Advice needed - does anyone have a DC at the Purcell School?

[grownupbabes]

DS has been offered a place at the Purcell School for 6th form. He is currently on a music scholarship at another major public school.
I have concerns about putting him into too intensive a music environment in case it narrows his future options (he is also talented at maths and physics). I went through the conservatoire sausage machine myself so have views on that, but maybe it has changed in the last 20 yrs and become more rounded??
If anyone out there has a DC at the Purcell School can you give me an insider's view on the intensity and availability of other learning opportunities. Also just your general opinion would be really valued, thank you.
(Likewise, Cheethams and Wells, as the are probably much the same)

We used to have some connections there. It's very good but I would probably want my children at a major public school that he's at now rather than moving at 6th form, even if he wants to go to music college or get an organ or choral scholarship to an Oxbridge college so they have a broader education. But if the child is determined just to do music then a specialist music school may be right for him. Don't they get very good academic results too? Compare the A level results how many AAB at A level between where he is now and there perhaps. The children we knew there always seemed very happy but I don't really have an insider's view.

hmm - now I went to one of the 5 Specialist Music Schools - St. Mary's in Edinburgh. It was very music intenstive, however that doesn't seem to have stopped anyone going off and doing other stuff. In fact from my year, and the year above (about 15 of us ) half went to University to study something other than music.

They are all quite different really. From what I know of the Purcell, and Menhuin - and to a slightly lesser extent Cheethams - they are very strongly music oriantated and majority of their pupils do go off to study music rather than any other subject.

However as I mentioed St. Mary's, and from what I know of Wells (I did actually audition there as well) they are very good at doing the "all round" thing while concentrating on the music (if that makes sense)

That's really helpful, thankyou both. DS is obsessed and considers any moment not spent playing to be effectively wasted. On the other hand, he does really enjoy things like cadets which he does at his current school. I suppose at age 16 I need to let him lead himself, to some extent. Just worried about tying him to a future in music (which as a musician myself is not something I would absolutely recommend).

Can anyone say what the difference is between a pre-audition and a main audition at Chets (or elsewhere). Is a different approach required? Different pieces? Any encouragement to be gained (really) from having got a main audition.. ADVICE!?? Please!