Chetham’s School of Music
Chethams School of Music
Org 1: HMC
Long Millgate, Manchester, M3 1SB
Telephone: 0161 834 9644
Key dates: Autumn term: Monday 8 September 2025 to Friday 12 December 2025
Half term: Friday 24 October 2025 to Monday 3 November 2025
Spring term: Monday 5 January 2026 to Friday 27 March 2026
Half term: Friday 13 February 2026 to Monday 23 February 2026
Summer term: Monday 13 April 2026 to Friday 3 July 2026
Half term: Friday 22 May 2026 to Monday 1 June 2026
Age Range: Prep/Junior to 13, Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Full Boarding
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: A Level, GCSE
Scholarships Tick: Music
Scholarships Other Types: Choral
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary
Scholarships and Bursaries – Further Details
Chetham’s School of Music
www.chethams.com
Chetham’s School of Music is a co-educational school for boarding and day students aged eight to eighteen. The School teaches a broad curriculum set within a framework of music. At the centre of every child’s course is a ‘musical core’ of experiences rooted in a determination to educate the whole person. There are two Principals, one focusing on Academic and Pastoral Care, the other on Music. Originally founded in 1653, through the Will of Humphrey Chetham, as a Bluecoat orphanage, the School was reconstituted in 1969 as a specialist music school.
The School numbers 332 students and there are 200 boarders. Admission is by musical audition, and any orchestral instrument, keyboard, guitar, voice, Jazz or composition, may be studied. Each student studies academic courses which lead to GCSE and A Levels, and to university entrance and conservatoire. The School stands on the site of Manchester’s original 12th-century Manor House adjacent to the Cathedral and is housed partly in the fine 15th-century College Buildings, and partly in the New School Building which houses all the instrumental, musical and academic teaching. The building also includes an Outreach Centre and two Concert Halls: the Carole Nash Hall and Stoller Hall.
Music. Instrumental tuition is guided and monitored by Heads of Department in each specialism; they survey students’ work, conduct internal examinations and arrange for external professionals to give masterclasses. Internationally renowned musicians hold residences at the School and there are three Music Courses throughout the year. The Joint Principal (Director of Music) has responsibility for the full-time Music Staff and for about 130 visiting tutors. All students receive three sessions of individual instrumental tuition each week. Practice is rigorously set and supervised. Academic Music is studied at GCSE and A Level.
Boarding. There are two boarding houses for girls and boys aged 13 to 18 and one for Juniors aged 8 to 13. Each House is run by Heads of House in residence, with resident assistants. All full-time teachers act as Tutors and are involved with pastoral care. In addition, there is a well-staffed Medical Centre with Nurses, School Doctor, Counselling, Psychotherapy, Hearing Nurse and Physiotherapy.
Recreation. Chetham’s School of Music offers students a ‘Health and Fitness’ programme, which includes sports and fitness, conditioning and health, but also in respect of injury prevention as young musicians.
Chetham’s as a specialist music school has student wellbeing at its heart. Our holistic approach to student wellbeing is delivered by personal trainers and specialist activity leaders throughout the day and evenings following individual, initial information-gathering and needs analysis. The School’s medical staff, physiotherapist and caterers also contribute to the programme.
Applications and visits. Entry is by audition only. Preliminary assessment auditions are held throughout the year, with final auditions in the Christmas and Spring terms.
The Prospectus and application forms are available on the School’s website. Parents and prospective students are welcome to visit the School by arrangement with the Auditions Administrator.
Fees and grants. All entrants from the United Kingdom are eligible for grants under the Department for Education’s Music and Dance Scheme. Parental contributions are calculated according to means and parents on low incomes qualify automatically for full fee remission. The Director of Finance will be glad to advise about the scales.
Choristers. The School is a member of the Choir Schools’ Association and Choristerships at Manchester Cathedral for day boys and girls are available under a separate scheme. Choristers’ Fee: £13,573 pa (subject to Cathedral Bursaries).
Charitable status. Chetham’s School of Music is a Registered Charity, number 526702. It exists to educate exceptionally gifted young musicians.
Governors & Staff:
Joint Principal: Miss N Smith, BA, NPQH
Joint Principal: T Redmond, BA
Vice Principal: Mrs J Harrison, MA
Assistant Principal and Head of Accompaniment: N Oliver, GRSM, ARAM
Director of Finance: P Oberg, CA
Head of Sixth Form: E Leeson, BEng (Hons)
Head of Middle School: A Henderson, BA
Head of Lower School: P Clark, BEd