The choristers are all educated at King’s College School, located across the river on West Road, just a few minutes’ walk from King’s College.
The school is a leading independent co-educational prep school with 400 boys and girls aged 4–13. Receiving excellent reports in recent inspections, the school has a wide range of modern facilities that provide for an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities, from sport to theatre to music. Despite these excellent resources, it retains the intimate 'family feel' of a small school where teachers are able to get to know each child individually.
The choristers undertake a rigorous but rewarding course of study and activities. Many go on to win music awards to leading secondary schools at the end of their time at the school.
The choristers take part fully in the school’s curriculum, rated by the school’s most recent inspection as 'outstanding'. The choristers also make full use of all the school’s extra-curricular and sports facilities. To find out more about the academic curriculum, and extra-curricular and sports opportunities for your son, please visit the King’s College School website.
All of the choristers are boarders in term-time, living in the school’s boarding house alongside non-chorister weekly-boarders. During a boy’s first two years in the choir (Year 4 and Year 5), he is called a Probationer and receives training to become a full Chorister. He is eased gently into full-boarding: boys in Year 4 go home for the weekend every Friday, while Year 5 boys begin to spend some weekends with the choristers at school. All boys have the option to stay at home on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings during term time if they choose to.
Boys come from across the country, and even from across the world, to become choristers at Kings; boarding very soon helps to create a strong group identity as boys grow up and work together in a warm, supportive environment.
Although the choristers have to combine their busy choir schedule with school work, the boarding house staff ensure that they have plenty of down-time. At the end of each day, activities are put on for the boys to allow them to let off some steam if they want to, or they can relax in one of the well-equipped, comfortable common rooms. At all times, but in particular at the weekends, the choristers have full use of the School’s excellent facilities.
In the school's most recent full inspection, the report described the quality of boarding as "excellent":
The excellent outcomes achieved for boarders are strengthened by the sensitive but practical approach adopted by the boarding staff team, which has a positive impact on the development of the boarders' integrity and independence.
While King's College School is a fee-paying school, all choristers receive at least two-thirds off full boarding fee. Additionally, we make every effort to ensure that choristerships are open to any boy of the right musical potential, regardless of financial circumstances.
Please get in touch with Katie Randle at the school if you would like to find out more about bursaries (01223 365814 or choristers@kings.cam.ac.uk), and for up-to-date information about fees, please see the links at the bottom of this page.
