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SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
SOUTH WEST
South West England has a stunning coastline which runs along both the Bristol Channel and the English Channel.
Bristol is home to Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge, and its neighbouring city of Bath features Roman hotspring baths dating back to the 1st
Century A.D. The prehistoric stone circle, Stonehenge, is found in the
County of Willtshire.
Cornwall is the western most part of England hosting an abundance of interesting beaches and coves, particularly in Newquay which is renowned for attracting surfers and water sport enthusiasts due to the area’s huge waves. Of course Lands End, the most westerly point in England, is always worth a visit for those photo opportunities. Not far from Lands End is the Minack Theatre, this open air theatre was designed and created by Rowena Cade, and is beautifully built within the cliffs, looking out over the Atlantic ocean.
If nature is something you like then The Eden Project, in Bodelva bears a fascinating rainforest Biome where you can experience rainforest environments from around the world.
Finally, we must not forget the local delicacies as the Cornish pasties and clotted cream teas, now is it cream first or jam first?
VIEW OUR FEATURED SCHOOLS LOOKING TO ACTIVELY ATTRACT SERVICE CHILDREN
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59 48 51
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44 45
53 46
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MONKTON COMBE SCHOOL 43 ALL HALLOWS SCHOOL 45 WELLS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL 44 SEXEY’S SCHOOL 46 CLAYESMORE SCHOOL 47 TAUNTON SCHOOL 48 SHEBBEAR COLLEGE 49 BADMINGTON SCHOOL 51 MILLFIELD SCHOOL 53 STOVER SCHOOL 59
WELLS CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
Founded over 1,111 years ago, we are a family-orientated, co-educational boarding and day school for 2-18 year olds. We provide an all-round education alongside world-class Specialist Music and Chorister training. Our mission is to inspire every individual pupil to nurture their talents in a vibrant, creative, spiritual and stimulating environment to become a responsible global citizen.
Perfectly located in the heart of the medieval City of Wells in Somerset, we offer a great balance between rural and city life. With dramatic coastlines, beautiful countryside and vibrant cities on our doorstep, we have it all. The Mendips, Cheddar Gorge and the Somerset Levels are nearby which enable our pupils to take advantage of an array of varied outdoor activities. At Wells Cathedral School we take enormous pride in the quality and multi-layered approach of our pastoral care. We put the welfare and happiness of every child in our community at the heart of all our decision making.
SPECIALIST MUSIC
We are unique in being one of the four Specialist Music Schools in England but within the setting of an independent school. This allows us to cater for musicians of exceptional talent on specifically designed programmes that put music at the centre of the pupils’ daily school routine, but it also enables us to provide a very broad range of musical opportunities for those who pursue music as a hobby.
All pupils, specialist or not can enjoy the excellent music tuition available.
We believe success is not simply measured by end results but is defined by how well your children have grown in their intellectual, emotional, social and ethical development during their time here at Wells.
WELCOME FROM ALASTAIR TIGHE, HEAD MASTER
As the son of a Royal Navy officer, who was fortunate to benefit from government funds which allowed me to attend boarding school, I have appreciated at first hand just how important such support is. Boarding provided me with stability, the chance to make lasting friends and the security to know that my schooling would remain consistent, even if our home was relocated.
I know from personal experience that the pastoral care which we are able to offer as a boarding school, in such a beautiful and safe place as Wells, is particularly reassuring and formative for children of service personnel. I look forward to welcoming you to the School where you can find out more about the education that we offer to all our pupils, and from which your own children could especially benefit.
BOARDING
Our priority is to create a warm, caring and family environment. We have eight houses for our day and boarding pupils. We are unique in that we assign our day pupils to a boarding house; we find that this creates additional opportunities to strengthen and expand friendship groups with no divide between the different groups. Boarding starts from Year 4 where the pupils stay in the beautiful house and grounds of Claver Morris. Our Sixth Form pupils are fortunate to have Ritchie House which is our bespoke, co-educational house designed to provide a stepping stone from school life to university. Our approach to boarding is flexible and whilst most of our boarders are full time, we do offer a flexi boarding option.
My husband was an Officer in the Royal Navy for 24 years, so I appreciate the ever-changing demands of Service life on the family and understand how important it is to provide stability for the family at home and at school. Before I even joined the staff here, we’d chosen Wells for our daughter’s education because of its caring approach and the holistic education it provides, whilst also developing pupils’ independence in a safe environment. Getting to know the people at Wells made the decision to send our daughter here very easy. I encourage you to visit and explore what Wells has to offer your family.
