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Cathedral schools set to spread expertise in music and education with academies expansion plan

13 July 2007

 

Church of England cathedral schools could soon act as sponsors for city academies or even convert into academies themselves, in a move designed to spread the musical and educational expertise of the country’s cathedral schools across their wider communities.

The proposed move seeks to unlock the resources and expertise held by cathedral schools for the wider benefit of their respective cities and regions. The plan would mean that a much wider range of local young people would gain free access to the opportunities of cathedral music-making and choral music more generally, as well as benefiting from the quality general education these schools currently provide.

The Very Reverend Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark, spokesman for the Association of English Cathedrals, said: “Cathedrals are enormously involved in education through schools with which they are linked, having thousands of pupils in their care on a daily basis.  The public image is that cathedrals run small exclusive fee-charging preparatory schools for boy choristers. The truth is that many cathedrals do not have boarding schools at all, but may have direct involvement with several Voluntary Aided ‘State’ schools.

“What cathedral schools have in common - whether ‘traditional’ prep models or Voluntary Aided day schools - is musical excellence. The Academies programme offers a wonderful opportunity to challenge the nationwide threat to musical excellence in recent years and thereby continue to enhance not only education, but the cultural breadth of the country,” he adds.

The Church of England is already acting as sponsor or joint sponsor for a number of academies across the country (including 5 already opened and 20 definite plans), and raising the ‘bulk sponsor’ requirement of £1.5 million per project to serve as an endowment. Whether new academies sponsored by cathedral schools - or existing cathedral schools which hope to become academies - will be required to raise this amount is currently under discussion with the Department for Children, Schools and Families, although the Church would always be keen to source an endowment where possible. Already, nine possible schemes are in discussion, and more are anticipated.

Some Church of England independent schools - such as The King's Schools in Rochester and Canterbury - already act as associate sponsors for academies, while others are currently involved in the government's schools music programme.

The Revd David Whittington, Head of School Development for the Church of England, adds: “Cathedrals are powerhouses of musical and educational practice. It is thrilling to see them opening up this expertise to their local and regional communities, and being eager to offer their unique resources more widely than ever.

“The Church of England has service of the wider community at its heart, and a long tradition of serving disadvantaged areas by providing quality education in an inclusive and distinctive setting. Here is a new opportunity to demonstrate that long-standing commitment in a range of cities across the country - representing so much possibility for so many young people.”