Wells Cathedral School

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 C

The Little Wellies nursery caters for 52 children and many progress to the pre-prep’s one-form entry reception (others join from elsewhere). Most popular entry points in the prep are year 4, year 5 and year 6. From year 3 up, there are two or thre

Most stay till 18, especially if they are heading for music conservatoires and colleges, though around 20 per cent leave post-GCSEs. The majority of music specialists pursue their studies in the UK but an increasing number choose European conserva

In 2024, 49 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 32 per cent A*/A at A level (64 per cent A*-B).

Twenty-six A level subjects, including economics, music technology, philosophy and ethics, photography, PE, psychology and theatre studies. Sixth formers start with four subjects but some drop one after two terms and the majority do an EPQ. RE, p

At the time of our visit 191 pupils were in receipt of ‘some sort of additional support’, either one-to-one, in small groups or with targeted support in class. The school’s 14-strong learning support team, a mix of teaching assistants and teacher

Music, as you’d expect, is glorious. Wells is one of only five specialist music schools in the UK. It offers pre-professional training to outstanding youngsters who are seriously considering careers in music – but it’s the only one in the country

Music isn’t everything here, say parents – sport, particularly hockey, is another string to Wells’s bow. When we visited the girls’ first XI had just made it to the England Hockey Cup final (lots of clapping at assembly) and two pupils had won pla

Eight boarding houses, all beautifully historic – six for years 9 to 12 (three boys’ and three girls’), a mixed year 13 house (bridging the gap between school and university) and a house for years 4 to 8. At the time of our visit just under half o

Pastoral care was praised by everyone we spoke to. ‘It nurtures every child’s potential and creates young adults who are inquisitive to go out into the world with excitement and curiosity,’ said one parent. ‘The thing that shines through is the st

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Some pupils travel across the world, others are much more local, but many families make considerable sacrifices to send their children here. The school’s founding motto, Este Quod Es – ‘Be what you are’ – sums up its ethos and we found the pupils,

Scholarships offered on merit – specialist music scholarships and choristerships in the prep and senior school, plus academic, sport, art, drama, maths and general music scholarships in the senior school. The school offers some means-tested bursar

A happy, unpretentious and very busy school where gifted musicians and non-musicians complement each other brilliantly. Set in the heart of a historic city, it wears its antiquity lightly while staying faithful to its founding principles and givin