Wells Cathedral School, Wells
Wells Cathedral School is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Wells. It has a Christian religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2026.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Wells Cathedral School in detail
Wells Cathedral School in its own words
In its own words: "In addition to these policies made available online, the School maintains a number of additional policies which govern its procedures and which are available on request to bursar@wells-cathedral-school. com We received the highest possible rating of “Excellent” for both the academic and the personal development of our pupils in our most recent report."
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 4 November 2026, an open day on Saturday 7 November 2026, an open day on Saturday 14 November 2026 and an open day on Wednesday 13 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Somerset
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Wells Cathedral School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Where pupils go next
Of the 94 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 71% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 6% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 247 pupils (36.9%) received SEN support and 13 (1.9%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Wells Cathedral School.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Liberty (sw-bound), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Wells Cathedral School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 66 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Somerset (22), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
28 April 2026
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
25 April 2023
Short Visit
27 November 2019
Regulatory Compliance
19 September 2018
Integrated
11 November 2014
About
Wells Cathedral School is an independent co-educational boarding and day school for 2–18 year olds located in Wells, Somerset, England, which provides an all-round education alongside specialist music and chorister training. The whole School comprises Pre-Prep, Prep School, and Senior School, which includes a Sixth Form.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Wells Cathedral School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
Latest from Wells Cathedral School
Graduate Music Assistant
2 Oct 2026
Teacher of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (RPE)
30 Sep 2026
Day Matron
30 Sep 2026
School Nurse/Paramedic
28 Sep 2026
Foreign Language Assistant (French)
18 Sep 2026
Saturday Matron
17 Sep 2026
From Wells Cathedral School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Wells Cathedral School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
84%
Available places
670 pupils
800 places
130 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Wells
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wells
Across Somerset council
Places available
4,902
Applications
4,659
Got 1st preference
92.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Somerset council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
247
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
38.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
670
Total Pupils
360
Boys
310
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Questions parents ask about Wells Cathedral School
What are GCSE results like at Wells Cathedral School?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Wells Cathedral School can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Wells Cathedral School last inspected?
Wells Cathedral School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2026.
How many pupils go to Wells Cathedral School?
Wells Cathedral School has around 670 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Wells Cathedral School?
Wells Cathedral School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Wells Cathedral School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 12 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Somerset is 3 (the median across 307 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Wells Cathedral School?
Wells Cathedral School is at 15 The Liberty, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2ST.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)