Wells Cathedral School
11+ Admissions Guide 2026

Wells Cathedral School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school situated in the heart of the city of Wells. Founded in 909 AD to educate choristers, the school has a long and proud musical heritage and continues to offer places for talented young musicians, including those eligible for funding through the Department for Education's music and dance scheme. Boarders are welcomed from Year 4 and are accommodated across nine on-site houses. The school is rooted in Christian values and aims to nurture a warm community where work, study, activity and spirituality come together in a creative and family-oriented environment. Pupils of all faiths and none are welcomed, and the school encourages every young person to discover and be themselves to the best of their abilities, meeting the challenges of the future with courage, resilience and enthusiasm. Day pupils come largely from Wells itself and the surrounding towns and villages, while boarders are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, with around two-thirds coming from overseas. The school supports pupils with a variety of needs, including those requiring help with special educational needs and disabilities and those learning English as an additional language. Choristers and pupils on specialised music or mathematics courses follow a modified curriculum tailored to their particular pathway.

Mobile phones should not be seen or around school site. Years 7-9: all mobile phones must be handed into houses before 8.40am and collected after 3.55pm. Years 10-upper sixth: hidden phone policy during school day - phones off, away in bags and out of sight