Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Education

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Flip

Original poster

Wells Cathedral School - should we move there or should we stay?!

13 replies

No926 · 15/02/2019 03:26

Our child has been offered a place as a chorister at Wells, to potentially start in junior school this September. It's super demanding, we think it would work, but as we are coming from state education and would also have to move, it's a big decision.

Any comments, thoughts, experiences of Wells Cathedral school would be amazing. Child is also ASD, but highly functioning. They said, in all our visits and talks, that they do 'quirky' very well, they seem to understand the benefits of all round education, not just academic.

We are in state primary, friendly, family orientated, but not very good with all-round education or emotional needs of children.
Thank you all!

OP posts:

Lara53 · 15/02/2019 09:02

It’s a huge commitment for DC and the family, but if it’s really what he wants. Go for it!

GreyRoses · 15/02/2019 11:34

Is it a boarding place? (Maybe not, if you have to move...)
Have they offered a decent choral scholarship?
Wells is a lovely school and a chorister's life is a fun and intense one that does suit quickly very well. You'll end up going to more services than you'll ever do again in your life though 😆
Have they said what happens when his voice breaks? What you don't want it to be in a position of moving back to the state sector then.

GreyRoses · 15/02/2019 11:34

*quirky

Couchpotato3 · 15/02/2019 11:39

No experience of the actual school, but DS (ex-chorister elsewhere) has been there on holiday courses several times and loved being in the centre of a tiny city, able to go and wander off to cafés and shops in between sessions etc. Obviously that wouldn't apply to a junior school age child. Being a chorister is a really demanding but hugely rewarding experience. I would think the routine and rituals of it all would probably work well for a child with ASD? I think most choir schools do offer ongoing scholarships for ex-choristers, and he might be eligible for a music or academic scholarship when he leaves the choir - all worth asking about.
Wells is lovely, but it's a pain to get to in my experience - buried deep in the countryside!

SwayingInTime · 15/02/2019 11:43

If you can afford it, great, although I also thought choristers could board at Wells, but as PP says, you need to pin down options after year 8. Don't believe them if they say there's MDS funding to carry on as a singer, this is vanishingly rare.

SwayingInTime · 15/02/2019 11:44

My eldest is a non boarding cathedral chorister in year 8 btw!

Feelingfullandreadytoclean · 15/02/2019 11:45

Wells is lovely, but it's a pain to get to in my experience - buried deep in the countryside!

It's very easy to get to! Not buried at all. I guess it depends what you are used to. I am actually used to being buried!

Wells is such a beautiful small city. I went to Wells blue school but obviously know lots of people from wells cathedral. All very lovely and not your normal uppity private school kids. I would say go for it! What an amazing experience. I have sung in choirs my whole life and sung quite a bit at Wells Cathedral it really is a special place.

Toddlerteaplease · 15/02/2019 11:50

If I could have my time again, I'd love to be a cathedral chorister! Wells is beautiful. Sorry not helpful!

harirumf · 15/02/2019 11:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

No926 · 15/02/2019 18:37

thank you all so much, sorry I'm new to mumsnet, so hope you'll all be able to see this message.

Got a taster day before we sign on the dotted line, as it were, and will make final decision by then. I just wanted to be as informed as possible. Yes, it means a life change for all of us, but mostly for our 9 year old. Us adults will adapt easily.

Really appreciate all the comments - thanks again!

OP posts:

Pythonesque · 15/02/2019 22:15

Well done him. I agree that choirschool routine can suit ASD kids rather well. We considered Wells but didn't visit in the end - Salisbury was closer. Our eldest started boarding at 9 almost 10; it worked for her. I was glad the younger one didn't have to board, he would have had to start this a lot younger had he not got a local place.

So yes I'd be supportive of investigating boarding options and whether they would work for you and your family.

Enjoy the adventure coming up - being a choir parent is very special!

EthelHornsby · 15/02/2019 22:21

Wells is NOT difficult to get to, and there’s a good twice hourly bus to and from Bristol 7 days a week. It’s a lovely place to live

ITLMum · 20/03/2019 10:21

Wonder you have made the decision?

Flip