Exeter Cathedral School (ECS) is a 3–13 mixed, Church of England, private day and boarding choir and preparatory school in Exeter, Devon, England. It has been closely associated with Exeter Cathedral since it was first recorded as existing in the 12th century. The prep school will close in September 2026.
History The exact date of the founding of the cathedral school is not known, but it has been educating choristers since 1179.News Desk, National top spot for Exeter Cathedral School Pupil, Exeter Daily, 6 January 2017, accessed 8 October 2020 In the 12th century, Exeter was regarded as an important centre of learning, and canon law was also taught at the cathedral.Thomas J. McSweeney, Priests of the Law: Roman Law and the Making of the Common Law's First Professionals (Oxford University Press, 2019), p. 93
For centuries, the school was provided by the Dean and Chapter to educate and house about twenty-six boy choristers who sang the cathedral's daily services, including Sung Eucharist and Choral Evensong.History & Heritage at exetercathedralschool.co.uk, accessed 2 October 2020
Musical training was given to the choristers by the cathedral's organist and the master of choristers. Although these offices could be held by the same person, from the 17th century on they were usually carried out by two different men.Stanford E. Lehmberg, Cathedrals Under Siege: Cathedrals in English Society, 1600–1700 (Penn State Press, 1996), p. 163 In 1609, Edward Gibbons, a brother of Orlando Gibbons, was hired to teach the choristers instrumental music. In 1662, William Wake was being paid £20 a year to teach the choristers and secondaries composing, singing, and the playing of the viol and the violin, and at the request of Charles II was given a leave of absence to carry out the same duties for the Chapel Royal.Lehmberg (1996), p. 165, referencing Act Book 1607–1628, p. 112 (Exeter Cathedral Library MS 3553), and a letter to the Dean and Chapter from King Charles II dated 23 December 1662
The school's present main building, known as the Chantry, was built in 1870.
In the 1960s, the Dean and Chapter began to enlarge the school, offering places to boys other than the cathedral choristers. In 1994, a girls' choir was established in the cathedral, and the school became co-educational. By 2008, the families of the choristers were having to pay for their education, but there were eighteen choral scholarships, worth up to one quarter of the school fees."Anglican Choir Schools" in British Music Education Yearbook (Rhinegold Publishing, 2008), p. cxxvii
In 2014, the school became independent of the Dean and Chapter, when it was established as an institution with its own governance and separate finances.
In 2017, two thirds of school-leavers were offered scholarships, exhibitions, or other awards by senior schools."Exeter Cathedral School Sweeps the Board with Outstanding Academic Success" at woodard.co.uk, accessed 11 October 2020 The school was assessed by the Independent Schools Inspectorate in May 2019 and judged to be 'excellent' in all areas.Anita Merritt, "Exeter's oldest school which Coldplay's Chris Martin attended gets rave review", 1 July 2019 at devonlive.com, accessed 2 October 2020 By 2020, the school was educating about 275 children, offering a broad education rooted in Christian values. It is a member of the Choir Schools' Association.The Independent Schools Guide 2011-2012 (Gabbitas, 2011), p. 407
Planned closure In January 2026, Exeter Cathedral School announced that, owing to ongoing financial pressures, it would close the Preparatory School (Years 3–8), including the Cathedral choristers, from September 2026. Under an agreed arrangement, the Nursery and Pre-Prep provision (up to Year 2) is expected to continue under the management of the Inspired Learning Group, in partnership with Hall House School and Shebbear College. A new partnership with Exeter School was also confirmed to enable choristers to continue their education together in a co-educational setting. The school will remain open in its current form until the end of the summer term in July 2026.
Notable former pupils Matthew Locke, composer"Matthew Locke", in Charles Herbermann, ed., Catholic Encyclopedia (New York: Robert Appleton Co., 1913) George Baker, organistJohn Alexander Fuller Maitland, "Baker, George (1773?-1847)" in Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 3 (London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885) Joseph Kemp, organistDavid J. Golby, "Kemp, Joseph (1778–1824), organist and composer" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2007) William Spark, musician and composer Henry Charles Lahee, The Organ and Its Masters (L. C. Page, 1903), p. 198 Samuel Knight, architectCharles Welch, W. T. Pike, London at the opening of the twentieth century (1905), p. 123 Albert Moulton Foweraker, painter Geoffrey Mitchell, conductor"President" at basildonchoral.org, accessed 2 October 2020 Tony Hymas, musician and composer"Tony Hymas, Pianist and Composer" at meettheartist.online, accessed 11 October 2020 Piers Dudgeon, biographer"The Big Interview: Piers Dudgeon" in The Yorkshire Post, 15 September 2013 Harry Williamson, musicianDaniel Farson, Henry, an Appreciation of Henry Williamson (M. Joseph, 1982, ), p. 11 Andrew Nethsingha, Director of Music at St John's College, Cambridge Chris Martin, singer Adam Gibbons, known as Lack of Afro, musician"Music", in Fanfare 1996–1997, p. 15 David Webb, of the English National Opera Pat McCormick, clergyman and sportsman
Notable staff Richard Langdon, organistJames Cuthbert Hadden, "Langdon, Richard", in Dictionary of National Biography Vol. 32, Lambe-Leigh (London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1892) Jackson of Exeter, Master of Choristers 1777 to 1800Robert Farquharson Sharp, "Jackson, William (1730-1803)" in Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 29 (London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1892)
See also List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom
References
Further reading Nicholas Orme, "Education and Learning at a Medieval English Cathedral: Exeter, 1380–1548" in Journal of Ecclesiastical History 32 (1981)
External links
Exeter Cathedral School - Chorister Memories at YouTube Exeter Cathedral School - Sport and Wellbeing at YouTube Tagged articles at The Exeter Daily