The Good Schools Guide is an impartial guide to independent schools helping parents choose the best education for their children. Each school is selected on merit alone and reviews are written in a style which GSG describe as "fearsomely frank and funny".
Over 1,200 schools are reviewed by GSG and in their own words "The Good Schools Guide is independent, forthright, well-informed and unbiased, which gives it unique authority and has earned the trust of parents and educational organisations worldwide."
Their reviewers have just updated their review of St Mary's Music School and it covers everything from entrance, examination results, SEN support, pastoral care, boarding, sport, teaching and learning and of course music. We aren't able to publish the full review but here's a short extract to give you a flavour.
Extract from the Good Schools Guide 2021
"One parent told us, 'We have travelled around the world and we have never encountered a school with such respect from the teachers towards the children. Naturally the children respond in kind. It’s magical” Wow, we say.
Pupils and parents
Pupils come from all over and a wide social background too. Musical talent is the common denominator. No obvious social grouping. Terrific parental support. Youngsters from abroad need local guardians.
Money matters
Oodles of bursaries but you need a UK passport to be eligible. Cathedral will cover 30 per cent of chorister fees. Scottish government contributes a chunk (aided places) and music school doles out bursaries – rigorously – with financial background of applicants tooth-combed. Fair to say that no musical prodigy from any background would be left wanting. Dr Taylor says, 'Parents make an affordable contribution.'
The last word
From a small fishing town on the west coast of Scotland to practising every day on a Steinway – that’s one pupil’s story. It’s a fantastic journey and if your child has a prodigious musical talent, you couldn’t do much better than St Mary’s. And if the school gets the go-ahead to move into bigger premises, the future for the school itself couldn’t strike a better note!
You can read the full review at https://www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk/