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Application Process

We’re delighted that you’re applying to Wells! Our pupils benefit from extraordinary teachers, small class sizes, a rich array of extracurricular programs, and much more. We’re looking for intelligent, active young people who are ready to participate in the School’s varied activities and classes. We also welcome your application if you’re not experiencing success or fulfilment in school, but are willing to try to do better work with our support.

We want your application process to be clear and easy so we provided you with step by step instructions below. However, if you have any questions, please contact our Admissions Team on 01749 834 441 / [email protected], and we’ll be happy to help.

We accept applications year-round for entrance when space permits, and pupils can enter the school at different levels. We look forward to working with you through the application process.

Step 1. Request information

Simply contact admissions, and we’ll send you information relevant for your family.

Step 2. Arrange a Virtual Visit or Attend a Virtual Open Day

Ordinarily, we would be very keen to invite you to come and see the School yourselves and to meet us. Since the School is currently operating on a remote learning platform, we are not able to accept visitors to the site at the moment. However, we would still be delighted to meet with you ‘virtually’ and we would love you to join us for a Virtual Open Day and/or arrange a virtual chat with our key staff. Please contact our admissions team if you’re interested, and we’ll find a time that works for you.

Step 3. Register

To register, fill in this Registration Form and return it with the registration fee to our admissions team. Please note that if you wish to fill out the Registration Form electronically, you need to download it first in order for your details to save properly. If you’re interested in applying for one of our scholarships, you will also need to return the relevant form with the registration form. See our Scholarships Section for details. Please see our Financial Assistance Section for details on how to apply for a bursary.

Step 4. Attend the Entrance Day and/or Scholarship Day

Once you have registered, we will invite any pupils currently in Year 9 or below for an online academic assessment and have a short virtual interview, either individually or in groups. We also will send details about our Scholarship Assessments and Music Auditions, where relevant, to pupils who have applied for a Scholarship.

Detailed Entry Requirements

Your child can start at Wells any time from Nursery right up to Upper Sixth. As the process and entry requirements vary from year to year, please refer to the detailed information below that applies to your family.

Nursery

We welcome children from 2 years old, and we help them to adjust to nursery life over two weeks before they start their full sessions. Typically, children join us for at least three sessions a week and eventually build up to a full week, if desired, as they get older.

We recommend you contact our Admissions Team on 01749 834441 well before your child’s second birthday to ensure we have availability.

Junior School (Reception - Year 6)

Whilst pupils normally start in the Michaelmas Term, we often have vacancies available at other times of the year. We will ask your child to do an assessment exercise. We will need a satisfactory reference from the Head of their current school (where applicable).

Lower School (Years 7 - 9)

We hold assessment tests throughout the year, typically on a visit or taster day. Please remember you have to register before your child can take part. For prep school candidates, we mark Common Entrance 13+ Examination; however it is not a requirement for entry and all candidates sit our own assessment tests. We do not provide past papers.

We will need a satisfactory reference from the Head of their current school.

Upper School (Years 10 - 11)

Pupils enter the Upper School to begin the two-year GCSE course. Candidates will be interviewed and will need a satisfactory reference from the Head of their current school.

For pupils going into Year 10, we hold assessment tests throughout the year. Please remember you have to register before your child can take part.

Sixth Form

Candidates will have an initial interview with the Head Master or a member of the Senior Team. They will need a satisfactory report from the Head of their current school. Pupils will need satisfactory IGCSE or GCSE results in at least six subjects at grades 9-4 (A* to C ) and typically a minimum of grade 7 or 6 (A or B) in the chosen areas of Sixth Form study. Exceptions to this may be made for those following a Specialist Music course.

Order a Prospectus

Fill out the form below to get a link to our online prospectus.

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Admissions Team

Our friendly admissions team will be happy to answer any questions and help you find out more about what we have to offer.
John Fosbrook, Director of Admissions and Marketing 

John Fosbrook, Director of Admissions and Marketing

Joanna Prestidge, Registrar 

Joanna Prestidge, Registrar

Contact Admissions / Book a Virtual Visit

Our Admissions Team can give you the relevant information you need to find out more about us and what we can offer your family. Ordinarily, we always recommend that you book a visit whenever possible to see our School in action. However, since the School is currently operating on a remote learning platform, we are not able to accept visitors to the site at the moment. However, we would still be delighted to meet with you ‘virtually’ so please contact us to arrange a time.

If you would like to find out more about what we have to offer, please contact our Admissions Team by filling in the form below or by using one of the following methods:

Telephone: +44 (0)1749 834 213
Email us: [email protected]
Arrange a Skype call: email [email protected] with times that work for you
Post: Admissions, Wells Cathedral School, The Liberty, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2ST, United Kingdom






Attend a Virtual Open Day

Ordinarily, we would be very keen to invite you to come and see the School yourselves and to meet us. Since the School is currently operating on a remote learning platform, we are not able to accept visitors to the site at the moment. However, we would still be delighted to meet with you at one of our Virtual Open Days.

For all of our forthcoming open days and scholarship days with details of deadlines and on how to apply, please visit our open day section on our website.