Home » Case Studies »
Wellington College, a leading independent school in Berkshire, has partnered with the Global School Alliance to provide students with a wide range of opportunities to develop global perspectives and take part in experiential and sustainability-focused learning projects.
In a conversation with Ana Romero, Head of Sustainability and Global Climate Education Advisor, Ana described participating in the recent Leadership Delegation to Peru as a “transformative professional development experience” that “opened exciting opportunities for student collaboration and demonstrated the powerful impact of experiential learning.”
Ana tells us how partnering with the GSA has significantly expanded Wellington College’s global learning ecosystem. Through the Alliance, students and teachers benefit from:
- Cross-cultural collaboration with peers worldwide
- Authentic opportunities to apply language learning and intercultural competencies
- Access to international expertise and global perspectives
- Rich experiential learning opportunities that complement classroom teaching
- A shared commitment to sustainability, global education and ethical leadership
Tell us about your role and aspirations for this opportunity
I am Ana Romero, Head of Sustainability and Global Climate Education Advisor at Wellington College. My role focuses on developing meaningful international partnerships by embedding global education, sustainability and climate literacy that enhance the learning of our wellington students.
I joined the GSA delegation because Wellington College recently formed a partnership with Newton College in Lima through our Global School Alliance membership. The opportunity to experience first-hand the amazing options this collaboration could offer our students—particularly in experiential learning, bilingual academic exchange, and sustainability-focused projects in exchange with Newton students, is impressive. My expectation was to deepen the professional relationship, understand the school’s culture and pedagogical approach, and explore the potential of the Amazon field centre as a site for student learning in de development of joint projects.
Key findings & observations
The delegation highlighted the impressive coherence between Newton College’s mission, academic ambition and its commitment to environmental stewardship. Several practices stood out:
- Interdisciplinary learning embedded across the IB programmes, especially through Biology, ESS and CAS, where students meaningfully connect classroom learning with ecological realities.
- The Sachavacayoc Amazon Field Centre, which offers an exceptional model of science-based inquiry and experiential education in a biodiversity hotspot but also in other relevant social areas. The centre provides structured opportunities for research, conservation work and applied sustainability.
- A culture of bilingualism and global awareness, which closely aligns with Wellington College’s educational ethos.
- Strong leadership and staff expertise, demonstrated by Principal Richard Quantrill, Will Allard (Head of Science), and the Head of ESS, and David Brugess Voss Director of the Sachavacayoc Centre, each contributing insightful perspectives on student-led research, assessment and fieldwork.
Impact on professional development
This experience has been professionally enriching. Observing Newton College’s integration of field science, sustainability and experiential learning has given me new ideas for expanding our own climate education provision at Wellington College.
Key takeaways I plan to implement include:
- Building long-term, project-based learning cycles connected to real environmental challenges.
- Strengthening cross-departmental collaboration between Spanish, Biology, Sustainability and Global Education.
- Embedding more hands-on, investigative learning inspired by the Amazon centre’s methodologies.
Personally, the visit reaffirmed the importance of global partnerships that equip students with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Strengthening links with the partner school
The visit significantly strengthened our emerging partnership. Meeting staff across departments created trust, clarity and shared ambition. Together, we mapped out an eight-month student collaboration project culminating in a visit to Lima and the Amazon in July 2026.
The visit to the Sachavacayoc Amazon Field Centre with Director David Bruggers Voss provided a clear framework for:
- Collaborative research projects
- Sustainability-focused fieldwork
- Shared learning goals between Wellington and Newton students
Being part of the delegation alongside Chris Routledge (Lees Brook Academy) and Gina Rowlands (St Joseph’s College) also helped broaden the network of schools we can collaborate with in the future.
This experience has paved the way for a strong, sustainable and impactful partnership that will hopefully grow over time.
Recommendation for school leaders
I would strongly encourage school leaders to take part in a GSA delegation. Experiencing a partner school first-hand brings clarity, inspiration and momentum that cannot be achieved through online meetings alone. It allows leaders to identify shared values, align expectations, and build genuine professional relationships that translate into better opportunities for students.
This delegation reaffirmed the transformative potential of global partnerships—particularly when rooted in shared values, long-term vision and a commitment to empowering young people. I am deeply grateful to the Global School Alliance for facilitating this experience and excited about the future of our collaboration with Newton College. I would just like to recommend to spend more time with our partner school during the visit, to work deeply in developing the planning and activities we are aiming our students to get involved with.
