The Purcell School is Britain’s oldest school for young musicians. Situated on the outskirts of London in Bushey, Hertfordshire, the co-educational boarding and day school is home to around 196 musically talented young people aged 11–18.
The School aims to provide young musicians, of remarkable ability and promise from all backgrounds, with the best possible teaching and environment in which to fulfil their potential. We deliver the very highest world-class musical instruction and hold the UNESCO Mozart Gold Medal in recognition of the School’s unique contribution to music, education and international culture.
The school affords ideal opportunities for practising, performing and developing musicianship, while also providing a balanced academic education which helps to prepare our students for lifelong careers as musicians. The high quality of teaching and outstanding pastoral support is further complemented by a nurturing environment in which students can form stimulating and mutually supportive friendships with similarly gifted children.
Music department. The Music Department at The Purcell School aims to provide a stimulating and challenging musical environment, at the heart of which is an individually tailored programme for every student. A flexible timetable, designed to enable students to practise, sustains this. Students in Years 7 to 8 are able to practise up to 3 hours each day, with those in Years 9 and 10 between 3–4 hours, and Sixth Formers in the region of 4–5 hours, depending on academic commitments. Practice supervisors are provided, themselves graduate musicians, and work with students up to Year 11 to ensure practice time is used effectively. The School’s expert instrumental teachers also set practice goals and teach practice strategies.
Students have twice-weekly contact with their first study instrumental teacher for up to 2 hours’ tuition. All of Purcell’s instrumental teachers have considerable experience of working with motivated young musicians and have proven ability in enabling their students to succeed. They are all active performers and practitioners, and many teach at the London conservatoires as well as those further afield. As such, they are distinguished industry professionals, who understand exactly what is necessary to succeed in the music business today.
In addition, the Music Department offers an enriched musical programme that includes chamber music, orchestras, piano classes, choirs and aural and theory training. Frequent performing opportunities range from daily lunchtime concerts at School and in the surrounding area to formal recitals around the UK and in the capital’s leading venues. The School’s proximity to London provides regular performance opportunities at some of the world’s finest venues, an experience unmatched by any other musical school. Students, for example, can audition for the chance to play concertos with the School’s orchestras, to give solo and chamber music recitals at Cadogan Hall, Wigmore Hall, Milton Court Concert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and other prestigious venues.
The School also facilitates frequent visits from the world’s leading musicians for masterclasses, recitals, courses and collaborative projects to enhance the work of our regular teachers.
The importance of providing an outstanding all-round educational experience is paramount at The Purcell School, so that students can leave with the skills they need to meet the challenges of an ever-changing and complex world. Purcell therefore endeavours to deliver an integrated curriculum in which music, academic, pastoral and social provision are treated equally. The School recognises that intellectual curiosity and social empathy are vital components of being a great musician, and that it is imperative to develop the whole person for a student to be truly happy and healthy.
Academic studies. The School’s curriculum allows students to fulfil their musical potential without limiting their choices. A range of subjects are offered including Mathematics, English, Sciences, Modern Languages and Humanities, which provide an essential complement to performing skills.
The size of the School ensures that classes are generally small, which allows for a great deal of individual attention from experienced and dedicated teachers.
All students are set homework each day and time is allocated in the boarding houses each evening for this to be completed. Students’ academic progress is closely monitored and parents receive frequent progress reports.
Boarding. With approximately 76% of students boarding, the School feels like a home from home and boarders lead very full lives. As travel time is reduced there is more time to practise, to ensure academic work is completed to a high standard, to be involved in a breadth of musical and co-curricular activities, and to build lifelong friendships. Boarding also prepares students for the independence they will have in further education.
The Purcell School has three boarding houses – Avison, Ellington and Sunley – which are run by a dedicated team of warm and caring boarding and pastoral staff, who are responsible for each student’s welfare and wellbeing. Great care is taken to ensure a student’s stay is safe, productive and, most of all, as enjoyable as possible.
All boarders eat together in the main dining hall, however, there are also common rooms and small kitchens in each corridor of the boarding houses. Weekend activities, evening events and social gatherings are regularly organised, and students are able to travel into London to attend the junior departments of the capital’s music colleges and conservatoires or enjoy concerts and events.
Boarders have access to school facilities, such as practice rooms and computers, at evenings and weekends.
In each half of the term there is normally an exeat weekend when all students go home or to their guardian or to friends. There is also a half-term period in each of the three terms.
