Wells Cathedral School

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Wells Cathedral School is a British public school located at Wells in Somerset. The school is one of the five established musical schools in Britain, along with Chetham's School of Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Purcell School and St. Mary's Music School, Edinburgh.

NB Public school is a fee-paying school where the head is a member of the Headmasters Conference.

With links to a school founded in 909 AD, the school has admitted girls since 1969 and now teaches over 700 pupils between the ages of 3 and 18. The school has a Christian emphasis and specialises in combining high-level musical tuition with a general academic education.

Situated within the historic city of Wells, the school's boarding houses line the northern parts of the city and the music school retains close links with Wells Cathedral.

Wells Cathedral School is claimed to be the 4th oldest public school in the country. It cannot be shown, however, that the school has existed continually since the date of its supposed foundation in the tenth century, and there was certainly a hiatus during the 1880s, after which it was refounded.

The current Headmistress is Elizabeth Cairncross, with Charles Cain as Deputy Head. The Director of studies is Nigel Walkie, and Dorothy Nancekievill is Director of Music.

The Royal Family hold links with the school; many of the buildings being opened by Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon the queen mother. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has also made visits to the school most recently during her Silver Jubilee Tour.

The school has touring world-class musicians from all over the world who come and do masterclasses and lessons. The school has 3-4 main practice areas and had specialist, special provision and general students at the school. In the school, you have pre-prep, junior school, lower school, and sixth form.

Heads of Department

Head of English:Mr. Bowen
Head of Science:Dr. Henson
Head of Maths:Miss. Jameson
Head of Modern Languages:Mr. Day
Head of History, Politics and Law:Mrs. Paul
Head of Geography:Mr. Boot
Head of Art: Mrs. Tapner
Head of Technology:Mr. Jones
Head of Business and Economics:Mr. Laing
Head of Sport:Mr. Swarfield

Heads of Faculty

Head of Maths:Miss. Jameson
Head of Science:Dr. Henson
Head of English:Mr. Bowen
Head of Modern Languages:Mr. Day
Head of Hummanities:Mr. Boot

[edit] School houses, colours and heads of house

Boys Houses

De Salis - Blue and White - Mr. B. McGee
Cedars House - Cedar Green - Mr. M. Ashton
Shrewsbury House - Light Blue - Mr. D. Gowen
Ritchie House - Scarlet - Mr.B. Salisbury

Girls Houses

Claver-Morris - Blue and White - Mr. P. Dukes
Plumtre House - Purple - Mrs. N. Cage
Edwards House - Pink - Mrs. M. Edwards
Haversham House - Sky Blue - Mrs. J. Obradovic

Competitive Houses

Carter
Lewis

The schools connection with the cathedral offers a range of opportunities. There is a school service every Monday morning in the cathedral as well as countless music concerts. Chapel, chamber and cathedral choir rehearsals and performances are performed there as well as the Music School opposite the cathedral. Naturally choirsters rehearse and perform there too.