Choristers and City of London School

[Tuppenyrice]

Does anyone have any experience of this? My DS (8) is an able state school child but I am not sure he is up to the admissions exam. Is it naive to sit him for this untutored?
He has been accepted into the choir but has to jump this next hoop.... Any advice welcome.
Also considering Westminster Abbey Choir School which looks lovely and would solve the problem of his current school experience (negative). But am not sure about boarding, although he would love it and wants to go! Also it's very small and that seems a little claustrophobic.
Thanks if you can help.

Congratulations to your DS! Is it the Temple choir he has been accepted into? I went to a service there recently and they were wonderful.

Based on personal experience, I would not recommend boarding school for a child who has not settled easily into school life (although others on MN might think differently).

Rather than starting on intensive tutoring, which may be counterproductive at this stage, I would speak to the school quite honestly about your DS. Bring along some of his work (perhaps stuff he has written or drawn at home about things that interest him).

Most prep schools would be very happy to have an able and talented child, and will try to take a holistic approach to assessment (rather than allocating children in rank order of mark, like 11+ grammar entry). Quite rightly, they will not want to admit a child who would not be able to keep up. But on the other hand, good schools pride themselves on bringing on children who have had a difficult time.

Thank you Acebaby. He has settled at school but seems to be regressing since all his buddies left at the end of last year. We live in an area where they all go private age 7...
I think he could cope but it would be a massive shock to the system after such a laid back school.
Thanks for your reply.

I would ask the school what they are expecting. Ds is starting at choir school in Sept and his entrance exam seemed pretty straightforward. At least it didn't cause him any upset. I only told him the day before his voice trial that he'd have some written tests too. The school also asked for a copy of his latest school report.

We were tempted by Westminster Abbey school too but decided turn down a voice trial to limit the choice.

Hello Hissboo
yes i will speak to admissions after easter.

Well done to your DS. Is the school boarding? You can PM me if you fancy!

What did you decide in the end? Which choir / school did you choose and is your DS enjoying it?

As a matter of fact City of London School has no boarders: So all day boys.

The choristers are a very small part of the school community and, day to day, just merge in. City of London schools does have a very good music department, so in effect, for Choristors there is a bit of an overlap between school and their duties in the choir but its not like being in a dedicated Choir School.

We would have considered westminster abbey but ds only expressed interest in being a chorister this time last year and all the places had been filled by then. We went for a different boarding choir school. Like the op, ds passed the voice trial before the academic part. We did no preparation for the latter (in all honesty it didn't occur to me to do any) and ds came from a state school. It was fine. I think there's a lot of hype over private school entrance tests.

I know someone who was a chorister at temple and he had a super time. Difficult journey to school as he commuted from Lewisham but it worked out well for him educationally and musically.