Salisbury Cathedral School

History

The school was founded by Saint Osmund, the Bishop of Old Sarum and Earl of Dorset, who was recognized for his good works when he was canonised several hundred years later in 1456. Osmund was born in Normandy and was a first cousin of William the Conqueror, King of England: William's father, Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy, was the brother of Isabella, Countess of Séez, the mother of Osmund.

The first notable pupil of the school was John of Salisbury who served Archbishop Thomas Becket until the latter was murdered in 1170. John was quoted by Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Originally, the School would have been housed near to the Cathedral at Old Sarum. At the start of the 13th.Century the centre of the Diocese of Salisbury was moved from Old Sarum to its present site. The choristers would then have lodged with various canons in the new Cathedral Close. After 1319, a house was built in The Close to house the School (known as 'The Choristers' House'). The School remained here for the next 300 years. The choristers were educated in the Chancellor's Grammar School nearby.

In 1714, the School moved to a new School House built for it on the north-west side of The Close. This came to known as 'Wren Hall' and, with the house connected to it (Braybrooke House) this acted as the centre of the School campus until the middle of the 20th.Century. Owing to the fact that this campus could not keep pace with the growing size of the School, the campus was relocated, in 1946/47, to the former Bishop's Palace in the grounds of the Cathedral. The building is designated as a Grade I listed building by English Heritage.

The Choristers of Salisbury Cathedral are educated at the school.

In 1987, the first girls were admitted. In a landmark move, the cathedral became the first in England to allow female choristers when it opened its choristership programme to girls in 1991.

More recently, a library partly funded by the former bookstore chain, Ottakar's, was opened in October 2002. Two members of the Heneage family who owned the company were former pupils.

The school featured in a BBC television documentary entitled Angelic Voices: The Choristers of Salisbury Cathedral, first broadcast in March 2012.

It has recently been announced that the school will merge with Leaden Hall, an all-girls school in the close, from September 2016. The combined school will be called Salisbury Cathedral school, and the Headmaster will remain.

Location

The school's 27-acre campus is located adjacent to Bishop Wordsworth's School, in the southern part of Salisbury Cathedral Close, which at 80 acres (320,000 m²) is the largest Cathedral Close in Britain. The main school building is the former Bishop's Palace, parts of which date from the building of the cathedral in the 13th century. The pre-preparatory part of the school is located in newer buildings adjacent to the palace, but uses some of the main school facilities. The boarding house is also located in the Close. Sports facilities include football, rugby and cricket pitches, athletics track, tennis courts/hockey pitches (Astro Turf) and an outdoor swimming pool.

Academics

Scholarships are offered on entry to the school at Years 3 and 6, with choral scholarships offered at Years 4 and 5. An exchange program with pupils from Union High School, South Africa, is available to Year 7 students.

Pupils generally take the Common Entrance Exam at the end of Year 8 and many progress to senior independent schools. Some also leave at Year 6 for local grammar schools, or other independent schools.

Choir

The school continues to serve its original function of educating choristers of the cathedral choir. Every year auditions are held for children between ages 7 and 9 and successful applicants receive scholarships to attend the school. It was the first English cathedral to allow girls to become choristers, and is unique in that the girls have equal duties with the boys. Many choristers board in a large boarding house located near the school.