Wells Cathedral School

Wells Cathedral School (Wells) is a co-educational, independent, day and boarding school for pupils from age 2 to 18. The School currently has around 750 pupils of whom around 300 are boarders.

ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Wells is an academically selective school. Selection is based upon academic merit which is assessed through an entry test, an interview at the School and a reference from the candidate’s previous school, as appropriate. Their selection process is designed to identify pupils who are able to benefit from their balanced and well-rounded education and to make a positive contribution towards the life of the School.

The aim of the assessment process is to identify potential. They are looking for students who will flourish in Wells Cathedral School with an emphasis on the development of confidence, independence, friendships curiosity, creativity and teamwork. The School has strong traditions in choral singing, music, drama, art, debating, community activities and sport. There are many co-curricular activities, all of which are important in developing a well-balanced, confident individual.

OVERSEAS APPLICANTS

Wells has a thriving international community and looks to admit students who will both benefit from, and contribute to, the cultural breadth which the School is seeking to foster. Students from all parts of the world are considered for admission at all ages and increasingly by face-to-face or video-link interview. A workable standard of written and spoken English and mathematical ability is required as is the potential to engage in active learning and living within a student body predominantly from a UK-based background.

They warmly welcome overseas pupils, who can study at Wells as boarders, provided that they have a guardian living in the UK who can act in loco parentis in an emergency. Parents of overseas pupils should note that Wells does not run a short-term study program, and expects overseas pupils to finish a complete course of study, such as GCSEs or AS/A2 levels, or, exceptionally, study for at least one academic year.

FLUENCY IN ENGLISH

 In order to cope with the academic and social demands of Wells, pupils must be good English speakers. Normally pupils should have been educated in the English medium to a standard to enable them to thrive in an academic environment where the language of instruction is English before coming to the School. Tuition in English as an Additional Language (EAL) can be arranged at the parent’s expense but in some cases the School may require candidates to complete an external intensive English course of the type recognized by the British Council. International students will need to have the potential on admission to reach IELTS level 6.5 or equivalent standard for progression into higher education entry in the UK or overseas on leaving the School.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Wells offers a number of scholarship awards each year for excellence in:

• Academic subjects
• Mathematics
• Sport
• Creative Arts
• Music
• All-Round ability

School Houses

Boys' Houses

• De Salis (navy tie with gold emblems)
• Mills (lower school day) (navy tie with thin diagonal white stripes) – house no longer used, however the tie was used for lower school boys until 2017
• Cedars (navy tie with green emblems)
• Shrewsbury (navy tie with blue emblems)

Girls' Houses

• Claver-Morris
• Edwards
• Haversham
• Plumptre

Mixed

• Ritchie (formally navy tie with red emblems) including the annex Brock House, Sixth Form only.

Junior House

• Beaumont House (co-educational house)

Competitive houses (Junior School)

• Drake
• Livingstone
• Nelson

Scott