Wells Cathedral School A GSG School
- Wells Cathedral School
The Liberty
Wells
Somerset
BA5 2ST - Head: Alastair Tighe
- T 01749 834200
- F 01749 834201
- E main-office@wells…thedral-school.com
- W wells.cathedral.school
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 2 to 18.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Somerset
- Pupils: 777; sixth formers: 199
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: Day £9,336 - £24,558; Boarding £24,828 - £40,029 pa
- Open days: See website
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
- ISI report: View the ISI report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Everyone loves the blend of specialist musicians and their less musical counterparts. Up to a third are part of the school’s specialist music programme, a third are ‘general musicians’ and a third ‘aren’t actively involved in music’. ‘Wells is incredibly musical – there’s always a trumpet tooting somewhere – but students leave the school with a broad skillset,’ said a parent. ‘Music is taken very seriously but never at the cost of being a well-rounded person...’
What the school says...
Wells Cathedral School is unique. It is: a co-educational day and boarding school with high academic standards, one of the five specialist music schools in the UK recognised by the DfE Music & Dance Scheme, and a cathedral choir school. Qualities of leadership and confidence are developed in all our students within a creative environment. Wells is a school where people can discover and be themselves to the very best of their abilities. Wells provides an inspiring education, set in a musically-alive and beautiful environment, as a brilliant foundation for life.
Individual visits welcome at any time, by appointment. ...Read more
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Curricula
Cambridge Pre-U - an alternative to A levels, with all exams at the end of the two-year course.
Other features
Music and dance scheme - government funding and grants available to help with fees at selected independent music and dance schools.
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Choir school - substantial scholarships and bursaries usually available for choristers.
International Study Centre - school has a linked, international study centre for overseas students wishing to improve their English.
What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since 2018, Alastair Tighe, previously deputy head (academic) at Bedford School. He was a chorister at Buckfast Abbey and played the piano, organ and clarinet. After a music scholarship to Downside, he did a gap year as a choral scholar at Truro Cathedral and then won an organ scholarship to Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he read English and theology.
He began his teaching career at Oundle School as deputy director of music and assistant housemaster, before moving to Eltham College as director of music. When he arrived at Wells he was immediately struck by ‘how friendly the place was’ – ‘there was something special and different, a sense of community and family,’ he says.
Hugely proud of the school’s musical achievements, he’s nonetheless determined to show...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
SEN provision is individually tailored to the needs of the pupil, ranging from differentiation by subject teachers to classroom support and one-to-one tuition. Very able mathematicians are extracted from lessons for enrichment work with a visiting Mathematics Professor and talented musicians are provided for within the specialist strand of the DfES Music and Dance Scheme.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | Y |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | Y |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter Cathedral School | 2023 | 1 | 1 | 1 Specialist Music Award |
| Hazlegrove School | 2023 | 1 |
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