Westminster Abbey Choir School
School summary
There is nowhere else quite like Westminster Abbey Choir School. As the only school in the country devoted entirely to educating the choristers of a major abbey, it takes a tiny cohort of around 29 boys aged 8 to 13 and gives them an education built around the daily life of Westminster Abbey. Founded in 1560 and Anglican in character, this is a small boarding community where music and worship sit at the heart of school life. The Independent Schools Inspectorate judged it excellent in its most recent inspection, with personal development also rated excellent and all compliance standards met.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 7 February 2023
Teaching & academics
With an intimate roll of fewer than 30 pupils, teaching here is necessarily personal and closely tailored to each boy. The ISI's excellent rating speaks to the quality of education delivered alongside the demanding musical schedule. Around a fifth of pupils receive SEN support, suggesting a school accustomed to meeting a range of individual needs within its small classes.
Head · Dr Emma Margrett
Beyond the classroom
Music is not an extra here but the organising principle of the school, with boys singing as choristers of Westminster Abbey as part of daily life. Music scholarships are offered, reflecting the central role of choral excellence.
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1560
- Religious character
- Anglican
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 20.69%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Fees & bursaries
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £11,710
- Bursaries up to
- 100% of fees
Available up to 100 per cent
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Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A singular choice for a musically gifted boy, where boarding fees of up to £11,710 are softened by bursaries reaching 100 per cent for those who qualify.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Westminster Abbey Choir School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.