Westminster Abbey Choir School, Westminster Abbey Choir School

• Location: Westminster, London, England,
• Year founded: 1560,
• Number of students: about 30,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: boys only.

Westminster Abbey Choir School (WACS) — the only school in the United Kingdom focused on training boy choristers aged 8 to 13.

The exact founding year is difficult to determine, but the earliest records of WACS date back to 1560 — historically, musical training for choristers has been conducted here since the reign of Elizabeth I. Over 460 years later, WASC remains the only school where one can receive musical and academic education of this level. It belongs to the Anglican Church; students take part in the abbey's regular Christian services, while pupils of any faith are admitted and taught choral singing from scratch. No more than 30 students train within WACS at any one time — each receiving the maximum individual attention to their academic and musical abilities. The majority of pupils come from London and other regions of England, with a small number coming from abroad.

In addition to musical development and participation in external church events, students receive the necessary academic knowledge in accordance with the Years 4–8 curriculum. They achieve excellent results both throughout their studies and at the end of Year 8, which allows them to move on to the country's best schools for further education.

Despite the academic and creative workload, students still have time for their own interests and hobbies, and they can see their parents at sports competitions, performances at Westminster Abbey, and weekend services. During the school day, boys can use free landline phones located throughout the campus to call home.

In addition to singing at daily services at Westminster Abbey, students play a central role in many royal, state, and national events in the region, including:

• The funeral of Queen Elizabeth II,
• The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla,
• The wedding of the current Prince and Princess of Wales,
• Memorial services in honour of leading national and international figures, including Stephen Hawking and Nelson Mandela.

The school choir also takes part in other events: recording music albums with prominent performers, giving concerts, and going on tour.

The residence is located in the campus park area and accommodates all students. Most Year 4 pupils usually go home on weekends until they begin singing at Sunday services in Year 5 — from that year they choose whether to stay on campus for the whole week.

The residential building has rooms, each furnished for 3–4 boys; room assignments are made by age and reviewed each semester. Staff members live in the residence alongside the students, overseeing the daily schedule and providing round-the-clock support to pupils.

Catering at WACS is organized in partnership with Harrison Catering Services Ltd: all meals are prepared in the school kitchen using fresh ingredients. Breakfast and dinner take place in a more informal setting, while lunch is shared with all the teachers.

Music occupies a central place in extracurricular development: all students attend vocal lessons and learn to play two musical instruments, and can join the orchestra or become part of one of the many ensembles. Solo concerts and ensemble performances are held regularly on campus — organized by senior students: in recent years they have held several charity concerts, raising funds for the organizations Mind, Mary's Meals, and Gaza Crisis Appeal. Students also participate in a drama club that performs in city theatres.

To help students realize their talents in other areas, the school offers sports and creative clubs, and hobby communities:

• Seasonal sports: hockey, football, athletics, cricket, kayaking, rock climbing,
• Visual arts: ceramics, mixed media, painting,
• Interests: stop-motion animation, Airfix modelling, Lego construction, board games, doll-making, basket weaving, Gravitrax, origami, filmmaking, debate, Scratch programming.

On days when students are not performing at evening services, an excursion programme is organized for them to explore the sights of the region. As the school is located near many of London's historic landmarks, these are always included in the excursion programme: the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the West End, museums and art galleries.

• The only school for boy choristers in the United Kingdom,
• Excellent reviews from Good Schools Guide, Muddy Stilettos,
• Small study groups — 5–7 students,
• Mandatory residence during the school week,
• Musical education in the field of church ministry with regular practice,
• Choristers perform at events of global significance: from the Queen's honours to the King's coronation,
• In 2025, one graduate received a music scholarship to Eton College, one — to St Paul's School, three — to The King's School Canterbury, one — to Gordonstoun.

The school campus is located in the center of London, neighboring many historical sites and public transport stops that will take students to more distant attractions.

WACS occupies a historic building that has preserved its external architecture since 1915, while regularly updating its interior facilities. Classrooms and rehearsal halls are located on the upper floors, while common recreation areas and a large dining hall are on the lower floors. The infrastructure includes:

• Science laboratories,
• Art studio,
• Computer room with laptops and iPads.

In addition to modern academic equipment and interactive technologies, WACS features a wide variety of musical instruments — pianos can be found in nearly every classroom, even in the residence.

WACS partners with the indoor fitness center St Andrew's Club and has access to sports fields in Archbishop's Park and Battersea Park. A small inner courtyard allows students to spend time outdoors between classes, and after school they can head to the playground at Dean's Yard, where football matches are frequently held.

The academic calendar consists of trimesters:

• Autumn: September–December,
• Spring: January–March,
• Summer: April–July.

Each trimester includes two quarters — mid-term tests to check knowledge or important performances are held in the middle of the term. Breaks are organized between trimesters, during which, as well as on weekends and public holidays, students rest.

No additional payments are charged for tuition, music lessons, standard study materials, trips to concerts, excursions, and other services. Expenses will be required for registration fees, accommodation and meals, school uniform, and personal spending.

Before submitting an application, the families of prospective students can visit the campus, talk with teachers, and attend a choir performance at Westminster Cathedral. They then need to fill out a registration form, provide documents, and wait for an invitation to the entrance assessments.

The admissions committee organizes enrollment through two auditions: for the informal meeting, applicants prepare a song they like and demonstrate their talent one-on-one with teachers; if the prospective student already plays a musical instrument, they may bring it along. The audition lasts 10–15 minutes, after which the applicant is given a date for the general, second meeting: it lasts a full school day and includes a demonstration of both musical and academic abilities. Based on the results of these stages, an enrollment list is compiled.

Upon completing 8th grade, many boys enroll in the best state/private schools in the region, often winning a scholarship or grant.

To study in the United Kingdom, foreign applicants need a passport, medical insurance, a visa or residence permit. The ideal time to apply is during current studies in Year 3 with a view to enrolling in Year 4 (however, admission is also possible for subsequent academic stages).

The admissions committee expects academic reports from the previous place of study, and personal documents. Enrollment takes place, among other things, based on the results of an audition.

WACS provides scholarships for families in difficult financial situations who cannot fully pay for their child's education.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision