The Cathedral School (Llandaff)

The school's ethos is built upon five core themes: achievement, care, opportunity, ambition, and leadership. As a Woodard school, it provides a first-class academic education within a Christian context, fostering a climate of kindness, thoughtfulness, and respect. The school aims to ignite ambition while teaching humility, ensuring every child is nurtured to reach their full potential.

The school provides a continuous educational journey from Nursery through to the Sixth Form. The Primary phase covers Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2, focusing on exploration and foundational learning. The Senior School offers a traditional academic education leading to GCSEs, while the Sixth Form provides A Level courses with smaller teaching groups and university guidance.

The school is a top-performing co-educational institution with a strong academic record at GCSE and A Level. In 2025, 73% of A Level grades were A*-A, and 83% of university applications were secured at Russell Group universities. Pupils are prepared for university life and beyond, with a focus on developing intellectual appetite and becoming well-rounded individuals.

The school provides pastoral care and academic support to ensure every pupil thrives. Sixth Form students are assigned a tutor who oversees their academic progress, pastoral wellbeing, and university applications, with progress monitored through half-termly reports. The school also emphasizes a supportive culture that encourages students to manage their time effectively and seek guidance when needed.

The school welcomes prospective families to contact the Registrar to discuss admissions procedures or to arrange an individual visit. Open Days are held throughout the academic year for various entry points, including Primary, Senior, and Sixth Form. The admissions process for Year 7 and Sixth Form entry involves specific deadlines for registration, scholarship applications, interviews, and entrance testing.

The school operates on a structured academic calendar with key dates for entry. For Year 7 entry, the process includes an information afternoon in November, entrance testing in January, and an induction day in June. Sixth Form entry follows a similar timeline, featuring an options evening in October, scholarship exams in November, and an induction day in September. The school year begins in the Michaelmas term.

The campus features a variety of specialized buildings, including School House (the former Bishop's Palace), which hosts Mathematics, ICT, D&T, English, and the library. The Woodard Building, opened in 2014, houses Languages, Science, and Humanities, while the Jubilee Building is dedicated to music, featuring practice rooms and a drama studio. Art is taught in a dedicated studio in Llandaff village, and the school utilizes extensive sports fields and a pavilion, alongside off-site facilities for squash, swimming, and rowing.

The school offers an extensive co-curricular programme designed to develop pupils' skills and interests outside the classroom. Activities include music, sport, performing arts, and choral singing, with opportunities to perform in ensembles or participate in school productions. Pupils also engage in leadership roles, STEM society, and various clubs, such as a student-led news show and competitive sports teams.