A school of musical excellence bites the dust.

That is so sad.

It is the prep school closing not the main school.

This is still sad, our grandson has his name down for the prep school to a well known institution, our daughter has been told the school is likely to close.

Thank you Kier.

I agree it is sad but maybe the tradition just needs to adapt?

The CofE is in crisis just now and this is just more evidence of it.

I love choral music but don't see how excluding singers because they don't go to a particular school is viable anymore?

A family member was educated in a cathedral school, but not in this country.

Oh no!
A relative of mine went to the prep school years ago.
I'm not sure how good a chorister he was/is.

What are the reasons, MartavTaurus?

The Choristers will be relocated to Exeter school. Another private school with similar fees.

Will Choristers continue to have their school fees paid by a Scholarship awarded by the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral ?

That is very sad and I’m assuming it’s a financial choice?

Very sad, but as some others feel maybe things need to change to give all children the opportunity to excel in their own talents and ways.

Maybe, I’m extremely torn in the way of education.

My oldest son, and from a different father to my now husband, went to a good prep school followed at 11 to a state grammar.

My step daughter went to state schools in Herts, the Secondary school wasn’t great and our other three attended state schools locally from age 3 (school nursery)

Did son number one receive a better education by being in the private sector ? I’m not sure, but he certainly enjoyed privileges and experiences that the other four did.

Now they are all grown ups, aged 23-41, ironically the one with the most impressive income and career is the one who went to the least “performing” state school.

"The earliest written reference to the School is 1179"
Devon Live

* should read “experiences that the other four did not”

How I yearn (& need) an edit button, I know I should really use preview but ….

Our local cathedral choir school is finding it hard to recruit boy choristers because parents are reluctant to let their boys board from 8 years old. Maybe they should just stop the boarding element.
The girls choir is made up of girls aged about 12 to 16 who go to the local secondary schools.

My local cathedral draws choristers from various state schools in the area. They are none the worse for that. For a school with a history like Exeter’s to close is sad, but a sign of the times.

It is the prep school closing not the main school.
Exeter Cathedral School does not have a senior school, the prep is the main school.

Maybe the way to retain these centuries old institutions would be for Cathedral schools to have special status. Truro Cathedral School, founded in 1547, suffered the same fate.

Various state schools were able to send talented pupils to these choir schools as probationers and they became choristers. I fully agree that all children should be given the opportunity to excel.

There is no proper boarding as such, but choristers can spend a night or two in the house if they need to for services or due to family arrangements.

But yes, it's a sad sign of the times.

By the way -useless information alert- Chris Martin of Coldplay attended Exeter Cathedral School, which he said awakened his passion for music!!

Would it be feasible to try it without the 'boarding' element?

Get Chris Martin to fund it!

Cabbie21

Get Chris Martin to fund it!

Or the C of E!