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Original poster

Music dilemma...not impressed with Wells, was thinking Chethams or Purcell but wondering if non-specialist school would be better

31 replies

tinkerbel72 · 18/04/2012 22:41

dd is Yr 7 at local school and very musical, Grade 8 already, plays in orchestras etc. She broached the idea of music school a year or two back; we felt she was too young then but fair play to her, shes stuck to her guns and insists that its what she wants.

She has had interviews and auditions at 2 schools - Wells Cathedral and Chethams and has been offered a place at both. Big dilemma though. Wells would be logistically easiest; we arent a million miles away and she could probably do part time boarding, coming home weekends and midweek. However, although the music side is great, I've heard a lot of negatives about other aspects - very middle of the road teaching, uninspiring fed up staff, pupils bunking off with no consequences, poor drama dept (dd also very into drama and musicals). I was with dd for the interview and personally found it very patronising and felt that as the parent it was just a very transparent hard sell.

Chethams was far more positive in terms of the interview; I felt dd and myself were treated as intelligent people and there was more of a sense that the Head wasnt talking down to us or only interested in our cheque book. Downsides to Chets are distance (we're quite far south) so dd would have to stay most weekends (she's up for it, I'm not so sure). Also the curriculum seems more narrow, though having said that, I was more impressed with the academic standards.

Im also now wondering whether a closer independent (non specialist) school might be the answer. Our nearest independent has great facilities; I have watched a couple of drama productions there (friends children go there) and was very impressed. Also very good art and desighn dept. Upsides would be great all round teaching and dd wouldnt need to board , though it would be an option to stay over now and then (dd's keen!), downside would be the music would be more an out of school thing; she would need to continue private lessons, though there are amazing orchestras and bands in the school so she would definately have the chance to play in lots of groups.

DD really doesnt know what to think either; the only thing shes sure of is that she wants the chance to play more music and do lots of drama and performance

OP posts:
gettingalifenow · 19/04/2012 08:15

You could also consider a junior dept for Saturday at a conservatoire - lots of us on here have DC at one or other of the London colleges so we'd be happy to advise.

My DD, for instance, goes to a day independent school locally with good music, plays in the county youth and county brass orchestras and goes to RCM on Saturdays - plenty of music but she lives at home and academic work is still her main focus.

Several of her friends at RCM also go to Purcell during the week, so that's an option too, for 6 days a week of music if that's what you'd like!

Colleger · 19/04/2012 08:14

Have you thought about Tring Park?

Colleger · 19/04/2012 08:13

Drama and performance is practically zero at Chets and Purcell.

hellsbells99 · 18/04/2012 23:28

The Hammond has a reputation locally for being a great dance school but not very academic - if I remember correctly, grades are lower than the local state schools.

Original poster
tinkerbel72 · 18/04/2012 23:05

I hadnt heard of Hammond at all - I will investigate

OP posts:
ElphabaisWicked · 18/04/2012 22:50

Chets has always had a good reputation.

Have you considered The Hammond School at all. It is probably more well known for its dance specialism but they also have drama and music specialist strands.

The advantage of Chethams though is that most children are funded on an MDS award so fees are based on a sliding scale of parental income. HAmmind only have MDS funding for its dance stream not the music one.