Wellesley Haddon Dene School is a private day and boarding preparatory school in the coastal town of Broadstairs in the English county of Kent. Founded in 1866, it educates boys and girls aged 3 to 13. The merger of Haddon Dene School with Wellesley House School to form the newly named Wellesley Haddon Dene School, plans to expand, will eventually mean that pupil numbers can rise to a maximum of 320 pupils, from a previous maximum of 210 pupils. The school also includes a number of pupils with Special educational needs and disability(SEND), which in 2023 stood at 23.
History
The history of Wellesley House School dates back to 1866. It was originally called Conyngham House and was located at Ramsgate. During World War II, the school was temporarily evacuated to Rannoch in Scotland while the buildings were used by the British Army. In 1969 it merged with St Peter's Court, another local prep school. Originally a typical boys-only boarding prep school, girls were admitted in 1977.
On 22 September 2022, Haddon Dene School merged with Wellesley House School to form the newly named Wellesley Haddon Dene School. The Premises for the new school would be as for Wellesley House School, at 114 Ramsgate Road, Broadstairs. It is planned that the merger will eventually lead to an expansion of pupil number to a maximum of 320 pupils, from a previous maximum of 210 pupils.
The school has a number of pupils with Special educational needs and disability(SEND), which in 2023 stood at 23.
Academics
As with prep schools that educate children up to age 13. Wellesley House prepares pupils for the Common Entrance Examination.
Boarding
Wellesley House offers full, weekly and flexi boarding options for all pupils. Girls from all year groups live in Orchard House. Both houses are supervised by live-in "houseparents". Boys reside in the main school building and are looked after by the Headmaster and his wife. As of 2020, the boys and girls both reside in the main school but separately.|
Former pupils
Former pupils are known as "Old Welleslians". This list includes former pupils from St Peter's Court, which closed in 1969 and merged with Wellesley House.
Armed Forces
Peter de la Billière, former Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in the 1990 Gulf War Sir Henry Leach, former First Sea Lord at the time of the 1982 Falklands War who convinced Margaret Thatcher to re-take the islands John Ruggles-Brise, Honorary Colonel in the Territorial Army