Westminster Cathedral Choir School

Our View

The sound of Moments Musicaux drifting down to us as we waited in reception, set the tone for our visit. Music is everywhere in this lovely little school -with just 140 pupils, it fields 2 orchestras, 4 chamber ensembles, any amount of singing and a huge breadth of instrumental tuition. Many pupils achieve grades 7 or 8 in their chosen instrument(s) by the time they leave and the choral singing is internationally renowned. The choristers are, in the headmaster's words, 'completely immersed' in music, and the day boys get a pretty thorough soaking too. The musical repertoire has been classical to date but new head of music, Mark Kennedy, is determined to introduce a contemporary note as well – African music has made its way into the classroom and musicals are planned for later in the year.

The school is tucked away behind the red and white brick splendour of Westminster Cathedral and consists of a labyrinth of smallish rooms surrounding a splendid playground, round which we saw posses of healthy little boys throwing themselves. Football, rugby and cricket are the main sports here and are played enthusiastically at local pitches, swimming and PE at the Queen Mother Sports Centre. The classrooms are nothing out of the ordinary – our tour guide proudly showed us the gas tap in the science lab – but the standard of work on the walls was excellent and bore testimony to imaginative teaching. Parents describe the teachers as 'motivated', 'easy to approach' and 'inspirational'. A recent critical ISI report commented unfavourably on boarding facilities and the over-use of practice exams over the final two years – neither was a cause for concern when we last visited and parents we have spoken to before and since (with one notable exception) do not agree with the ISI.

The boys seem happy, confident, articulate, proud of their school and very well-mannered. Superb food is cooked on the premises by 'three funky young chefs'; a wide range of clubs and societies (debating, chess, reading, fencing). For the boarders, film nights, toast parties and other treats are held in their own spacious commonroom, equipped with two pianos and a TV. A remarkably warm and caring head of boarding (a parent himself) supervises regular pillow-fights. One diminutive chorister admitted that he'd found the first couple of nights difficult but the matrons were 'big on cuddles' and he'd soon settled in. And indeed the junior dormitory, where teddy bears are compulsory, is delightful, resembling a children's bedroom in an IKEA showroom. The senior facilities are a little bleaker but due for a makeover this year, and our tour guide assured us that juniors only used the senior bathroom 'when the plumbing was bad' – which, judging from the state of the French classroom ceiling, must be pretty often.

Scored poorly on its pastoral care in its previous Ofsted report, but the new head has already turned this round and it is now rated as 'outstanding'. Boys are consistently rewarded for kind and caring behaviour and bullying is all but unknown. Parents report improvements in staff-parent communications. 'Concerns are now dealt with in a really professional and positive way,' wrote one parent. 'The children are very happy and the school is definitely on the up,' was another comment.

The headmaster is proud of the school's Catholic ethos, that 'prayer should be a natural and happy part of a child's life'. We were very struck by one recent innovation – the entire school (day boys and choristers) now sings together every Wednesday in Westminster Cathedral at their own special Mass. All the staff go and all the parents are invited. It is, says the headmaster, 'a unifying thing'. Certainly this seemed to us a cheerful, affectionate and successful community.

Headmaster

Since September 2007, Mr Neil McLaughlan (late thirties). Joined from Downside School, near Bath, where he was head of English and director of development. Before that he taught English at Worth and Stonyhurst. He was educated at Durham University and spent a few years with Andersen Consulting in London before embarking on a teaching career in 1997. His interests include poetry, drama and cooking. He is married with two small children and is utterly charming.

Entrance

Boys come into the school in year 4 (from 2010 from year 3, for day boys only) and leave at the end of year 8. Testing for would-be choristers, who must be Catholic and full-time boarders, is thorough. Information is sent out to every RC parish in the UK, inviting children along to the school's 'Chorister For A Day'. Those who are still interested after that can then apply for the six or so places. If candidates (a) survive the academic assessment and (b) sing their way past Martin Baker, the Cathedral's Master of Music, they spend two trial nights at the school. Only then, if they're judged suited to chorister life, are they offered a place. The head dismissed any 'misconception that chorister boys are whey-faced and insipid' – they need to be 'robust, fit, fun-loving and go-getting'. Around 80 to 100 boys also apply for 24 day places and are academically assessed like the choristers, in English, maths and verbal reasoning. Unlike choristers, these boys are mostly from local pre-preps (Eaton House etc), and can be of any faith. RC and C of E predominate but we spotted a Patel and a Rabinowitz on the roll as well. Sibling policy is strong – 'We like to keep families together'.

Exit

Exit record is outstanding, a significant factor in parents choosing WCCS for their sons. Choristers win music scholarships to the major Catholic boarding schools (Ampleforth, Downside, Stonyhurst etc), day boys go on to a raft of top London schools including Eton, Harrow, Westminster, St Paul's, KCS Wimbledon and Alleyn's.