Admission. Entrance is by musical audition and interview – please see the School website for further details. The Admissions Manager, Natasha Vallance, can answer queries.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Day: £11,351 plus VAT; Boarding: £14,493 plus VAT.
Bursary funding is available, for those students who meet the eligibility criteria, under the Department for Education's Music and Dance Scheme (MDS), and there is the possibility of means-tested financial support from the School Bursary Fund for those who do not. Parents are welcome to consult the Bursar for guidance.
Charitable status. The Purcell School is a Registered Charity, number 312855. It aims to offer specialist musical training, combined with an excellent general academic education, to children of exceptional musical ability.
Governors & Staff:
Patrons:
HM The King (Royal Patron)
Sir Simon Rattle, CBE, OM (President)
Vladimir Ashkenazy, CBE
Donatella Flick
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, DBE
Evgeny Kissin
Dmitry Sitkovetsky
Julian Lloyd Webber, OBE
Artists in Association:
Robert Saxton
Governing Body:
Dr Bernard Trafford, MA Oxon, MEd, PhD Birmingham (Chairman)
Kirsty Von Malaisé, MA Cantab (Chair of Music of Education Committee)
Sophia Coles, BA, LLM
Gautam Dalal, FCA, FRSA
Richard Hill, MA Cantab
Timothy Jones, MA, DPHIL, Hon RAM
Professor Christopher Liu OBE, PhD
Dr Diana Salazar, FHEA, PGCE Kul, PHD Manc, BA, PGDipMus, MMus RSA
Senior Leadership Team:
Principal: Paul Bambrough
Vice-Principal: Thomas Burns
Director of Music: Paul Hoskins
Bursar: Adam Wroblewski
Director of Boarding: Jane Mitchell
Director of Operations and Deputy Bursar: Emma Bantock
Director of Teaching and Learning: Michael Long
Director of Development: Chris Harbour
Head of Sixth Form & DSL: Ziggy Szafranski
Music Department:
Strings:
Charles Sewart (Head of Strings, Violin/Viola)
Richard Jenkinson (Assistant Head of Strings)
Pál Banda (Cello)
Aiste Dvarionaite Berzanskiene (Violin)
Sascha Boyarsky (Cello)
Sarah-Jane Bradley (Viola)
Ben J Davies (Cello)
Alda Dizdari (Violin)
Cathy Elliott (Double Bass)
Tanja Goldberg (Violin)
Sadagat Mamedova-Rashidova (Violin)
Francesco Mariani (Guitar)
Julian-David Metzger (Cello)
Joo Yeon Sir (Violin)
Nathaniel Vallois (Violin)
Jacky Woods (Viola)
Keyboard:
William Fong (Head of Keyboard, Piano)
Lidia Amorelli (Piano)
Ben de Souza (Accordion)
Caterina Grewe (Piano)
Morta Grigaliunaite (Piano)
Gareth Hunt (Piano)
Jianing Kong (Piano)
Alla Kravchenko (Piano)
Ching-Ching Lim (Piano)
Florian Mitrea (Piano)
Tessa Nicholson (Piano)
Vitaly Pisarenko (Piano)
Danielle Salamon (Piano)
Tatiana Sarkissova (Piano)
Deborah Shah (Piano/Accompanist)
Daniel Swain (Accompanist)
Patsy Toh (Piano)
Alexander Ullman (Piano)
Nafis Umerkulova (Piano)
Tom Winpenny (Organ)
Wind, Brass and Percussion:
Mike Cavanagh (Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion, Baritone Horn)
Joanna Baillie Stark (Bassoon)
Izzie Couch (Clarinet)
Tony Cross (Trumpet)
Timothy Ellis (French Horn)
Amy Green (Saxophone)
Ryan Hepburn (Percussion)
Clare Jefferis (Flute)
Ruth Molins (Trombone)
Mike Poyser (Tuba)
Melanie Ragge (Oboe)
Naomi Sullivan (Saxophone)
Mark Taylor (Flute)
James Turnbull (Oboe)
Stephen Williams (Clarinet)
Harp & Voice:
Paul Hoskins (Head of Harp and Voice)
Daphne Boden (Harp)
Tom Marandola (Voice)
Charlotte Seale (Harp)
Karen Vaughan (Harp)
Jill Washington (Voice)
Chamber Choir:
Chloe Allison (Choir Leader)
Jazz:
Simon Allen (Head of Jazz, Jazz Saxophone)
