Purcell school

[Wrinklyeyes]

Hello, any current parents of children at Purcell please who can share their experiences of the school? We went to the open day today and really liked it. Always difficult to see behind the hard sell but actually it didn’t feel false. Any recent experiences please?

I think these specialist schools are so small it would hard to be anonymous so people rarely comment. I'm just reading the kanneh mason book house of music and it didn't suit their eldest but I'm sure plenty of others get loads of benefits from it. It's a hard decision to make to send your child away but if it's the right thing for them they will flourish. Nothing is permanent I guess so they could always leave after a year if it didn't suit.

Thanks horseymum for the response - I haven’t read the Kanneh Mason book but am not sure my DC is in that league 😬.

It would be for 6th form that we are thinking about.

Mine definitely aren't! I think 6 th form might be an easier decision as your DC would have a bit more of a say too on how they feel.

Mine is at a specialist music school which they started at the beginning of year 12. I'd highly recommend it- maybe look at a couple of music schools to compare.

@Siriusmuggle do you have a view on how the academic lessons compare to regular school?

Seriously thinking of looking into it for our DC for y12.

Academic works certainly seems pretty rigorous. We like the fact that everyone is doing A level music, at thr previous school there are 1 or 2 doing it.

Thank @Siriusmuggle. That’s good to know. That will certainly be an issue at our school. DC is currently at Junior Conservatoire and loves it but can’t help thinking that they would benefit from being with other musical teens day to day and spending less time travelling.

Thanks Sirius - we are also planning on visiting Chet’s but missed last week’s open events so will have to wait for when they hold the next ones. We would be applying for Year 12 in September 2023 so have plenty of time still.

My DD started at a specialist music school in year 10. She absolutely loves it. It's very academically rigorous. It seems most of the leavers who don't go to conservatoire go on to Oxbridge.

Not Purcell, but another MDS school. DD has been there since Year 7 and it really suits her. Academics are very good, and the class sizes for most subjects are very small. The artistic teaching is excellent, and far outstrips anything she could access at home. It is, however, a highly competitive environment that doesn’t suit everyone. In the four years she has been there about a third of the original Year 7 cohort have left, some because they were homesick, some because they lost their passion in such an intense environment, some because the pressure was causing other issues. If you decide to apply, take it a term at a time and monitor carefully how your child is doing. It’s the right school for my DD, and she thrives there with opportunities she would never have had at home, but it takes a very resilient, independent child to manage the pressures.

Please check out the safeguarding and pastoral support at Purcell.
I'm going back about 5 years now, but I know of some unacceptable events/behaviour there.

I have a DD who was at another MDS school and now at RCM. Purcell students are by and large not very popular amongst their peers the general view is that Chets St Mary's and Wells produce nicer people they'd rather collaborate with.

@londonmummy1966 - oh, that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement

St Mary’s is out of the question for us because of distance.

Sorry @Wrinklyeyes but I've heard a lot of them comment on it over the years. If you are near London then St Mary's isn't that hard if you get the train as it is right by Haymarket Station. The big advantage of Wells is that it isn't just a music school so it has a wider range of subject options but it is a bit of a slog to get to and from.

Can I jump in and ask questions too pls?

My dd might be interested in sixth form. Do they do a full range of A levels?

@Newgirls - you'd need to look at the offerings on each school's website. Chets offer most of the more popular subjects (as do St Mary's but it is Scottish Highers). Wells offer the broadest range - to be expected as they take non specialists as well.

Thanks London. I meant Purcell for A levels. I can’t find it on their website which is prob me!

@Newgirls - the results page should tell which subjects they do..www.purcell-school.org/school-for-young-musicians/academic/examination-results/

Brilliant thank you

Ok had a look. A limited range of A levels which I guess is to be expected due to the tiny sixth form.

Hi, what sort of issues do you mean? DC has been offered a place for Y10 so looking for more info.