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

@Mt2025 - if you are only 30 mins away is there a chance he could go as a day pupil to start - with the occasional flexiboard night after a late rehearsal?

@RenoDakota Thank you.
I really feel that my child has felt different from their peers and they seemed to happy at Purcell. My child approached me weeks after our visit and said that they really felt a sense of belonging there. I assume it's the mutual love of music.
however is it going to pay the bills later on in life.
Also in regards to safeguarding are you speaking about chethams or all the specialist musical schools.

@Londonmummy66 So the initial plan was as a day student, however my child actually wants to board. I would pick them up every Friday.
it would also be more convenient as I have other school runs at the same time but I would definitely reconsider it.
the other issue is 30mins school run time can very easily turn into an hour with some frustrated children in the back and angry road users.

From my experience with friends and family at Purcells and Chets - don’t do it!

London has so many opportunities for music with all the Saturday schools- RAM, RCM, Guildhall etc plus many orchestras as well as so many wonderful teachers that boarding school is unnecessary. Does your son attend a Saturday program?

@Haveiwon oh no this is just what I didn't want to hear.
currently not on a Saturday program. But will be enrolling. I haven't seen a suitable program for under 11s yet.

Not even the Royal College of Music?

Royal College of music junior department starts from 8 years up.
https://www.rcm.ac.uk/junior/rcmjdapply/#d.en.30026

I temped there as an admin person many moons ago. It's a wonderful college.

@turkeyboots thank you! I think I've missed the application time. Looks like it was March. I may try give them a call. Thanks again.

All of the big music colleges have a junior programme - if you've missed the boat on the big ones you can try CYM and Trinity, which might take late auditions. I think all will take from really very young (like 4 or 5 in some cases)

@minisnowballs thank you
il have another look this weekend and hope for the best. If not maybe we will do a summer program.
id still like to hear from current parents from Purcell or recent parents.
I appreciate your time responding, it's been really useful and I will take some time to have another look at options.

Guildhall are usually happy to give a late audition - their piano programme is outstanding.

@Mt2025 My experiences were ten years ago and things do change but if it was my child I think it’s too risky.

Have you looked at the National Children’s Orchestra as well as all the Saturday programmes? That gives orchestral experience and many children make great friends there.

@Haveiwon I also think it's risky which is why really wanted to hear from current parents. Ultimately I want my child in a safe environment. In regards to the the children's orchestra I think this is a great option. My child loves being in the school orchestra so it think it would be great. Auditioning opens in later this month.
Thank you

From your initial post, where it sounded as if you wanted a regular school with additional musical focus, worried me that it may not be suitable, but given how much music your child is involved in, it could be a great experience. Specialist music schools are ultimately training pupils to become professional musicians.

It's too far for you now, but in the future you may consider Wells Cathedral School. It's a specialist music school within a wider school, helping to balance the intensity of high-level music training. Huge on safeguarding.

You might also consider Yehudi Menuhin School. It's set in really beautiful grounds. It specialises only in keyboard and strings. Probably the most highly regarded of all the music schools in the UK.

Go for open days, perhaps visit some of their public concerts. This will also give you an idea if your child might be a suitable standard (bearing in mind that you will be hearing children who have already benefited from training at the schools).

There is also the London Youth Wind Band which takes from 12 i think. Might be an option next year?

Final thought @Mt2025 - even if only one of these schools is suitable in terms of location, I would really urge you to see them all before making a decision. In fact, in DD2's case, the school she chose was absolutely adamant she should see the others before she knew which was right for her (which was partly why we knew that school WAS right - no hard sell!).

Seeing them all helped us all to focus on what was actually important to her in a music school, whether she needed to go now, or later, or at all, and crystallised dour thoughts on boarding/safeguarding/pastoral care at each.

Fundamentally they all get the same cash per child from the government and run their programmes quite differently and you'll get a better feel for which you like

Someone described the specialist music schools to me as "heavy duty one size fits all options'" and that's about right. If that's what you need and want then that is great, but there are usually other ways to get what you need musically - particularly if you can afford to pay for independent and aren't averse to it and are in reach of the Saturday Junior Departments.