Sebastiaan de Krom (Jazz Drums)
Sam Dunn (Jazz Guitar)
David Gordon (Jazz Piano)
Oli Hayhurst (Jazz Bass)
Jacqueline Hicks (Jazz Voice)
Martin Shaw (Jazz Trumpet)
John Turville (Jazz Piano)
Commercial and Popular Music:
Simon Allen (Head of Commercial and Popular Music)
Pete Billington (Songwriting)
James Clark (Guitar)
Daniel Drury (Electric Bass Guitar)
Jacqui Hicks (Vocals)
Daniel Mullowney (Interim Drums)
Lucy Phillips (Singing - Pop Music and Musical Theatre)
Composition:
Alison Cox (Head of Composition)
Lara Agar (Junior Composer in Association)
Daniel Fardon (Composition)
Silvia Lim (Composition)
Gareth Moorcraft (Composition)
Simon Speare (Composition)
Audio Production Department:
Aidan Goetzee (Head of Audio Production)
Academic Music Staff:
Andrew Williams (Head of Academic Music)
Alison Cox (Composition)
Daniel Fardon
Alberto Martin Entrialgo
Joseph Shiner
Irina Walters
Academic Staff:
Michael Long (Director of Teaching and Learning, Head of English)
Heloise Gille (French)
Aidan Goetzee (Head of Music Technology)
Victoria Hill (Head of History)
Linda Holmes (Maths)
Anisha Kochhar (Maths)
Kinga Kozak (EAL)
Robert Matthews (Head of MFL, German)
Anna Mehta (Head of Science)
Arta Nika (French)
Hannah Noonan (Head of PE and Physical Wellbeing)
Craig Nunes (Drama, English)
Ashvin Patel (Science, Chemistry)
Zara Pradhan (English)
Victoria Samuel (Head of Art)
Aarti Shah (Maths)
Alexandra Stone (Head of Mathematics)
Martina Swift (EAL)
Jim Titmuss (Science, Physics)
Ziggi Szafranski (Drama)
Sally-Ann Whitty (Head of Learning Support)
Boarding Houses:
Olena Bilash (Resident Boarding Assistant, Avison)
Christiam Caliendo (Assistant Houseparent, Avison)
Peter Cornish (Assistant Houseparent, Ellington)
Marko Dulovic (Houseparent, Ellington)
Susan Fisk (Assistant Houseparent, Ellington)
Pippa Forbes (Resident Graduate Assistant, Ellington)
Karla Hawkins (Houseparent, Avison)
Simon Hayter (Evening Supervisor)
Kenny Ho (Resident Graduate Assistant, Ellington)
Susie Hunter (Sunley House Day Matron)
Jane Mitchell (Director of Boarding)
Carol Morgan (Residential Medical Practitioner)
Nicky Morris (Counsellor and Arts Therapist)
Ella Pearson (Resident Graduate Assistant, Sunley)
Oilvia Roache (Houseparent, Sunley)
Izaac Wong (resident Graduate Assistant, Ellington)
Admin & Non-Teaching Staff:
Emma Abrahamson (Recruitment and Compliance Officer)
Hilary Austin (School Nurse)
Tony Bond (Estates Officer)
Charlotte Buck (Development Officer)
Ryan Bunce (Librarian)
Robin Collingwood (Specialist Art and Teaching Assistant)
Susannah Curran (PR & Communications Manager)
Fiona Duce (Music Timetabler)
Jacob Eccles (Music Technology and IT Assistant)
Caroline Fletcher (Overseas Student Co-ordinator)
Sarah Graham (Executive Assistant to Principal)
Linda Griffiths (School Office Administrator)
Nicole Holmes (Senior Housekeeper)
Archie John (Librarian)
Simon Kingsbury (IT Network Manager)
Fei Liu (International Partnerships & Recruitment Representative (China))
Marie Lynch (School Office Administrator)
Jane McGuinness (Data and Payroll Specialist)
Becky Menday (Concerts Assistant)
Andy Milner (Estates Supervisor)
Caroline Murphy (Exams Officer)
Hawreen Osman (Science Technician)
Susan Pickard (Assistant Bursar)
Sharanha Senguttuvan (School Office Administrator)
Elisabeth Stemson (School Office Administrator)
Helena Thomas (Art Technician)
Sarah Upjohn (Physiotherapist)
Natasha Vallance (Admissions Manager)
Tony Whitman (Estates Assistant)