WHAT? WHERE?

Locations don’t come more jaw-dropping than this. Westminster Abbey Choir School sits in the heart of Central London, at Dean’s Yard, a peaceful gated quadrangle just a few steps from the Abbey itself. It is the only remaining school in the country that educates choristers exclusively and its setting feels every inch as extraordinary as its purpose. Although the choir school dates back to 1560, the current building, opened in 1915, now houses just 30 boys aged eight to 13 yrs, pupils in Y5 and above are full, seven-day-a-week boarders – Y4s on the other hand only board 5 days a week. If you’re looking for a school like no other, this is it: historic, intimate and steeped in musical tradition.

FACILITIES

With only 30 pupils – five to six boys in each year group – the school occupies six floors of a handsome period townhouse overlooking Dean’s Yard and the Abbey beyond. Rather than feeling like a traditional school, the building has the warmth and scale of a large London home, with classrooms and practice rooms spread across the upper floors and shared spaces that feel lived in and well loved.

Down in the basement is a cosy, homely dining room where the boys sit down to proper home-style meals. There’s always a good choice of mains, salads, fruit and puddings, and breakfast is especially popular, offering something hearty before the boys go off singing in the morning.

SPORTS

Westminster Abbey Choir School playing rugby

Space is at a premium here, so most sport happens off site, with boys making use of the indoor fitness centre at the St Andrew’s Club and astro pitches at Archbishop’s and Battersea Parks. A small yard at the back of the school gives them a spot to stretch their legs, but it is the grass of Dean’s Yard that really becomes their playground, with lively football games breaking out whenever time allows.

Sport is not the main focus, music naturally takes centre stage, but the school makes sure it remains a joyful part of the week. Boys play in mixed-year Colts teams, often pitting choir school against choir school in spirited fixtures. The seasonal programme includes football, hockey, athletics and cricket, with kayaking and rock climbing at Shadwell Basin added in the warmer months. Musical commitments naturally limit county-level competition, but the sports provision is still good overall.

CREATIVE ARTS

MUSIC

As you’d expect, music flows through every corridor. Pianos sit in classrooms and even in the dorms, making practice an effortless part of daily life. One of the loveliest traditions is the “lunch bell” – each day, a different pupil plays the chimes of Big Ben from a sheet of music pinned to the wall. The sound drifts through the building and captures the school’s magic perfectly.

Every boy learns two instruments, piano and one orchestral instrument, all included in the fees. Teaching is outstanding, with visiting instrumentalists drawn from the West End, major orchestras and the Royal College of Music.

Westminster Abbey Choir School students in choir outfits

The chorister schedule is highly structured and unlike anything found in a typical prep school. Morning instrumental practice, Song School, weekday Evensong, a Saturday service and Sunday services shape the week, but this sits alongside carefully managed timetabling, strong pastoral support and time built in to rest and recharge. Boys sing at globally significant occasions – from the Queen’s funeral to the King’s Coronation – often at short notice, experiences few children anywhere in the world will ever have. Despite the school’s tiny size, the musical provision is extraordinarily rich, with a full orchestra this term (with plans to return to two in the future), multiple ensembles and a calendar of major choral performances in the Abbey, including the annual Messiah in the Michaelmas Term.

Westminster Abbey Choir School meeting the King

And the outcomes speak for themselves. In 2025 alone, one leaver achieved a music scholarship to Eton College, one to St Paul’s, three to King’s Canterbury and one to Gordonstoun, with pupils from previous years joining top London day schools or specialist programmes such as the Royal Academy of Music’s Junior Associate scheme. For a school of just 30 boys, it is an amazing record.

DRAMA

Obviously this is a school that’s oozing creativity, so it’s not much of a jump for the boys to enjoy drama too. Recent productions held at nearby Westminster School’s Millicent Fawcett theatre include Treasure Island and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, with every boy taking part.

ART

Westminster Abbey Choir School creative arts

Pottery, painting, and mixed media fill every corner of the art room, reflecting work of a high standard. The art teacher is energetic, nurturing and full of ideas.

ACADEMICS

Westminster Abbey Choir School student studying

The boys follow a broad, balanced curriculum rooted in the best of choir-school tradition – think small classes taught within year groups of maximum 6-7 boys (practically a tutorial). In Forms I and II (Y4 and Y5), English, Maths and Humanities are taught by the class teacher with other lessons being taught by subject specialists. From Form III (Y6) and above, all subjects are taught by specialists including Maths, English, French, Music, Sport, Art, and Drama. Subjects taught are pretty traditional here in the main, though Latin (Y6 onwards), Greek (Y7 onwards) and Philosophy and Ethics are also studied. Lessons are tailored allowing boys to thrive despite their demanding schedules.

Facilities mirror those of larger Prep schools, simply on a smaller scale, with upgraded science labs, bright classrooms and a new ICT suite, laptops and iPads supporting digital learning. It is a stimulating environment that prepares boys exceptionally well for Senior school, nurturing both musical brilliance and academic confidence.

Away from studies, the extra-curricular programme is intentionally gentle. Activities are hands-on, creative and often boy-led. Current and previous clubs include stop-motion animation, Airfix modelling, Lego, board games, puppet making, basket weaving, Gravitrax, origami, marquetry, film making, Warhammer, debating and Scratch programming. These clubs give boys space to unwind and enjoy relaxed, creative downtime.

PASTORAL CARE

Westminster Abbey Choir School students outside

With such a small community and a uniquely structured day, pastoral care is central to life at Westminster Abbey Choir School. A full-time Matron and close-knit staff team share responsibility for wellbeing, and as of January a dedicated counsellor has joined the team, creating a network of adults who know each pupil exceptionally well. The atmosphere is truly family-like and there’s an open-door culture with boys popping in to chat with the Head and even a resident miniature dachshund offering hugs and comfort, especially for younger boarders. Supported by the Deputy Head, Head of Learning Support, Form tutors, Personal tutors, boarding staff and the Chaplain, the care here feels calm, consistent and deeply child centred.

