Christ Church Cathedral School

• Location: Oxford, England,
• Established: 1546,
• Number of students: about 160,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of training: boys only.

Christ Church Cathedral School is one of three choir schools in Oxford, teaching boys from 3 to 13 years old.

The institution has existed since 1546, to this day providing programs for singers of Christ Church Cathedral and several chapels. Due to its centuries-old history, the school has stable traditions in which the high quality of education, the competence of teachers and the comfort of infrastructure are established. Christianity is central to the academic process.

Christ Church Cathedral School offers programs from kindergarten to middle school. Girls are sometimes admitted to the kindergarten department as an exception.

The guest house is located in the main building. Students are accommodated in rooms according to their age, that is, only one-year-olds live in the room. The common room, equipped between the living rooms, has a recreation area and board games.

It is not necessary to live in the school's dormitory - for full-time students, a flexible accommodation option is offered: from Monday to Friday. This means that students can stay in the residential building for a week in a way that is convenient for them and their families.

The school cafeteria provides residents with three meals a day according to a regularly updated menu. It is of a high standard and is prepared by a chef who leads a talented and highly skilled team of chefs and makes sure that students receive well-balanced meals. The menu is a mixture of traditional English cuisine and dishes from around the world. Each semester, a themed day dedicated to a specific cuisine is organized on campus.

The main choir of the school is the Christ Church Cathedral Choir, known worldwide and sings twice a week in the chapel of Worcester College. Many concerts are organized throughout the year, including an annual home music competition in which three dormitories compete against each other. Christ Church Cathedral School choristers take part in the Outreach programme, visiting local schools and showcasing their choral skills, while regular concerts featuring Christ Church pupils are held throughout Oxford and beyond.

Participation in dramatic performances is one of the most memorable events for children from the junior department. The main performance is considered to be "The Nativity of Babies", in which students sing in roles and in different languages.  The preparatory school puts on two performances during the year. In higher school, boys audition for roles in the main school play. To prepare for performances, the institution has a drama club, including improvisation, short skits and sketches.

Also on the campus organized the work of circles:

• Art
• Craft
• Backgammon
• Brass band
• Bridge
• Chess
• Cookery
• Filmmaking
• Soccer
• Greek
• Guitar band,
• IT-technologies,
• Philosophy
• Real tennis,
• Senior choir and many others.

Rugby, football and cricket are played on the school sports field.

In the academic year, students have the opportunity to visit various attractions and go on a long trip. The most important of these is the annual summer trip to France. In recent years, students have visited the battlefields of the Somme, Dieppe and Mont Saint-Michel. There are also regular trips to many of the museums and monuments of the historic university city of Oxford, including the Natural History Museum, the Ashmolean Museum and the Botanic Gardens.

• Full board,
• Centuries-old traditions,
• Highly qualified staff,
• A variety of extracurricular activities,
• Excellent final exam results and continuing education options.

The campus occupies a large area on which several buildings are built: educational buildings, dormitories and administrative offices. Boys have access to the entire school and outdoor playgrounds, giving them ample opportunities for fun and relaxation. Academic classrooms, laboratories, sound and choral studios, dining room, entertainment halls and other facilities have modern equipment.

The city has an excellent public transport network, and students who do not live in a dormitory easily commute every morning from all corners of Oxford and nearby villages. The school has its own buses running around North Oxford.

Studies last almost all year round, interrupted for summer holidays - in July and August. Standard training day for different departments:

• Kindergarten: from 9:00 to 13:30 or extended day - until 15:30,
• Introductory groups: from 9:00 to 15:20,
• Primary classes: 9:00 a.m. to 3:25 p.m.,
• Middle classes: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

All students are expected on campus from 8:15 a.m.

Additional expenses:

• Overnight in a boarding house - 58 £,
• Use of the school bus - £ 225 one way during the semester or £ 330 round trip per semester,
• Swimming lessons - 53 £,
• Extended Classes Club - £ 11 per hour,
• Individual fee - £ 760 per semester,
• Music extracurricular activities – £380 per semester,
• Personal expenses.

An application for admission can be submitted at any time, admission is subject to availability. Applications are considered within 10 working days.

Elementary and middle school applicants are encouraged to spend a full day on campus, where they will be assessed on academic performance: reading, writing, spelling and comprehension.

Four seats in each group are allocated to the cathedral's choristers, who join the school in the fourth grade.

Applications for admission are usually based on the date of submission, priority is given to siblings of already enrolled students.

Most students receive places in their chosen institutions for further education. Every year, boys enroll in the best local day schools, the country's leading boarding schools. Many of them receive scholarships and the right to participate in large-scale concerts.

Recent graduates have enrolled in the following institutions:

• Abingdon School,
• Burford School,
• Brianton School (with a music scholarship),
• Cheney School,
• Harrow School,
• Magdalen College School with two music scholarships, one academic and several exhibition rights,
• Leighton Park School,
• Radley College,
• St. Edward's School (with two music scholarships).

Age Requirements for Admission:

• Kindergarten: from 3 years old,
• Introductory groups: from 4 years old,
• Junior classes: from 7 years old.

For admission, you must provide:

• Personal documents: passport, health insurance, visa or residence permit, contact details of parents,
• Any certificates from medical personnel: speech therapist, psychologist, personal doctor or others, if available,
• Assessments from previous stages of training.

Scholarships reward students who are academically successful and involved in the life of the school. All boys entering the third grade have the opportunity to apply for the Cardinal Scholarship, which is awarded once a year.

The Simon Arnold Music Fellowship Program for Worcester and Pembroke Choristers is available to college choir members who have outstanding musical ability.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision