Purcell school of music

[Mt2025]

Hi I'm looking for some feedback from parents who have had their child at Purcell.
I have a keen 10 year old that insistent that this school is right for them.
im looking for to speak with some current or recent boarding parents

It's such a small school I don't think you will get anyone as it would be pretty identifiable. You could try on the extra curricular music thread. There are certainly others with kids at different schools you may get some general advice about music specialist schools.

I really appreciate your response. I will give that a go. It's seems very few people know of the school.

I have children at a different specialist music school. Have you already auditioned for Purcell and been offered a place? If not, it's worth having a few comparative choices!

It might be worth getting in touch with the school and asking if there are opportunities to meet/talk to parents of current boarders? Or see if your child's music teacher knows anyone.
I don't have kids at Purcell, but do have friends whose kids are there/have gone there and they seem to enjoy it and get a lot out of attending.

@QueenOfTheHighCs no we have not, we are also looking at an independent school local to us as well. Purcell was impressive in comparison to the other schools we have seen in regards to music. The reason why we are looking at an independent school over state is solely for the music as it brings my child so much happiness and they are sure that they want to do music later in life.
@TrousersOfTime that is a brilliant idea. I would really like to speak with parents with children at Purcell. However application is from September. I have seen some unpleasant things written on here which is why I wrote the post.
my childs school at current haven't had much to say on it and are trying to steer us away from it stating that he won't get academic education and it's only music focused. After speaking with Purcell they have said that the children get a good standard of academic studies, this will not be of the standard that my child is used to however the standard of music education surpasses it.

All of the specialist schools will offer a good education alongside the programme, however they will usually operate on a reduced timetable and reduced number of GCSE/A levels to allow for the practice, ensembles and other specialist music activities required to excel, especially for strings or keyboard. The standard to get a place is extremely high and the child has to be very committed to enjoy the experience. Out of the 4 specialist music schools in the country, only one (Wells) offers the programme and quality alongside 'normal' pupils, so you might look at that for a more rounded schooling experience. What does your child's instrumental teacher suggest? They should have the best idea of their aptitude and suitability.

I’m connected though not a parent. What is it you want to know? To my knowledge it’s a pleasant environment with well above average general education and some very small class sizes from GCSE up. I would say only go there if your child is really passionate about music, most likely wanting to take it professionally. They live and breathe music. Hours a day. The assumption and culture there is you are highly likely heading for music conservatoire. For kids like that, it can be a dream because they go from being the isolated geek with a passion most don’t understand (in a normal school) to being surrounded by kindred spirits. The flip side is it’s highly competitive, because everyone is truly exceptional…. This spurs everybody on but can also make a kid feel bad…. Someone who might be celebrated in a mainstream school for having music skills and be a bit of a star at concerts. Can feel a swamped underdog, who never gets celebrated, at a place like Purcell.

Overall, as far as I’m aware, it’s a pleasant, nurturing environment.

Be aware also that classical music is by far the greatest focus there. They have popular music programmes that are growing, but if that’s your child’s thing, they will still be in the small minority.

Everybody has to do music a level and other subject choices are pretty narrow, as they don’t have the numbers to support too many choices, so that’s worth checking too. And relate to that, it’s a small school. This can make it very homely - like a family…. But if you don’t get on with your classmates, there’s not much room to hide/ find alternatives. due to the artistic bent, my impression is it’s pretty grungey and fluid about how the different sexes behave (ie walking around more likely to see girls free of make up, in dungarees, than dressed to the nines with identikit long hair and make up…… it’s probably less a place where physical supremacy/ being the jock etc rules).

Also very, very international - loads of students come there from other countries and across the uk, so would get tons of exposure to global mindset.

I see stuff online about St Mary's, the Scottish specialist independent school. It gets the highest exam results in the country. Kids mst be super focused, and very small classes. There will be a pretty limited choice of subjects but they do well. Lots of international students too.

@QueenOfTheHighCs
thank you I really appreciate this.
my child's piano teacher thinks that they should go for it and that a music school is suited for them. However their clarinet teacher thinks that they will miss out on the academic studies, I can't help but feel like this particular teacher is reflecting on his own life with his opinions, although he does think my child is naturally gifted and music is a good choice for them.
my partner and I have no musical background and can't play any instruments. My child is 10 just about to start grade 8piano and is grade 5 clarinet but is able to play pieces above this.

@financialcareerstuff
thank you for your informative post.
we are looking at joining for year 7.

honestly my main concern is reading comments on child safeguarding issues.
10 years old is still very young, although they will be older at the time of joining. If lucky enough to do so.

my child literally eats, sleeps and breathes music. I drop them to school early everyday for orchestra/chior. They are part of every band in school. Play at the school open days ect.

my child does feel that at current they don't fit in and on visiting Purcell they did say that they feel like they fit in there.

i worry that although they do like and play classical music, they are just fantastic at creating and making/playing pop/jazz. I wouldn't want them to feel that they can only play one style of music.

I also don't want them to feel that swamped feeling, I guess we all have to at some point but as a parent this can be quite heartbreaking for both of us. At the moment they are a big fish in a small pond. But if they continue to be a big fish in a small pond they may not progress.

ultimately I want them to be in a SAFE environment where they are living their best life. Do you have any information on this?
what is boarding like? How are the children looked after? Do they seem happy?

School should be enjoyable, a state school doesn't work for us and independent school fees are very high but will give them the creatives that children that are not academic need.

@Purpleisnotmycolour
st Mary's is too far for us, I want to be able to drive to collect my child should anything happen. If they ever need me.

Have you considered Wells Cathedral School? It’s a specialist music school but from what I understand have more of a balance with academics and not all the kids are musicians either, they also do summer schools so you can try them out. The other two in England are Menuhin and Chethams if you’re looking at all of the MDS schools, probably a good idea if you’re going down that route.

