Experiences of Chetham's School of Music for sixth form applicants

[RimpeeChip]

Hello
my son is looking at going to Chetham's School of Mudic for sixth form. Can any current parents or recent parents give me any insights both negative and positive. Much appreciated

I can’t tell you what it’s like from the inside, since they emerged from all the scandal of up to about a decade ago - but I do know a lot of musicians from conservatoires around the UK, and I’d say Manchester is probably a magnificent place to be a music student. A pupil at Chetham’s would be really well placed to prepare themselves for undergraduate study at RNCM - and beyond the Bridgewater Hall and Media City there seems to be a growing number of tiny venues where emerging musicians / singers can perform or have their own work performed. I’m not sure anywhere other than Birmingham and London could compare. (In England.)

But obviously the institution has to be right for the pupil.

I have a friend whose DC went there for sixth form and is loving it, and others I’ve come across have also loved it. I also saw an interview today on insta with a former pupil indicating another scandal is about to hit, and lots of comments about dodgy teacher behaviour. No idea how true any of it is or if it’s historic or current but I’d be asking lots of questions to make sure. If you’re in Manchester Xaverian College also has excellent music at sixth form - obviously not a specialist school but it’s very good (and specialist school isn’t crucial at that age).

I had one go for sixth form and another there for sixth form at the moment. A very good experience for both. Worked out well for the oldest as now at a v good conservatoire. I don’t think the academics are as good as the musical education but that could just be my music obsessed teens not caring much about a levels, given that a conservatoire offer is generally two E at A level. It was always a joy to attend concerts there. One thing that did bother me was how little access we had to their actual music teachers, was a bit of a shock after supervising practice for years.

Thank you !

My DD has been there since year 7 and now in sixth form. We are fairly local but she boards, we have to drag her home as she loves it so much! 6th formers get plenty of freedom balanced with great pastoral team. Yes individual music teachers can be hard to contact directly (most are still working musicians and also teach elsewhere so are not in for standard school hours over the whole week), but the heads of department are very responsive and have more contact with students through the numerous bands, orchestras and chamber groups your DS will be involved in as well as taking their music block classes, so they are usually best placed to be first point of contact with anything music wise.
There is a big focus on academics, but music is prioritised. If your child thrives in academics they will be pushed to reach their potential, however if they are not they are encouraged but absolutely not given the drivel pushed by most schools that their life depends on the results they get. My child is not academic at all but got a good selection of GCSEs, only just scraped a pass in maths but did better than expected in all subjects and even achieved some 7s and 8s where she was predicted 5s and 6s.
The scandal mentioned above was over months ago. A teacher who also taught at RNCM was sacked due to something that happened at RNCM, as so as it came to light they were suspended, then dismissed. Since the abuse scandal from years ago, safeguarding is super strict, if anything alittle ott, but considering the past the new leadership have to be extra vigilant, which isn't a bad thing.
In the years DD has been there i have not really heard of any bullying. I am not daft, and know it happens in every school, but from asking DD she says she has never seen any issues, only odd little fallouts that staff deal with quickly, however this is just her experience, I just haven't heard of any.
The students get so many opportunities to perform, the city centre is right on the door step which is great this time of year and magical in the run up to Xmas. Very active PTA involved across the school.
The only negative from my child is the lack of sports, however that has improved slightly over the last couple of years.