New Master Brendon Fulton takes the helm at Wellington College International Shanghai

October 25 15:07 2021
New Master, Brendon Fulton takes the helm at Wellington Shanghai emphasising a vision of community, care and compassion

Wellington College International Shanghai

Wellington College International Shanghai welcomes the 2021-22 academic year, and with it, a new Master: Brendon Fulton. Bringing with him a wealth of experience in education and school leadership gained from a career of 20 years that has taken him from South Africa to the UK, the Middle East and, finally, China. He transitioned early on from a career in IT to become a computer science teacher, which led to a leadership position in Qatar as the Deputy Head of a large British international school and eventually Executive Principal of the Dubai British School group, which achieved ‘outstanding’ ratings during his tenure. Through his wide and varied years of international experience, Mr Fulton comes to Wellington emphasising a vision of community, care and compassion as a means to strengthen support and resilience, especially in the face of great challenge and change.

Wellington College International Shanghai

A diverse, caring and supportive community

As Wellington’s new Master, Mr Fulton aims to uphold the College’s long-held aspiration of creating a diverse, caring and supportive community. “Central to this effort is helping our pupils develop the skills needed to communicate and think across cultures,” he says, “which is why 2021 marks the inaugural year of our new dual-language programme.” The ambitious project aims to create fully bilingual, biliterate and bicultural pupils through immersion in a dual Chinese and English learning environment. Focused on further fortifying a Wellington pupil’s sense of pride and place, the dual-language programme launches this September 2021. It will give the pupils of this Shanghai international school the opportunity to excel in two of the most critical languages of the 21st century, eventually being able to function, think and even dream seamlessly in either.

Wellington College International Shanghai

Parents as partners in education

He emphasises just how important parents are in building a thriving educational community. “I see our parents, pupils and staff as tilling and nurturing the soil of the community,” says Mr Fulton. “Our parents are particularly important in this regard. After all, they begin educating their children before they ever enter our classrooms. They are, in effect, our partners.” As such, their feedback and communication are essential to the College’s success. More importantly, so is their active participation.

“I encourage all of our parents to get involved in the Wellington Community, be it at home with their children, at one of our main school events or as contributors to the ‘Friends of Wellington’, our parent and teacher organisation.” A Wellington parent himself, Mr Fulton is an active member and serves as the organisation’s President. He is especially excited about the calendar of parent-led community events they have in the works this year, like October’s International Food Festival and December’s Winter Market. “At events like these, we often proudly say, ‘We are Wellington’, as we get to see our pupils, parents and staff come together in partnership. ‘We are Wellington’ is far from a simple refrain, it is truly a call for community.”

Wellington College International Shanghai

Educating the whole child, preparing them for the future

Because Mr Fulton is a Wellington parent, he has a lot at stake personally when it comes to the College’s educational outcomes too. When Wellington pupils graduate, they will be entering a world that is increasingly shaped by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. They will face a job market that is profoundly impacted by automation and AI. “This is something I think about constantly,” he says. “As a former IT professional, I have witnessed these megatrends first-hand. Rapid change will be the only constant.” He therefore stresses the importance of teaching our pupils to be flexible, adaptive and versatile. “This is why a holistic education — an education that addresses the needs of the whole child — will be vital to our pupils’ success in life after Wellington as they step out into the world as Old Wellingtonians,” he says. 

“STEM subjects are, of course, essential,” he continues. “Strong quantitative skills will be indispensable in an economy so reliant upon technology and data. Our Department of Sciences and Technology is well equipped to serve our pupils in these areas.” But he is quick to point out that a school must also teach its pupils to see connections and find meaning in the world. “These are the soft skills like leadership, teamwork, empathy, cultural awareness and complex reasoning, that our pupils acquire through Wellington’s outstanding humanities, arts and sports programmes. It is truly an inspiration to see genuine care for our environment and community come through in our pupil’s calls for sustainable development, showcasing our Wellington Identity of being ‘Inclusive’ and Value of ‘Respect’ in action.”

About Master Brendon Fulton

Originally from South Africa, Brendon Fulton transitioned from a career in IT to becoming a computer science teacher and staff development coordinator for IT integration. This move subsequently took him to the UK, where he served as an advanced skills teacher at the Windsor Boys’ School, and then onto the Middle East, to serve as Deputy Head of a large British international school and eventually Executive Principal of the Dubai British School group. He assumed Mastership of Wellington College International Shanghai in 2021. Mr Fulton holds a PGCE, an undergraduate degree in Psychology, a master’s degree in Education and has completed a course in Advanced Management Practice. He and his wife Kerri have two sons and a daughter who attends Wellington College International Shanghai.

About Wellington College International Shanghai  

Opened in August 2014 and located in the New Bund area, Wellington College International Shanghai is one of the best international schools in Shanghai, and it is a fully co-educational day school with over 1500 pupils, aged 3 to 18 years old. Consistent with the ethos of its prestigious partner in the UK, the College seeks to develop the ‘Wellington Identity’ and instill the ‘Wellington Values’ in every child. Wellingtonians are encouraged to be Inspired, Intellectual, Independent, Individual, and Inclusive and act with Courage, Respect, Integrity, Kindness and with a sense of Responsibility. Boasting a state-of-the-art campus, Wellington has built a vibrant community where all pupils strive to achieve academic excellence and engage in a comprehensive range of opportunities in music, performing arts and sports with the mission of educating the whole of child.

School hours: 8am – 4.45pm 
Address: No.1500 Yao Long Road, Pudong New District, Shanghai 200124, China  (Campus main gate: No. 100, Hai Yang Xi Road) 
Website: https://shanghai.wellingtoncollege.cn  
School office: (+86-21) 5185-3866 
Admissions office: Call (+86-21) 5185-3885 for year group availabilities as well as Scholarship applications 

Wellington on social media:

WeChat: WellingtonCollegeSH
Facebook: WellingtonCollegeShanghai
Instagram: WellingtonCollegeShanghai
LinkedIn: Wellington College International Shanghai 

Media Contact
Company Name: Wellington College International Shanghai
Contact Person: Admission Department
Email: Send Email
Phone: +86-21 5185-3866
Address:No.1500 Yao Long Road, Pudong New District
City: Shanghai
Country: China
Website: https://shanghai.wellingtoncollege.cn/