Wadham School opened in purpose built accommodation in 1971, as a Church of England, Voluntary Controlled, Upper Comprehensive, replacing the local grammar school Wadham School receives pupils from two Middle Schools (ages 9–13), Maiden Beech in Crewkerne and Swanmead in Ilminster.

Close links are maintained with these schools, with members of the senior management teams of the three schools meeting regularly and departments maintaining constant liaison through INSET, by visits to each other's schools and by formal meetings.

(There is also very close collaboration with other schools in the area particularly in the field of professional development courses for staff.)

In November 2005, Wadham was placed into Special measures after failing an Ofsted inspection.

[1] In June 2007 Wadham successfully left Special Measures, after a full Ofsted inspection showed the school had sufficiently progressed.