What’s new at the boarding schools in Westonbirt and Wells?
Travelling further south and west, Gina’s last two visits on this trip were to the boarding schools in Westonbirt and Wells.
Westonbirt School
Around 10 minutes’ drive from the charming Cotswolds town of Tetbury and next to the famous arboretum, Westonbirt is simply stunning. The main building is a mansion house surrounded by magnificent grounds complete with golf course, lake and Italian gardens.
Its impressive facilities are housed in buildings that are a perfect marriage between traditional and super modern. For example, the newly refurbished boarding house for Prep students in Years 6 to 8 is a beautiful Cotswold stone house tastefully decorated in a modern, bright and light style.
The Senior School has around 500 pupils, of whom ca. 100 board. Its small size guarantees a warm, friendly, family-feel. Sixth Form boarders have a wonderful co-ed boarding house on the edge of Tetbury with their own private chef and regular shuttle buses that run between the house and the main school site. They love the autonomy and independence the house permits them.
Sports and arts facilities include a wonderful pool, sports hall and very well-equipped gym, plus lovely art studios and excellent provision for theatre and music.
The Leiths cookery course is offered in addition to traditional academic subjects and there is a wide range of extracurricular activities available, including a beekeeping club.
Wells Cathedral School
This boarding school, one of Europe’s oldest, is in the middle of Wells, England’s smallest city, right next to the historical and charming eponymous cathedral.
It is just 45 minutes’ drive to Bath or Bristol, and the world-famous Glastonbury Festival is held only 11km away. Both the founder Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily, who now organises the event, attended the school.
Another school with just 500 pupils, there is a particularly warm, friendly, happy and buzzy feel. Around 40% of the students board and currently approximately 20% are international.
All the boarding houses are beautiful medieval or eighteenth-century buildings with gardens and all the usual modern conveniences. There are about 20-30 boarders per house along with some day pupils, and the aim of the houseparent is to make the school a home from home. A range of in-house activities strengthens friendships, whilst inter-house rivalry in sport, drama and public speaking fosters a sense of community.
Academically, the school produces impressive results with around a third of leavers going on to Russell Group universities and a fifth obtaining places at leading colleges of music. There are specialist programmes for Music and Maths.
Whether academic or for sport, art, drama or music, all facilities are excellent. There is a sports hall, a fitness suite, a swimming pool, a climbing wall, a newly resurfaced, all-weather area for hockey and tennis, tennis hard courts and extensive playing fields. Sport is viewed as integral to developing essential character qualities, so all pupils do some physical activity every week and there are regular competitive fixtures.
The music school occupies an historic building directly opposite the stunning cathedral, while the recital hall of the performing arts centre accommodates an orchestra of 60 and an audience of 250. Hundreds of concerts are held each year and ambitious drama productions take place in local theatres. First class, pre-professional tuition is available for specialist musicians and choristers.
If the boarding schools in Westonbirt and Wells seem right for your child, contact Gina for help with their application.
