Ages 
Not to be entered into lightly – particularly at the younger end of the age range – but here is a greenhouse of a school, providing a rarefied environment for its brilliant young students to flourish amongst like-minded individuals.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 198 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 89 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- None
- Fees
- Day £40,864; Boarding £52,175 pa
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire County Council
- Area guides
Headteacher
Principal
Paul Bambrough
Since 2018, Paul Bambrough, previously vice principal at the Birmingham Royal Conservatoire where he also, inter alia, taught in the vocal and operatic studies department and contributed to the orchestra conducting course. While director of music at
Entrance
Since Covid, the audition process has changed slightly. Prospective students are now invited to send in a video recording of themselves performing a piece in their chosen instrument: ‘This is really to make a first judgement about whether a student
- Open days
- November
Exit
Almost all to the great and good of music colleges, conservatoires and top universities to read music. Strongest numbers to Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Latest results
In 2025, 58 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 30 per cent A*/A at A level (54 per cent A*-B).
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
Not an obvious place for the academic scholar who also happens to be a musical prodigy, but then again it doesn’t pretend to be a one-stop-shop for the all-rounder, albeit results continue to be above the national average. Head says, ‘Whilst academic
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Almost half of students are identified as having a supported need. These usually relate to dyslexia, dyspraxia or dyscalculia, with a few autistic students and over 30 receiving EAL support. ‘The school assists young people right across the
Arts & extracurricular
Options vary wildly to cater for the varying interests of students, and anyone can start their own club - be it debating, chess or ping-pong (if they can squeeze it in on top of the three to four hours of music practice per day).
Art pursued to
Sport
Contact sports are not forbidden as such, just managed very carefully – ‘A broken finger could mean the end of a budding career.’ Only one fixture a year, and that’s against the Yehudi Menuhin School (think Oxford/Cambridge boat race). One timetabled
Boarders
All but 40-ish board - nearly full to capacity. It is strongly encouraged, not least due to the early starts and late finishes: ’Suddenly all of that travel and logistics are removed,’ says housemistress. Littlies in years 7-9 are in homely co-ed
Ethos & heritage
Not as old as you might expect, despite being the UK’s first and oldest specialist music school. Founded in 1962 by Rosemary Rapaport and Irene Forster as the Central Tutorial School for Young Musicians and residing first at concert venue Conway
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Safeguarding is very much top of head’s agenda, a priority given the school’s chequered past (a quick Google will tell you all you need to know). Head radically overhauled the team of staff upon his arrival, and teachers are now vetted within an inch
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Years 7, 8 and 9 students may not have their phones with them during the school day. Boarding houses will safely keep devices whilst they are in school. Years 10 and 11 students may keep their phones in their bags or pockets but they may not use these devices during the school day. Sixth form will be allowed to keep and use their phones but we ask that phones are not out in lessons or communal areas (apart from common rooms). All boarders up to and including year 11 will be required to hand in mobile phones, tablets and laptops overnight.
Pupils & parents
Families from all walks of life and social backgrounds - some from the music world, many (around 40 per cent) from other creative industries and occasional bewildered parents who have no idea where their prodigy’s talent came from. Tiger parents not
Money matters
Boarding fees up there with top public schools, but very few pay full fees. The majority of places (currently over 140) are funded by the government’s music and dance assisted places scheme or by school bursary or scholarship. ‘We could never do this
- Fee information
- Day £40,864; Boarding £52,175 pa
The last word
Not to be entered into lightly – particularly at the younger end of the age range – but here is a greenhouse of a school, providing a rarefied environment for its brilliant young students to flourish amongst like-minded individuals.