- Dr Janette Shepherd, Head of Boarding SPORT
We hope every child will find a sport they can enjoy, so we make physical activity an integral part of our overall education. We offer a wide selection of sports including competitive hockey, rugby, tennis, cricket, swimming, netball, football and badminton. We have good representation at county level and above for hockey, rugby, badminton and climbing to name a few. Our pupils enjoy regular visits from professional sportspeople. Our excellent facilities include an award-winning cricket pitch, a sports pavilion, a new astro pitch, a sports hall with fitness suite and climbing wall, a swimming pool, netball and tennis courts, a dance studio, and two full-size grass pitches suitable for rugby, football and athletics. We’re so lucky to have some of the most stunning sports pitches in the country, but even more important than that is the quality of our staff. I’m so proud to have an amazing team who are incredibly talented and deeply dedicated to supporting our pupils. I’m passionate about what we do and I believe pupils leave Wells with a love of sport that lasts a lifetime.
- Tom Webley, Director of Sport
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Learning through outdoor adventure is an effective way to develop character traits such as resilience, resourcefulness, leadership and self-confidence. We offer an exciting programme of activities, which allows access to countless courses and adventure camps. These provide further experience above and beyond the classroom. We also have a vibrant and active Combined Cadet Force, led by former Royal Marine, Stuart Elks.
CHORISTERS
Our Choristers are an integral part of our School and bring joy to all who hear their uplifting, joyful and reflective singing. Life as a Chorister centres around vocal practices and singing services in the stunning medieval Wells Cathedral, as well as recordings, concerts and tours.
All our Choristers can take advantage of the wide range of exceptional activities and the comprehensive curriculum which the School has to offer.
Wonderfully blended, and must rank as one of the top cathedral sounds outside of London.
- BBC Music Magazine
CREATIVE ARTS
Recently voted ‘The Best Independent School for Performing Arts’ by Independent School Parent magazine, we inspire a lifelong passion for the creative arts by giving pupils, of all abilities, the confidence and opportunities to perform and try a variety of activities.
Our integrated approach to teaching art, photography, drama, dance, music and food technology allows for creativity and imagination. It helps build our pupils’ confidence and curiosity by giving them the opportunity for self-expression through risktaking, teamwork, resourcefulness and reflection.
ADMISSIONS
For more information, please contact our Registrar, Jo Prestidge, at
admissions@ wells.cathedral.school
Website:
https://wells.cathedral.school/ military-families
Families of the British Armed Forces qualify for reduced fees.
- Good Schools Guide 2020
Generous discounts for Military Families
For more details:
A GUIDE TO
EDUCATIONAL GUARDIANSHIP
When sending your child to the UK to study, you want your child to be well cared for and supported, and we are here to help.
Guardianship organisations are commonly known for supporting international families, however many also cater for British families living overseas who might not have a family member residing in the UK, close to the school, able to act as guardian for their child.
An educational guardian acts on behalf of the parents, helping the student adapt to their new life. A guardian keeps in regular contact with the student and assists with any problems that may arise. Their services include, for example, host family accommodation during holidays and term time, airport transfers, attending parents evenings, and a 24/7 emergency contact number. A guardianship organisation will have experience of working with agents and parents of different nationalities and be able to offer a fast and efficient response.
There are currently no regulations in place around educational guardianship in the UK which is why AEGIS exists. AEGIS inspects and accredits guardianship organisations. The inspection process ensures, for example, that all host family members aged 16 and over, drivers, staff and contractors are DBS checked and that host family homes have been visited and assessed. AEGIS provides peace of mind that there is someone on hand to care for your child whenever necessary.
QUESTIONS TO ASK AN EDUCATIONAL GUARDIAN
1. Are you AEGIS accredited and when was your company last inspected by AEGIS? 2. Can you provide a caring host family which matches the needs of my child? 3. Will my child have the same host family every holiday? 4. Will the host family be in a convenient location, close to the school? 5. How often will the educational guardian visit my child at school? 6. Do you provide a student handbook which clearly explains who to contact in different circumstances? 7. How much is your service and are there any additional costs? 8. Do you provide 24/7 emergency support? CONTACT US
For further information please contact Yasemin Wigglesworth, Executive Officer yasemin@ aegisuk.net or visit our website
www.aegisuk.net
Address
The Wheelhouse, Bond’s Mill Estate, Bristol Road, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire GL10 3RF
