Wellington UK Student Exchanges | Wellington College Bangkok

Wellington Exchange Students Arrive in Bangkok

28 October 2026

This week, we welcomed six students from Wellington College UK to Bangkok for a two-week exchange. Sahasra, Monty, Olly, Lottie, Anne and India will join Year 10, sharing lessons and school life with their peers while experiencing Thailand through the families who are kindly hosting them.

Each visiting student has been paired with a current Wellington College Bangkok Year 10 student. These buddies - Namarie, Punn T, Ava S, Preme, Mattie and Ooryuu - will help them find their way around, introduce them to friends, and settle into the routines of a different school. Staying with their buddies’ families also gives our visitors a chance to experience everyday life in Bangkok, with time to get to know their hosts beyond the school day.

Over the fortnight, the students will attend classes and discover how familiar subjects are taught in another Wellington setting. Learning alongside one another gives both visiting and host students opportunities to exchange ideas and hear different perspectives. It is also a chance to discover what they have in common, despite living and studying thousands of miles apart.

Their time in Thailand will include a residential trip to Khao Yai, where students are completing elements of the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Working together outdoors brings a different set of challenges from those encountered in the classroom. Students will need to support one another, take responsibility, and keep going when things become difficult - experiences that can help new friendships develop quickly.

There will also be opportunities to experience Thai culture throughout their stay. Whether trying unfamiliar food, visiting new places, or spending time with their host families, the students will gain a closer understanding of the country than a short holiday would usually allow. For our Bangkok students, welcoming a visitor into their home offers a chance to share the places and customs that are part of their own lives, and to see them through someone else’s eyes.

The annual exchange is an important part of our relationship with Wellington College UK. Our shared heritage and values provide a starting point, but it is through experiences such as these that the connection becomes personal. Students and families get to know one another, while staff at both schools work together to make the exchange a rewarding part of a Wellington education.

In 2027, our host students will make the return journey, spending two weeks at Wellington College UK. They will experience life at Crowthorne, reconnect with their exchange partners, and take their own turn at adapting to a new school environment. 

We are delighted to welcome Sahasra, Monty, Olly, Lottie, Anne and India, and thank our host families for opening their homes to them. We look forward to hearing their impressions of Bangkok and seeing the friendships that develop over the next two weeks.