Good luck with the decision- and the music making.

@Haveiwon This is a brilliant idea, thank you

@MovingBird123

thank you for your message, greatly appreciated.

i have been worrying myself with the safeguarding issues but the more I look into it I have discovered that all of the MDS schools have had safeguarding issues as well as state and independent schools.

my child is bright, fun and loves music. Naturally gifted. Hasn't played nearly as long as the other children at school but has excelled and moved further than the older children.

music makes them happy and literally lights up the room when they play.

unfortunately Yehudi Menuhin doesn't work as they play the clarinet as well as piano.

we are in London so really moving to a music school in London once 16 makes sense. It's just up until the age of 16 that I need to find a suitable school with great access to music.

@minisnowballs

thank you much appreciated.

Yehudi Menuhin continues to teach all instruments, but only specialises in keyboard and strings. So your child could continue to have clarinet lessons as a second study (assuming it is already, given that he is further ahead with the piano, even if more time is spent in ensembles with the clarinet).

You might also look into residential music and chamber courses during the holidays. Pro Corda is excellent. They were initially only piano and strings, but experimented with wind. Not sure if it took off.

There are lots of groups he could apply for, such as NCO or NCCB. It would help him to find his "crowd". Lots of the children there go to the specialist music schools, so he could make future friends and get a better idea of life at the schools.

It also wouldn't be so terrible to wait until the next round of applications for JD conservatoires. You can always contact teachers there for consultation lessons and advice on the auditions.

Following various past scandals, all music schools are exceptionally tight on safeguarding now. Is that the aspect of safeguarding that you are concerned about? Or is it the intensity and pressure of music education?

@MovingBird123
This is so helpful.
such great advice.
Piano is their first love to be honest. But this may be as they are further along. I will contact Yehudi Menuhin.
it's the safeguarding that's been bothering me.
my child has a real love for music, they are happy to play morning till night!

London day schools that are good for music include Trinity in Croydon (which is an all Steinway school and v good for piano), Alleyns in Dulwich (several category finalists in BBC Young Musician over the years) Kings Wimbledon and Westminster if you want to look at that route - there will no doubt be more in the north but I don't know them as well. You could combine that with a Saturday JD and see how you go. My DD did this until 16 but her school was truly brutal to her as the pressure built towards GCSEs as they were more concerned with their league tables than her mental health. She was a pianist and loved loved loved Junior Guildhall and the head of keyboard there is really inspiring. She used to come bouncing through the door on Saturday evenings asking why she couldn't do JD 5 days a week and school one....

You could give it a go and then look at the specialists if it isn't working.

I would add to pp, that I went to Westminster. Had a horrible time there. Pastoral care was 0, and it does not seem to have changed. I haven't got a single good thing to say about the school. Conservatoire was looked down upon in comparison to the oxbridge obsession.

Yes, I have also heard very good things about music education at Trinity Croydon, and performed at their venue several times in various situations.

OP, visit all the schools and ask directly about their safeguarding practices. All should be on the front foot ready to answer. My experiences at Wells have been exceptional on this front.

I love that a school is described as an 'all Steinway ' one. Ours is an 'all keyboard with one maybe two rubbish uprights which are never tuned' school. I don't think they put that in the brochure though.

@Londonmummy66

thank you.
Trinity would be great but it would be quicker to walk to Manchester then drive to Croydon at 8 in the morning. the other schools are quite far out for a daily commute however in a couple of years it could possibly would work.
Westminster was one I looked at but the fees are shocking and I also don't want my child to play keeping up with academics. It's mentally draining. I struggled with it and I wouldn't want the same for my children.
children from my child's school tend to pick schools like habs but that again is so academically pushy.
junior guildhall would be fantastic I have been looking at it, it's also a fairly easy commute. We could possibly if things don't work out go for a state school and spend weekends and holidays enjoying music.
it's so nice to hear that about your DD. Music can bring children such joy.