@PurBal
thank you for your response
Menuhin doesn't seem to be that wide in regards to instruments they teach, from what I see. I may be wrong but it doesn't look like they teach the clarinet.
I have had a Quick Look at wells it looks great but it's just to far, as is chethams. I also fear that my child may be picked in for being different and I want to be able to collect my child in a reasonable time if they ever needed me.we currently live in London.
10years old is still quite young. I may change my mind by September.

Why don't you look at the junior department of one of the conservatoires if you think 10 is too young to board?

I would consider Chetham’s. Myself and so many of my friends had a wonderful time there. Such a broad range of instruments, amazingly high quality building, wonderfully talented teachers and the academics is very high. It is up to the student. If they want more A levels then they take as many as they please. If they want to go to conservatoire then they can take fewer. Those that didn’t go on to music conservatoires went to the top universities (in the likes of Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh and Ivy leagues in USA). It’s really a wonderful school. I remember having so many opportunities given by chets outside of the school and I made so many professional connections because of this. Go for a visit! They may have an open day coming up.

also want to add, I know people that came from Purcell and Wells who then came to Chets to have more focus on music and more musical opportunities. I also have friends from conservatoire who studied at Purcell and loved it there. Menuhin, it’s primarily focused on strings, so there’s much less opportunity to learn instrumental collaboration in preparation for Uni and professional life, also just to meet other players. Also it’s a little isolated in location but that’s dependant on what kind of lifestyle your child would prefer (city/countryside).

OP, 10 is very young. I think I'd be looking to wait a bit! I have a DD at one of the schools above -and one of my other daughter's close friends is at another. Chet's seems the most academic in terms of results, Wells is great if you want the breadth of studies and friends who are not musicians (that thing about the small friendship pool is real).

Wells is also a cathedral school and is good pastorally with tiny boarders if that's your bag.

Purcell comes across as the least academic. DD refused to even audition there - but that was partly its size that freaked her out. The girl we know there is very happy but would not choose to board.

DD didn't join til she was 14 (year 10). Waiting was the right decision for us, and her. Look at the Junior Departments in London and lots of residential courses and try those first if you haven't would be my advice.

Good luck

I'd agree with PPs about looking at Chets and Wells - you can drive to both if need be - it would just take a bit longer. Both are choir schools so well set up for younger boarders and both are academically better than Purcell. They are also in much more interesting locations for spending down time as your DS gets older.

@lilylooleelala thank you for such. Wonderful post I really appreciate it.
we live in London so Purcell works well for us as they would be able to come home on weekends and still have a family life. I have read some negative things about the safeguarding at Purcell which is a worry but things may have changed and all the staff and children we met were great. There was a great mix of students from everywhere. This is why I would love some information from current or recent Purcell parents/students.
I'm not expecting my child to be great at both music and academics but I worry that if they stick with just music they may not have anything to fall back on later in life.
They are academically bright as-well.
my child is currently at a small independent school and this means they are big fish in a small pond.
Chethams looks brilliant but I feel they may be too young to be so far from home.

@minisnowballs can I ask why they chose not to board at Purcell?
also why did the size freak out your DD. I'm just curious, my child is currently at a small independent school. I feel a school like chethams may be too big. Although if we lived closer to Manchester I'm sure it would be a great choice for us.
wells also looks brilliant but again it's the issue for being to far from home if they ever needed me I wouldn't be able to rush there.

@Londonmummy66 I appreciate your message thank you.
I can't help but feel like they are still too young to be so far from home.
boarding isn't something that I wanted for my children but my child wants to board as they feel it would be great for them.
with current independent school fees so high and my child's strong interest in music the mds would work well for them as it is something they want to do in the future.
im not expecting my child to be academically great but I would like them to have something to fall back on if music doesn't give them the financial freedom they require later in life.

@Mt2025 Too small for DD2 - she was at a massive London girls comprehensive before, and wanted to know there were friendship groups to switch in and out of if she wanted. Suspect moving from an indie is less of a cultural shock in that sense. They all looked small to her from a position where there were 240 girls in her year before.

I'm not going to be too identifying re the child at Purcell and boarding reservations, it really is far too tiny for that. I will say that, for us, when we looked at the boarding for our DD on the open ay it was much less 'hands on' than DD gets at her school and I'd want to be clear who was on call at night and how near they were. Teens can get up to some stuff and they're teen before you know it.

We feel very far away from DD2 at times. It is 100 miles - we wouldn't have wanted that any earlier. But she is thriving, taking responsibility for herself etc. I won't say she's academically stretched, but she certainly is musically, and she has many, many opportunities.

My son went to a different specialist music school (Chetham's) from age 11-18 and loved every second of it there. I am commenting because of what you said about 'fitting in'. This is so important. My son was ok with previous schools/friendships but absolutely found his place at music school. Lived and breathed music, like your child. I got talking to another parent fairly early on who said that his son was like a 'square peg in a square hole' there. Have never forgotten that and never will. So apt.

The academic side will be very good too, at any of those specialist schools. So don't worry about that, or let anyone put you off. They are , equally, super-hot on safeguarding issues (sadly after some historic sexual abuse cases).

All the best with your decision making.

What about a cathedral school?

@minisnowballs your message has is so helpful, thank you.
wow that's alot of girls, there are 41 in my child's year group! my child would be swamped at a big school.
although they are very independent, strong minded and quite extroverted, but we live in London so being extroverted and different is quite normal. Maybe in a big school they may feel lost.
also in regards to the teenagers being teenagers we are only 30mins from Purcell so I can always march down if I need to. However I very much agree on knowing who is there watching my child. I may reach out to the school and ask about their safeguarding policy and how boarding works.
again I appreciate your message thank you