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Wells Cathedral School

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Wells Cathedral School
Address
Map
The Liberty

Wells
,
Somerset

England
Information
TypeIndependent school
MottoEsto Quod Es
(Be what you are)
Patron saint(s)Prince Charles
Establishedc.909 A.D.
Chairman of the GovernorsThe Very Rev. John Clarke
HeadElizabeth Cairncross
Age3 to 18
Enrollment700
HousesTwo lower, six upper
PublicationThe Wellensian
Websitehttp://www.wells-cathedral-school.com

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, Elizabeth Cairncross, is a member of the Headmasters` Conference.

History

With links to a school founded in 909 AD,[1] Wells is one of the oldest extant schools 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] Cedars House 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]

Cedars House

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 currently 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

Red brick building with small tower to the left of the arched doorway and bay window to the right.
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 Sunday evening and 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
Competitive houses (Junior School)
  • Drake
  • Livingstone
  • Nelson
  • Scott
The nave and strainer arches of Wells Cathedral, c.1890

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. ^ Colchester, L.S. (1985). A History of Wells Cathedral School. Wells Cathedral School. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "The Vicars' Chapel Vicars Close, Wells". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  3. ^ Bush, Robin (1994). Somerset: The complete guide. Wimborne, Dorset: Dovecote Press. pp. 221–222. ISBN 1874336261. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ "De Salis House and De Salis Cottage". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  5. ^ "The Rib". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  6. ^ "The Cedars". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  7. ^ "Claver Morris House". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  8. ^ "Plumptre". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  9. ^ "No.11 The Liberty". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  10. ^ "No 23 The Liberty". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  11. ^ "Polydor House". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  12. ^ "Cedars Cottage and former stables, coach house and allied buildings around". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  13. ^ "Mullins". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  14. ^ "Ritchie House". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  15. ^ "Ritchie Hall". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  16. ^ "St Andrew's Lodge". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  17. ^ Wells Cathedral School - Head, Elizabeth Cairncross
  18. ^ "History of Wells Cathedral Choir School". Of Choristers – ancient and modern. Retrieved 2007-10-04.
  19. ^ "HRH The Countess of Wessex visits Trust". Wells Cathedral School. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  20. ^ Halpin, Tony (2005-11-10). "Independent schools face huge fines over cartel to fix fees". The Times. London.
  21. ^ The Office of Fair Trading: OFT names further trustees as part of the independent schools settlement
  22. ^ "The Music School and attached walls". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  23. ^ "£3.5m boost to concert hall bid". This is Somerset. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
  24. ^ "Poacher turned gamekeeper". Wells Cathedral School. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  25. ^ "Michael Eavis". Bristol University. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  26. ^ "Victoria Lyon - Violin". Escala Group. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  27. ^ "Kris Marshall". BBC. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  28. ^ "Cricket at Wells Cathedral School". Schools Cricket Online. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  29. ^ "Bruce Parry Profile". Eden. UKTV. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  30. ^ "David Poore - biography". Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  31. ^ "Turle, James". Musical Biographies. Grande Musica. Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  32. ^ "How wells gave me a great start". Retrieved 2009-11-09.
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