Ripon Cathedral Choir School

[DracoM]

Can anyone help to clarify a very dismaying series of what may be more than rumours I have just heard on the grapevine that there is every chance that Ripon Cathedral Choir School is about to close and / or possibly amalgamate with a nearby-ish prep school?

I do know that Ripon have had their 'troubles' over the last couple of decades.

Anyone with info to clarify?

[weston752]

Draco

If today's Times is to be believed there is truth in this: it reportedly has shut after merger with another local school fell through.

[DracoM]

My info is that it was Cundall Manor school?

Ripon Choir School had boys as well as girls, and one wonders where such potential choristers of either sex are now being deployed? Will they still be able to contribute to the cathedral's services on quite the same level? Will it depend even more on long-suffering parents/transport etc? Will there be enough parents living locally to ensure that transport etc regularly to fulfil choir service duties? Huge issue for all concerned.

Ripon has a very good Grammar School, so maybe some link there is exploitable, but whether the D&C / DoM have well developed relationships with local primary schools or not is anyone's guess.

Could be a case of girls in Y7 onwards to the rescue?

[PJPJ]

It was Cundall Manor. There are debts of £600000 and the school runs at a monthly loss of £40000 so the state of the accounts made amalgamation with Cundall Manor impossible. Queen Ethelburga's, 12 miles away, has offered places to all current pupils and at their current fee arrangements. [info from The Times]

Here's the BBC MM report

http://www.classical-music.com/news/ripon-cathedral-choir-school-forced-shut

[DracoM]

Lots about the school - many thanks.
BUT
What is not at all clear in all this is what happens to the Ripon Cathedral CHOIR and the foundation's services from now on.

[RiponCathedralDoM]

I can confirm that the Cathedral Choir School at Ripon has closed. It is a great loss to us all and we feel desperately sorry for the children, parents and staff, who need all our support at this difficult time.

With regard to the Cathedral Choir, we are currently reviewing our options and will be meeting with chorister parents this week.

As news becomes available I will post it in this forum

Andrew Bryden
Director of Music
Ripon Cathedral

[DracoM]

Feel for you all over there. This must be a truly appalling time for you.

[decantor]

As news becomes available I will post it in this forum

Dreadful news! Sympathy, hopes, prayers, good wishes...... you have them all. Many thanks for undertaking to keep us informed on this board.

[terratogen]

Awful news for the choristers, pupils, and their families. All of my hopes for the best possible solution to a truly terrible situation.

[Roger Judd]

How I feel for the people of all ages involved in this sad business. It is horribly reminiscent of July 1985 when St Michael's College, Tenbury closed, for similar reasons. It is utterly ghastly to live through.

Let's hope that a solution can be found, in much the same way that was found for the boys of Tewkesbury's Schola a few years ago - one that seems to work extremely well.
RJ

[DracoM]

I can confirm that the Cathedral Choir School at Ripon has closed. It is a great loss to us all and we feel desperately sorry for the children, parents and staff, who need all our support at this difficult time.

With regard to the Cathedral Choir, we are currently reviewing our options and will be meeting with chorister parents this week.

As news becomes available I will post it in this forum

Andrew Bryden
Director of Music
Ripon Cathedral

Any further news, Mr Bryden?

[Gabriel Jackson]

Any further news, Mr Bryden?

Less than a day later?!

[french frank]

Less than a day later?!

On a busy day it 'bumps' the thread, doesn't it?

[DracoM]

Don't be clever, GJ. This issue has been ongoing since March. The Dean and Chapter met last afternoon / evening [24th] and a statement is in preparation and promised for very rapid distribution. I am told it will be published of course first to parents etc before going public.

[130.mitFuga]

[QUOTE=DracoM;188581]Don't be clever, GJ.

You must have been a schoolmaster, DracoM!