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Our School

Thank you for showing an interest in the Minster School. Committed to both tradition and also a contemporary education for all, the school strives to provide excellent learning to its students, both academically and in terms of moral and personal development. Our motto is “Succeeding Together”, with students, staff and families working in partnership to achieve excellence. 

Situated in the attractive market town of Southwell, Nottinghamshire, the Minster School is a comprehensive school of 1600 students with a catchment including local villages alongside the town of Southwell itself. As a Church of England Academy, a number of students actively engaged in their faith are awarded places alongside the majority who live within catchment and for whom this is their local comprehensive. Our school is strongly founded on Christian principles and fully inclusive of all, whether of strong individual faith or none.

The latest Ofsed and SIAMS reports can be found here -  Ofsted and from its Statutory Inspection of Anglian and Methodist Schools (SIAMS). 

The school confidently plays a number of roles, each successfully supporting the very best education:

  • Post-16 provider for up to 400 students
  • Junior School provider for musically talented pupils including the cathedral choristers.
  • The Minster Learning School Alliance (MLA)
  • National Maths Hub
  • Choir School for Southwell Minster Cathedral
  • Leading provider for the Nottinghamshire Music Hub

The Minster School is one of the oldest continuous educational foundations in England, tracing its origins to the establishment of Southwell Minster and the education of the choristers. We are still very fortunate to benefit from uniquely close links with the cathedral and this relationship enriches many aspects of school life. Juxtaposed with tradition is our contemporary setting in custom-built accommodation and our daily efforts to ensure students are well equipped not only academically but also with the skills and attitudes to help them succeed in a rapidly changing world.  


It is an honour and privilege to hold the role of Head Teacher at The Minster School. Having taken up post in November 2020, I have been struck by the commitment and determination of students and staff to ensure that the school’s motto of “Succeeding Together” is fully upheld in all facets of school life.

Through partnerships we are at the forefront of educational developments which ensure that the students of The Minster School receive education of the highest quality. We realise that every child is unique and through excellent pastoral care, classroom experiences and the wider co-curricular offer we strive to ensure that all our students grow, learn and flourish into accomplished young adults ready for the modern world.

Few decisions are more important than where to send your child for their education. Our website aims to give you an insight into what makes The Minster such a wonderful school and we warmly invite you to visit us, to sample the experience for yourself. 

Mr B Chaloner, Head Teacher

The Minster School is a founding member of the Minster Trust for Education, a multi-academy trust supporting the very best education in all its facets for children in and around the town of Southwell in Nottinghamshire.

A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, number 11281594. Registered Office:  Minster Trust for Education, Rufford Court, Eakring, NG22 0DF

School History 

Minster School can trace its heritage back nearly 1000 years and has a long and fascinating history, closely linked to the cathedral.

The school is now a contemporary institution providing the best education to local children as a Comprehensive Church of England Secondary School but there is much to learn from the past, with tradition also an important part of the Minster School experience.  To find out more about the Minster School's history, take the time to read David Hutchinson's 2010 account, attached below. It offers an intriguing insight into the past.

Main School Prospectus

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