During my visit, several boys stopped to ask after the Head, who had recently been unwell – a moment that revealed just how confident and connected they are within this small community.

SEND

SEND provision is well embedded, with an expanding SENDCo role and flexible pastoral systems that adapt to the boys’ daily needs. In a community this small, personalised academic and emotional support is simply part of daily life.

BOARDING

Every boy in Form II (Y5) and above boards seven days a week and, with just 30 pupils, the accommodation feels more like a large family home than a traditional dorm. Boys can join from age eight, easing in with weekends at home during their first year.

Parents can visit every weekend (a lifeline for families who relish the chance to catch up) and many pop in after weekday Evensong too. Rehearsals take place on Saturdays too but always include time for families. Evenings follow a calm, predictable rhythm: supper, unwinding, reading and chatting with friends.

Dorms are neat and homely with themed wall coverings (planets, jungle, or under the sea) to personalise each space. Refurbished bathrooms feel warm and inviting rather than sterile. There is a shared living room that doubles as a library and older boys have a separate common room. It is warm, simple and secure – a proper home-from-home.

QUIRKS

OMG, yes. Boys attend prayers in the Shrine of Edward the Confessor, a part of the Abbey closed to the public, and once a year enjoy a game of hide and seek in the Abbey after hours which, let’s face it, could go on for hours. They wear bespoke chorister cloaks and attend Song School in the Abbey every day, grounding them in centuries of tradition.

Services take place just metres from some of the world’s most famous tombs. When we visited one pupil had just performed as the treble soloist at the Royal Albert Hall. Christmas is especially magical. The choristers sing in the Abbey on Christmas Day before returning to school for a festive lunch with their families. It is an extraordinary, unique childhood for the boys here.

THE HEAD

Westminster Abbey Choir School Head teacher

Formerly Head of Prep at Radnor House, Sevenoaks and previously Head of the Junior School at St Edmund’s in Canterbury, Dr Emma Margrett joined in January 2024 after what she describes as, “the one job I’d leave for suddenly appearing”. She speaks about the boys and the Abbey with genuine awe but has also wasted no time in making improvements where she sees them, refreshing dorms and communal areas, upgrading ICT and bathrooms and introducing murals and historical timelines to encourage what she calls “learning by stealth”. Next up are enhanced pupil academic tracking systems, further facilities upgrades, eco-initiatives and the return of international choir tours in collaboration with the Organist and Master of the Choristers, Andrew Nethsingha and the Abbey Music Department.

She’s hands-on, deeply involved in daily life and ambitious for the school’s future but what comes through most strongly is her commitment to widening access. Choristership is about musical spark, not privilege, and with a wealth of bursaries available, she encourages families from all backgrounds to apply. If your child is forever singing, tapping a rhythm or instinctively drawn to music, she believes this might be exactly the place for them.

As for Andrew Nethsingha, he was appointed in 2023 as the Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey and now is at the helm of all musical aspects of the Abbey’s work. Previously Director of Music at St John’s College, Cambridge for fifteen years, he is known for raising the bar in choral excellence.

FEES

From Sept 2025, the cost is £3,903.34 per term and that’s with tuition, music lessons, materials and most trips included. Pick your jaw off the floor – fees are significantly subsidised by Westminster Abbey, making this one of the most accessible full-boarding specialist schools in the country. 100% bursaries are available and the school strongly encourages families to enquire whatever their circumstances.

ADMISSIONS

Westminster Abbey Choir School student in hallway

Admissions focus on identifying boys with musical spark, accurate listening skills and the capacity to thrive in a structured and rewarding environment. The process begins with an informal audition with the Organist and Master of the Choristers, with the opportunity to attend a choral service seated near the choir to experience what it feels like to sing in the Abbey.

Unsurprisingly, competition is high due to the small number of spaces available – but don’t let that deter you, as the school prides itself on a fair admissions process, ensuring every applicant is given an equal chance. Shortlisted pupils return for a day visit including a longer audition, light academic tests, class time and an interview with the Headteacher. Parents meet with staff to discuss expectations and the demands of chorister life. Most boys join at the start of Y4, although older candidates may also be considered. It is possible to audition from Y2 onwards.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

No mobile phones are permitted and pupils do not have access to social media. Internet use is limited to school devices during set times. It’s a calm and well-monitored system that helps boys stay focused and grounded.

ISI REPORT

Read the latest compliance report from Feb 2023 – happy reading for prospective parents.

WORD ON THE GROUND

For boys with natural musical ability, schools don’t get more special than this. Westminster Abbey Choir School offers a first-class musical education, strong academics and incredible opportunities, all set within one of the most extraordinary educational environments in the world.

Parents describe the experience as a once-in-a-lifetime adventure: a tiny, close-knit community with a distinctly Harry Potter feel, rich traditions and a deep sense of pride. It is bespoke, characterful and unforgettable.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Boys with a musical spark who would relish the adventure and extraordinary opportunities that come with life at this historic school. Ideal for families seeking a unique childhood experience filled with music and tradition.

NOT FOR: Families who aren’t comfortable with a seven-day boarding rhythm from a young age. While pastoral support and downtime are thoughtfully built in, this is a fully immersive model and will suit boys who thrive on routine.

Westminster Abbey Choir School, Dean’s Yard, London, SW1P 3NY. Tel: 020 7654 4918.

Westminster Abbey Choir School, London

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