Senior School
Inspiring young people in Years 7 and 8
Our Philosophy
We recognise that pupils need to develop the skills required to become independent so we give them increasingly more responsibility for their learning with the support of our Tutors, Heads of Year and House staff. Pupils are encouraged to participate in a range of activities alongside their academic work to discover and develop their talents. All Year 7 pupils attend a team-building day, orientation afternoon and poolside barbecue in September prior to starting; they are assigned to a House and a small tutor group to help them quickly settle into school life.
The pupils’ school day begins with registration, enabling daily contact with their Tutor, typically followed by assembly. Our five hour-long lessons in the day are broken up by a break and lunch. During break, some pupils go to their House for a slice of toast, others play outside, go to the library or socialise in the common room. Year 7 and 8 pupils have lunch
first and are then able to attend an activity or go to their House where a Matron will be on duty. Lessons finish at 3.55pm, with after-school activities continuing until 5.00pm enabling those on the school bus to depart at 5.15pm. Specialist Musicians and Choristers also have practice, rehearsals, services, performances and concerts.
A Day at Wells
[Music practice]
Breakfast for boarders
Assembly/tutor time
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Break
Lesson 3
Lunch/activities
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Activities/supervised prep Buses depart for day pupils
Supper
Homework
Academic Excellence
Our lessons are taught by inspirational specialists who are passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects. We offer a tailored approach, depending on each pupil’s abilities and aspirations. We stretch and challenge gifted pupils across our subjects and provide learning support at various levels where appropriate; pupils who are particularly strong in mathematics
benefit from our accelerated groups and Specialist Mathematics programme, while Academic Scholars benefit from a range of bespoke activities. We extend learning beyond the classroom with a wide variety of academic field trips, clubs, societies and workshops. Our pupils achieve outstanding academic results and attain a firm foundation for success at GCSE and A level.
Our wide range of exciting clubs and activities enables pupils to develop existing talents and discover new ones. We hope and expect that all pupils will want to participate in a variety of the activities that are on offer, which include sport, music, drama, dance, photography, Christian Union, cookery, fencing and rock climbing as well as many others. Activities take place after school, during lunchtimes and some mornings before school. As part of our Wells 909 programme, pupils in Years 7 and 8 have weekly lessons that focus on life skills and outdoor education in order to prepare them for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award in Year 9.
Clubs and Activities
Pupil Profiles
Clemmie
My experience at Wells has been one I will be grateful for forever. As I am a Chorister, I spend a lot of time at school and it is a second home to me. With so many opportunities, Wells has fed my passions; from music to the sciences to creative writing and the dramatic arts. Anything is possible, and I really think the school abides by its motto: Esto Quod Es - Be What You Are. The staff here will accept you and value you for who you are, and that is the most amazing thing about Wells.
Kukhanya
Wells has a wide variety of opportunities with something for everyone. There are a variety of subjects for different children to excel in and a wide range of musical and sport opportunities. Being a Chorister is an enjoyable experience, as well as a learning one. You sing songs you have never sung before and have fun trips! It is an amazing experience that I promise you will never forget. Boarding is super fun and a truly fabulous experience. It’s a chance to make friends (no matter how old they are).
Elspeth Ben
I first joined the Prep School in Year 6 and had no idea what Senior School would be like, especially as I was a boarder, but I have loved it. I really enjoy learning here at Wells. It is great fun with so many welcoming people who can help you out. I get so many opportunities including performing, residentials and school trips. It is clear who to go to in times of need as we have lovely Matrons and amazing Tutors. I would really recommend it as a school. Wells is true to its motto.
I’ve settled in at Wells easily and made friends. The sport here is really fun. We get to try lots of different sports in lessons, through clubs at lunch and after school and fixtures against other schools. The lessons are interesting with specialist teachers and some subjects that aren’t taught at every school, like Latin and photography. Even though I’m not a boarder, I get to be part of a boarding house which we can use at break times and after school. We get to have toast and play table tennis.
Creative Arts
Pupils at Wells are uniquely placed to enjoy and participate in the creative arts in their many forms. We aim to inspire a lifelong passion for the arts by giving pupils of all abilities the confidence to perform and try a variety of styles. From Years 7-9, pupils are exposed to a diverse range of artistic knowledge, skills, techniques, materials and disciplines as part of their lessons in music, art, dance, photography, food studies and drama. They can then make informed choices as to what areas, if any, they would like to pursue in their GCSE and A level studies or as a hobby.
Pupils are also invited to take advantage of our street dance club and one-to-one lessons in speech, dance, drama and musical theatre. Cedars Hall is a hub of creativity, and this unique, purpose-built building gives the pupils space in which to exhibit photographs, art and installations. As far as the creative arts are concerned, opportunities at Wells are only limited by our pupils’ imaginations.
Music
Wells uniquely provides a pre-professional performance course for outstanding young ‘Specialist Musicians’ from all over the world. We develop music and academic programmes on an individual basis - the amount of time required for music and academic subjects varies so we can best support each pupil’s musical aspirations. Specialists will
have up to three hours per week of individual tuition, ensemble opportunities and masterclasses.
All pupils, Specialist or not, enjoy the excellent music tuition available as part of the more varied programme we offer. They often form ensembles from rock and pop to barbershop and every genre in between.
Sport and physical activity are an integral part of our education. At the core of our games programme is a team-sports ethos that promotes physical health and social interaction and provides every pupil with the opportunity to represent the School. Our competitive 1st teams in the major sports (rugby, hockey and cricket for boys and hockey, netball and tennis for girls) play on a strong circuit across the region, and some pupils also represent the county or above. We have a state-of-the-art new Astro, large sports hall, dance studio, open-air swimming pool and one of the finest cricket pitches in the county. Our 21 sports options offer something for everyone - the opportunities really are endless!
Next Steps
Pupils have the same tutor for three years and remain in the same House throughout their time at Wells so there is familiarity and continuity as they move up through the School. The foundations laid now provide a platform on which pupils can build socially and academically,
so that they can increasingly tailor their educational and co-curricular experiences at GCSE level with confidence. By helping them to identify and develop their interests and make their first tentative steps towards their future, we truly enable our pupils to become who they are.
Find Out More
If you would like to find out more about Wells Cathedral School, please contact our admissions team on 01749 834441 / admissions@wells.cathedral.school or visit our website https://wells.cathedral.school