Wells Cathedral School

Wells Cathedral School
Motto	Esto Quod Es (Be what you are)
Established	c.909 A.D.
Type	Independent school
Head	Elizabeth Cairncross
Location	The Liberty Wells Somerset England
Students	700
Ages	3 to 18
Houses	eight
Publication	The Wellensian
Website	http://www.wells-cathedral-school.com
Coordinates: 51°12′49″N 2°38′37″W / 51.213524°N 2.643585°W / 51.213524; -2.643585

Wells Cathedral School is a co-educational independent school located in Wells, Somerset, England. The school is one of the five established musical schools for school-age children in the United Kingdom, along with Chetham's School of Music, the Yehudi Menuhin School, the Purcell School and St. Mary's Music School, Edinburgh. The head is a member of the Headmasters` Conference.

History

With links to a school founded in 909 AD,^[1] Wells is the 11th oldest school in the world. The school has admitted girls since 1969 and now teaches over 700 pupils between the ages of 3 and 18. The school has a musical emphasis and specialises in combining high-level musical tuition with a general academic education as well as sporting endeavour.

Situated within the city of Wells, the school's boarding houses line the northern parts of the city and the music school retains close links with Wells Cathedral. The Vicar's Chapel and Library in Vicars' Close was built c1424-1430. The lower floor was a chapel, and a spiral stair lead up to the library.^[2] It is now used by the School.^[3]

De Salis House and De Salis Cottage were built in the late 14th century.^[4] The Rib was built in the 15th century and is a Grade II* listed building.^[5] The Cedars was built in 1758 for Charles Tudway, the Member of Parliament for Wells, and is now part of the school.^[6] Claver Morris House was built as a canonical house in 1669 by Dr Claver Morris,^[7] while Plumptre dates from 1737 and was built for Dr Francis White.^[8] No.11 The Liberty was another built as a Canonical house, in the mid 18th century and is now part of Wells Cathedral Junior School.^[9] No 23 The Liberty was built in 1819 for the Chapter Clerk, William Parfitt,^[10] and the 15th century Polydor House formerly belonged to the organists.^[11]

The Cedars

The red brick Cedars Cottage, which was built as a coachman's cottage the former stables and coach house were built in the mid to late 18th century,^[12] around the same time as Mullins.^[13] Ritchie House was built a little later around the end of the 18th century or the beginning of the 19th.^[14] Ritchie Hall became part of the school on its rebuilding in 1884 but incorporates part of a 12th century Canon's Barn,^[15] while St andrew's Lodge was built in 1713 as part of a charity school.^[16]

Wells Cathedral School is claimed to be the fifth oldest independent school in the country. It cannot be shown, however, that the school has existed continually since the date of its supposed foundation in the tenth century, and there was certainly a hiatus during the 1880s, after which it was refounded.

The current Headmistress is Elizabeth Cairncross,^[17] with Charles Cain as Deputy Head. The Director of Studies is Nigel Walkey, and Dorothy Nancekievill is Director of Music.

The Royal Family hold links with the school; many of the buildings being opened by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother on 6 July 1979.^[18] Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has also made a visit to the school during her Silver Jubilee tour in 1977. Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex visited Wells on Thursday 18 October 2007.^[19]

In 2005, the school was one of fifty of the leading independent schools which were found guilty of running a price-fixing policy, discovered by The Times, which had allowed schools to make fee increases or decreases at the same time, minimising competition.^[20] Each school was required to pay a nominal penalty of £10,000 and all agreed to make ex-gratia payments totalling £3 million into a trust designed to benefit pupils who attended the schools during the period in respect of which fee information was shared. The discovery by The Times was made shortly after new Office of Fair Trading directives prohibiting such sharing of information a directive not clearly communicated according to the schools concerned, a fact omitted by many tabloids.^[21]

Music

The Music School

Touring world-class musicians visit the school from all over the world to give masterclasses. The music school has several main practice areas and caters for specialist, special provision and general musicians. The school comprises pre-prep, junior school, lower school, and upper school, including a sixth form.

The Music School was formerly the house of the Archdeacon of Wells. It was largely rebuilt by Archdeacon Andrew Holes between 1450 and 1470, possibly retaining some 13th century work. Further extensively restoration was undertaken by Edmund Buckle in 1886. It is a Grade II* listed building.^[22]

The school's connection with the cathedral offers a range of opportunities. There is a school service every Monday morning in the cathedral as well as music concerts. Chapel, chamber and cathedral choir rehearsals and performances are performed in both the cathedral and the Music School. Government funding of £3.5 million was obtained in 2008 to build a new concert hall and classrooms at Cedars Hall.^[23]

School houses

Boys' houses

• De Salis (lower school boarders) (navy tie with thin diagonal blue, yellow and white stripes)
• Mills (lower school day) (navy tie with thin diagonal white stripes) - house no longer used, however the tie remains for lower school boys
• Cedars (upper school) (navy tie with green emblems)
• Ritchie (upper school) (navy tie with red emblems)
• Shrewsbury (upper school) (navy tie with blue emblems)

Girls' houses

• Claver-Morris (lower school boarders)
• Mary Mitchell (lower school day) - house no longer in use
• Edwards (upper school)
• Haversham (upper school)
• Plumptre (upper school)

Competitive houses (lower school)

• Carter
• Lewis

Inside Wells Cathedral c.1890

Notable alumni

• Jocelyn of Wells, Bishop of Bath^[24]
• Adrian Arnold-Smith, research chemist^[24]
• George Bull, Bishop of St. David's^[25]
• Thomas Chaundler, playwright^[24]
• Philip Dukes, Violist^[24][26]
• Michael Eavis, founder of the Glastonbury Festival, his daughter, Emily Eavis also went to the school^[24][27]
• Simon King, BBC Wildlife presenter (Big Cat Diary)^[24]
• Victoria Lyon, member of Escala (group)^[24][28]
• Kris Marshall, actor^[24][29]
• Malcolm Nash, cricketer^[24][30]
• Danny Nightingale, Olympic gold-medallist^[24]
• Bruce Parry, BBC presenter^[24][31]
• David Poore, musician & composer^[32]
• James Turle, musician^[24][33]
• Richard Jacques, composer^[24][34]

See also

• List of the oldest schools in the world

References

External links

• Wells Cathedral School
• Wells Cathedral School Foundation