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The Headmaster, Peter Allwood, responds to the Editor of the Times Ed following the article of 19th December 2008: Choir Schools reject Academy switch.
Lichfield Cathedral School is undergoing an enterprising expansion programme, transforming itself year by year from a prep school (4 - 13) to a co-educational all-age independent school including both primary and secondary year groups. The school has almost doubled in size over the last four years and the pupils are currently aged 3 – 15. The pioneering pupils in the top year group are preparing for the school’s first GCSE entry in Summer 2010.
At the very heart of the school of 450 pupils are the 21 talented boy choristers who sing daily services in the Cathedral as well as concerts and many other events. The school has recently created a parallel opportunity for girls to develop the same level of musical excellence that the boys have enjoyed for almost 600 years. The boys were heard in a live broadcast Choral Evensong two weeks ago, and we understand that both choirs may be seen on ITV's lunchtime news bulletin on Christmas Eve. These opportunities help the children to grow in confidence and expertise, setting them up for future education and possibly for their eventual career. All choristers have substantial scholarships and means-tested bursaries are available to ensure that lack of finance is not the deciding factor.
The credit crunch and recession have not yet had any significant impact on the school's fortunes, possibly because it is the only co-educational independent school in the area and parents are keen to keep their children in small classes within a family atmosphere where educational breadth is valued. Encouragingly, we have 14 new pupils joining the school in January as well as waiting lists in future years. Parents continue to come in large number to visit the school and are excited about the opportunities it offers.
Almost two years ago, Cathedral Schools across the country were encouraged to consider the advantages of becoming or sponsoring an Academy. Fundamental to the Christian purpose of the Cathedral School is the desire to make educational excellence available to all children, whatever their parents' financial circumstances. The governors therefore took this invitation seriously and gave full consideration to the options available.
However, the decision was taken some time ago not to proceed with discussions as significant disadvantages were identified. Though the initial capital input would be beneficial, the per capita funding from the state would be far less than the current, relatively modest, fees: class sizes would have to grow and the staff:pupil ratio substantially reduced. Ironically, one of the key factors which makes the school distinctive, the attention to individual needs, would be undermined.
The school would have chosen music as its speciality, as it has so much to offer in the area of choral excellence, which the government is promoting with commendable energy and resources through the 'Sing Up' campaign. However, even now the boy and girl choristers represent almost 10% of the school, and the allocation of places to children with musical talent in an Academy would not greatly increase. The Academy admissions code of practice would not enable the school to significantly expand the quality and breadth of its choral and musical specialism.
Furthermore, the school would have less control over curriculum, being required to follow certain aspects of the National Curriculum and respond to the whims of the current political master. Full independence gives the school the opportunity to choose what it considers to be best for its pupils. Much of the time that is the National Curriculum, but there is a strong focus on music, drama, languages, sport and many other activities, including timetabled community action, through which pupils gain confidence and maturity.
Finally, a change of status to an Academy would reduce choice for parents in the locality as the Cathedral School is the only co-educational independent school in this area and there are good and successful schools already within the state sector.
Lichfield Cathedral School remains open to any national or local initiative that would widen participation in its Christian educational ethos. Whilst the Academy models currently on offer do not appear to provide the answer, the school seeks to increase means-tested bursaries, to develop partnerships with Church of England primary and secondary schools, to further its support for choral outreach (see http://lichfieldcathedralschool.co.uk/musicshare.html) and to encourage all children with a special interest in, and talent for, singing to benefit from membership of one of its many choral enterprises.
Peter Allwood, Headmaster
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