Westminster Cathedral Choir School A GSG School
- Westminster Cathedral Choir School
Ambrosden Avenue
London
SW1P 1QH - Head: Mr Neil McLaughlan
- T 020 7798 9081
- E office@choirschool.com
- W www.choirschool.com/
- An independent school for boys aged from 4 to 13.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Westminster
- Pupils: 276
- Religion: Roman Catholic
- Fees: Day £20,922- £23,826; Boarding choristers £11,001 pa
- Open days: September, October, November, February
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- ISI report: View the ISI report
What The Good Schools Guide says..
WCCS is now up there with the top London preps, sending a regular flow of boys to the most coveted senior schools. The curriculum – ‘amazing’ said one parent – takes boys through the ‘cycle of civilisation’ (ancient, medieval and modern) three times during their stay, and while the timetable covers all the essentials, its reach is far more ambitious. Teaching, too, is anything but to the test. (‘It’s absolutely inspirational,’ said one father.) A charming mix of ancient and modern – a Tannoy called a boy to a music lesson, while loos are labelled just that – WCCS is amongst the most spic and span schools we’ve seen and ‘runs like clockwork’. Diocesan school inspectors commend the ‘outstanding Catholic ethos’ while parents…
Do you know this school?
The schools we choose, and what we say about them, are founded on parents’ views. If you know this school, please share your views with us.
Please login to post a comment.
Other features
Choir school - substantial scholarships and bursaries usually available for choristers.
Sports
Fencing
What The Good Schools Guide says
Headmaster
Since 2007, Neil McLaughlan, BA, PGCE. Mr McLaughlan attended St Joseph’s College in Ipswich and Durham University, where he studied philosophy and politics. After a brief stint as a management consultant, he trained as a teacher at Stonyhurst College (through Manchester Metropolitan University), going on to Worth, followed by Downside, where he became head of English and director of admissions. When the post at WCCS came up, he’d never considered a prep school, but the lure of London was strong.
Since his arrival, he’s transformed ‘a gentle, friendly, eccentric’ school into a ‘secure, academic’ one. ‘I took the view early on that you don’t just put a cross over the door, you have to earn your reputation. I’m really proud of what we’ve done.’ A genial, relaxed figure (offering us...
Subscribe now for instant access to read The Good Schools Guide review.
Already subscribed? Login here.
Special Education Needs
The school's SEN policy gives staff guidelines to help them identify children with possible specific learning difficulties. These individuals are screened by the SENCO and a further educational psychologist assessment suggested to parents if necessary. Limited remedial help can be offered within the school, by withdrawing children with recognised learning difficulties from classes. Otherwise remedial tuition is recommended at a centre outside school. Staff are made familiar with any new SEN diagnosis, and Individual Educational Plans issued with specific recommendations.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
| Aspergers | |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | Y |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | Y |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | Y |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
Leavers' destinations
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eton College | 2023 | 6 | 1 | Choral Award |
| Dulwich College | 2023 | 5 | 2 | Academic Scholarships (2) |
| Harrow School | 2023 | 5 | ||
| The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School | 2023 | 5 | ||
| Radley College | 2023 | 3 | 2 | Music Exhibitions (2) |
| St Paul's School | 2023 | 3 | ||
| Westminster School | 2023 | 3 | ||
| King's College School (Wimbledon) | 2023 | 1 | ||
| Winchester College | 2023 | 1 |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places |
|---|---|---|
| Wetherby School Kensington | 2023 | 1 |
The Good Schools Guide newsletter
Educational insight in your inbox. Sign up for our popular newsletters.