pupils and parents feel welcomed, supported, and well-integrated from day one.
Creating a seamless start
When a family chooses us, we consider it the beginning of a partnership, not the end of an admissions process. From that moment, our team walks them through every step — from application and assessment to enrolment and the first day of school. For expat parents, this often includes easing relocation worries, guiding them through practicalities of settling in Pune, and connecting them with the Friends of Wellington, our dynamic parent organisation that quickly becomes a first circle of friendship and support.
For local families, we focus on demystifying the international curriculum and sharing how our core values — Courage, Respect, Integrity, Kindness and Responsibility — are woven into every classroom, House, and co-curricular experience. Wellington is academically ambitious, but equally committed to pastoral care and wellbeing, because happy, confident children learn best.
The questions parents ask most
“What makes Wellington College different?” is a question I hear often. For me, the answer lies in the way we combine a globally recognised academic framework with an environment that feels warm, inclusive, and deeply human — a school where pupils are encouraged to be curious, courageous and compassionate.
Another frequent question is how we support children during the transition phase. Here, our teachers, teaching assistants and pastoral team play a central role: through careful induction, buddy systems, and ongoing communication with parents, they help each child move from feeling ‘new’ to feeling that they truly belong. Admissions may be the first touchpoint, but it is the whole Wellington community that carries that journey forward.
A journey that begins with trust
In many ways, admissions are the first chapter of a much longer story — one that continues through the years a child spends learning, growing, and flourishing at Wellington College International Pune. Every handshake at a school tour, every online call with a relocating family, and every “thank you, this feels like home” reminds us that we are not just filling classrooms. We are building a world-class community grounded in trust, connection, and a shared sense of purpose.
If you are exploring schools in Pune or planning a move to India, we would be delighted to welcome you for a conversation or campus visit — and to help your family write its own Wellington story.
