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Specialist schools – arts, drama, musicThe sapecialist schools programme is a UK government initiative that encourages secondary schools in England to specialise in certain areas of the curriculum in order to boost achievement. The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is responsible for the delivery of the programme. Currently there are nearly 3,000 specialist schools, or 88% of the state-funded secondary schools in England. The government plans that eventually all schools in England will specialise. In the independent sector the term ‘specialist’ tends to focus more on developing outstanding talents mainly in a range of extra-curricular activities such as drama, music and the arts. The principal independent boarding schools in music, dance and drama are covered below.
Music and dance
MADE is the new name for NAMDS; it stands for music and dance excellence. There are nine MADE schools throughout the UK, committed to the highest teaching standards in music and dance, alongside an excellent academic education. If you are interested in visiting or attending one of the nine MADE schools their websites are listed below. The nine schools
Choir schools
The Choir Schools’ Association (CSA) The CSA represents 44 schools attached to cathedrals, churches and college chapels around the country. Pupils have unlimited access to first-class schooling and musical training, giving them an excellent start in life. More than 1,200 of the 21,500 boys and girls in choir schools are choristers. Some CSA schools take children from 7–13; others are junior schools with senior schools to 18. The majority are Church of England foundations, but the Roman Catholic, Scottish and Welsh churches are all represented. The majority are fee paying, with nine out of ten choristers qualifying for financial help with fees from the school or through the government’s Choir Schools’ Scholarship Scheme. The latter is part of the Music and Dance Scheme described at www.dcsf.gov.uk/mds. Day or boarding?
Choristers at about 20 choir schools are day pupils. These days only a dozen or so require all choristers to board. Others offer the choice if parents can demonstrate they can get their children to and from school in time for choir practice and services. The choir schools offering boarding are listed in the table below. Name City Email Website
Northern England The Chorister School Durham
Lincoln MinsterPrep School Lincoln
Chetham’s School Manchester
The Cathedral Choir School Ripon
Ampleforth College York
St James’ School Grimsby
Central England
Dean Close Preparatory School Cheltenham
Hereford Cathedral School Hereford
Lichfield Cathedral School Lichfield
Christ Church Cath. Sch Oxford
Magdalen Coll Sch Oxford
St George’s School Windsor
London St Paul’s Cathedral Sch London
Westminster Abbey C London
Westminster Cat London office@choirschool.com
Eastern England King’s College School Cambridge
St John’s College School Cambridge
The King’s School Ely Junior School Ely
Southern England St Edmund’s School Canterbury
The Prebendal School Chichester
The Cathedral School Exeter
King’s Rochester Preparatory School Rochester
Salisbury Cathedral Sch Salisbury
Polwhele House Sch Truro
Wells Cathedral Sch Wells
www.wells-cathedral-school.com
The Pilgrims’ School Winchester
Wales The Cathedral School Llandaff
To find out more about choir schools visit the CSA website: www.choirschools.org.uk. |
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