At The Prebendal School, music is not just an extracurricular activity; it's at the heart of our educational philosophy. We believe in instilling a comprehensive understanding and deep appreciation of music in every child, a gift they will carry with them throughout their lives.
Our commitment to musical excellence is evident by our consistently outstanding results in music exams, where an impressive 97% of our students earn distinctions or high merits. Many of our pupils attain Grade 5 and beyond each year, often accompanied by a successful Grade 5 theory pass. But beyond the grades, our true aim is to nurture musicianship, emphasising a rich and diverse repertoire.
We take your child on a musical journey. From Nursery to Year 8, all students receive timetabled class music lessons, fostering a deeper understanding of music and encouraging creativity through composition. We aim to equip each pupil with the tools to unlock a deeper understanding of the subject, irrespective of their musical ability.
Our dedicated team of specialist music teachers includes some of the UK's best, providing top-tier music education to our pupils.
Nearly 95% of our pupils play one or more musical instruments, and practical music-making is woven into each year group's curriculum. From showcase concerts to informal performances, house singing competitions, and inter-house music festivals, our students have numerous opportunities to share their musical talents with the school community and beyond.
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We have a 100% pass rate in the Royal School of Music (ABRSM) and LAMDA exams.
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts is one of the country’s top drama schools and an awarding body for Performance and Communication examinations. We are proud to offer ABRSM exams in Music as well as LAMDA exams in Acting, Verse, and Prose, helping our students develop essential life skills and self-confidence, all whilst having fun.
Our Choristers are also a vital part of the musical life as The Prebendal has been the choir school of Chichester Cathedral for hundreds of years.
The Choristers, who live and learn at the School, sing almost daily in the Cathedral and to critical acclaim. They regularly appear on BBC Radio 3 with live broadcasts from the Cathedral and their music has been recorded on numerous occasions. To find out more about the Choristers, please visit the Choristers section.
We are extremely proud of our musical reputation and every year a high proportion of our Year 8 pupils secure music awards to many of the country's leading senior schools. There are also a large number of Prebendalians who work in the music industry.
Our pupils achieve well above the national average in all ABRSM examinations with the majority at Distinction and Merit level. You are warmly invited to come and listen to our solo and choir performances every Thursday during term-time at our assembly in Chichester Cathedral from 8:45am.
In 2012, Edmund Habershon left Prebendal and journeyed to Lancing, eventually pursuing his musical dreams at Trinity Laban London, where the army recognized his talent and sponsored his journey.
Now, he shines as a member of the Coldstream Guard Band, participating in iconic events like the Coronation and Trooping the Colour.
Edmund's recent triumph as the Household Division Musician of the Year proves that he was taught to reach for the stars by the remarkable Karen Kenard during his time at Prebendal. Against fierce competition, he struck a harmonious chord by winning the coveted Army Musician of the Year title, wowing audiences with his performance of Bach's Concerto in D Major BWV 972 on the Piccolo Trumpet.
We are partners with Fantasia Music School and they run their courses each year in the summer holidays here at The Prebendal. You can find out further information about Fantasia by visiting their website at www.fantasiamusicschool.co.uk. All bookings must be made directly with Fantasia and the Music School courses are open to all pupils, from Prebendal and externally.