St Margaret's School
Same Hertfordshire area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
The Purcell School is a private secondary-stage school in Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, with a published age range of 8-19.
Private school Co-ed Ages 8-19 Sixth form Boarding school
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 8-19
- ISI ?
- Standards met
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
The Purcell School
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 8-19
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Standards met
Overview
Overview
Music is the organising discipline at The Purcell School. Founded in 1962, the co-educational specialist community combines day and boarding education with instrumental, vocal, jazz, composition and production departments. It is recognised as Britain's oldest music school, and its registered range of 8 to 19 carries that specialist route from younger pupils into Sixth Form.
Individual instrumental tuition, ensembles and performance opportunities run alongside English, mathematics, science, history, modern foreign languages, art, drama, physical education and music technology. The academic programme follows the English National Curriculum through Key Stages 2 to 4, then offers Sixth Form pathways including the Creative Music Industries diploma. Academic study and music are therefore planned as one timetable rather than separate tracks.
Concert life includes recitals, masterclasses, competitions and festivals, with performances at the school and in London. Three boarding houses provide practice rooms, recording facilities and a gym for evening and weekend use; approximately 75% of students board. Entry is specialist, with requirements and auditions for both day and boarding applicants, and the 2025 inspection found the relevant standards met.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 60% grade 5+ in English and maths and 47.7 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 2.8% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Hertfordshire and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 47.7
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 60%
- EBacc APS
- 4.41
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Hertfordshire and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 8-19
- Headmaster
- Mr Paul Bambrough
- Pupil roll
- 192 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Boarding
- Boarding school
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- Aldenham Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire
- Postcode
- WD23 2TS
- Area
- Hertfordshire
School leadership
- Headmaster
- Mr Paul Bambrough
School contact
- School phone
- 01923331100
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions email
- admissions@purcell-school.org
- Admissions phone
- 01923331100
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 8-19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- Boarding school
- Day fees
- Senior day tuition £14,166 per term, including VAT, from September 2026.
- Boarding fees
- Senior boarding tuition £18,087 per term, including VAT, from September 2026.
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
- Papers and stages
- 2 stages
- Format
- Mixed format
Papers and rounds
-
Round 1
Other
Music audition, sight reading and aural tests
Entry is by music audition, including sight reading and aural tests.
-
Round 2
Interview
Audition panel interview
Candidates complete a panel interview as part of the audition process.
Published assessment components
Interview is listed across the school's published assessment routes.
Published
-
Interview
Candidates complete a panel interview as part of the audition process.
Application
Application
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 47.7 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 82.9% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 60% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 4.41 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 2.8% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 37 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Standards met
Latest inspection: Not yet verified
- Leadership, management and governance
- Standards met
- Quality of education, training and recreation
- Standards met
- Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Standards met
- Social and economic education and contribution to society
- Standards met
- Safeguarding
- Standards met
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Routine Inspections 2025 is the latest report listed by ISI. The report says the relevant standards were met.
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Shortlist comparisons
Explore this school in context
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Related pages and guides
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Area and ranking pages
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Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does Purcell School handle admissions?
Purcell School handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to Purcell School?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for Purcell School?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for Purcell School?
Purcell School is currently rated Standards met.