A-Z: P

Parking and Buses

Parking

Parking on our site is limited. In the morning, parents can drop children off in the Prep School playground via the turning circle outside Jocelyn. This is a one-way system that works well. Children can be handed over to a member of staff. Parents of pupils in Years 3-6 are asked to drive off straightaway to ease congestion. Parents of Years 1 and 2 may park on the left-hand side and escort their child(ren) to their classroom. All cars should turn left when you exit. Nursery and Reception have designated drop off and pick up at Mullins and outside the Reception Class.

At the end of the school day, the same process as in the morning is applied. Parents should not park outside Ritchie Hall or come into the area at the back of Cedars when collecting or dropping off as this poses health and safety difficulties. Please do not leave your vehicle longer than necessary or block other drivers in as this causes unnecessary chaos for other parents. We also politely request that engines are turned off whilst waiting. Free parking is also available in St. Andrew’s Street and Waitrose.

Buses

The School operates a range of bus routes to support parents in getting their children to and from School at a reasonable rate. To see our current availability and to make a booking, click on the navy “Local School Bus Bookings” button on the Portal homepage. We have created this ‘How to book a bus’ user guide with details on how to use the booking system.

If you’d like to use our bus service, please complete our Bus Request Form: https://wells.cathedral.school/busrequest

Those children catching the school buses will be escorted from Jocelyn at 5.00pm to the buses by a member of staff. Buses leave at 5.15pm.

Pastoral and Wellbeing

We aim to provide all pupils with a family environment within a kind and caring community where they can be happy, healthy and, most importantly, who they are. We have a daily staff briefing to talk about our pupils. We work closely with parents and families to resolve any issues, using open and honest communication.

Form Teachers are responsible for the pastoral care of the pupils in their form. If there are any problems, parents should contact the Form Teacher in the first instance. We also have a dedicated team of Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs) and counsellors at St. Andrew’s Lodge, our medical centre. A School Welfare Team meets each week.

We are very fortunate to have visits from therapy dogs who play an important part in the wellbing of the pupils and staff in school. Peer Mentors (Years 5 and 6) are key in the wellbeing of pupils. Quiet spaces, such as the Dennis the Menace Den and the decked area outside Jocelyn, are perfect for reflection and reading or quiet games, and there is ample space and equipment for more active and energetic play

Each pupil in the Prep School is put into one of four Houses. Each House has regular assemblies throughout each term so that the pupils can gather together under the guidance of the House Teachers and discuss matters relating to the House (competitions, work, etc.). It gives pupils a chance to relate to other members of the School who are both older and younger.

Parent Partnerships

We work closely in partnership with our parents in a variety of ways, such as:

• We hold parent workshops and consultations

• We actively encourage parents to volunteer - helping with reading, trips and visits

• We have Parent Representatives at each age group who liaise with other parents and the Head on a regular basis

• We have a Chorister Parents’ Social Committee for chorister fundraising

• We have parental engagement groups, such as Digital Citizenship and Parental Learning Seminars

• We send out regular e-newsletters

• We produce regular reports for each child

• We have a Parental Engagement Programme

• We host a range of events for parents to attend, including performances, exhibitions, Sports Days and informal social gatherings.

Parents and Friends’ Association

The School has an active Parents and Friends’ Association (PFA) which organises events during the year. We hope that as many parents as possible will be able to support the PFA by attending events and, if possible, assisting when help is needed.

Performing Arts

There are many opportunities for all children to perform throughout the school year. For example:

Pre-Prep Performances - Nursery to Year 2 pupils perform a wonderful musical production at both Christmas and in the Spring (end of Lent term). They also present a Summer Concert in the Trinity Term.

Performance Platform: Drama, Dance and Music - throughout the year, individual year groups from Years 3-6 hold a performance showcasing their work.

Performance Platform: Instrumental and Vocal Concerts - there are usually four instrumental and vocal concerts across year groups throughout the year, providing valuable solo performance opportunities.

Music Ensembles - these include Prep Choir, orchestra, string ensemble, brass ensemble, percussion ensemble, Years 3-4 Choir, Wells Young Musician’s String Orchestra (WYMSO)

Christmas Celebration - Years 3-6 hold a magical two-night Celebration of Christmas with songs, readings and topical sketches in the Cathedral Nave.

Prep School Open Exhibition - this is held on the first weekend of the Trinity Term, and all children from Reception to Year 6 take part in performances, including music, dance and drama. All parents and prospective parents are invited to attend.

Summer Musical: at the end of the summer term, all of the pupils in Years 3-6 take part in a production with three performances. Previous shows have included: Mary Poppins (Jr), The Wizard of Oz (Jr), Shrek the Musical (Jr) and Oliver