The College, Durham DH1 3EL
10 reasons to choose The Chorister School
Top line
The Chorister School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 84. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Durham and one of the 2 best primary schools for 1.5 miles.
School fundamentals
The Chorister School is an independent prep day school for boys and girls (60%/40%) between the ages of 3 and 11 years. It is also a Choir School. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the junior division of the Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, an all-through school to age 18. The Chorister School fees range from £4,859 (Rec) to £6,239 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT but exclude lunches.
Average class size
The Chorister School has two classes per year and an average class size of 18 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Leavers’ destination schools for most Chorister School pupils are one of 25 independent day and boarding schools. Having merged with Durham School, that school may account for more leavers in future. 60% of pupils win awards and scholarships.
The Chorister School curriculum
School curriculum follows the National Curriculum and also includes PSHCE, French, Latin. Subjects are taught separately in prep, but thematically (‘creative curriculum’) in pre-prep. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers and a residential trip in Year 6.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music, languages, and art/DT throughout, and for most subjects from Year 5.
Sport at The Chorister School
School offers between 10 and 15 different sports over the course of the year. Representative teams in major sports from Year 3.
The Arts at The Chorister School
School educates the choristers of Durham Cathedral. Art and music are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. Drama is part of the co-curriculum. All pupils learn an instrument in class and nearly all take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Five choirs (excluding the Choristers), orchestra, and seven or eight instrument ensembles. The school offers each pupil over 5 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Facility for occasional boarding.
Find another school near The Chorister School
Durham High Prep School (2.3 miles); Argyle House Prep School (12.5 miles); Barnard Castle Preparatory School (26.7 miles); Mowden Hall School (29.1 miles); Aysgarth School (45.1 miles).
St Margaret’s Church of England Primary School, Durham (1.2 miles); St Godric’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Durham (2.4 miles); Shincliffe Church of England Primary School (2.9 miles).
Durham School (1.4 miles); Durham High School (2.3 miles); Argyle House Senior School (12.5 miles); Barnard Castle School (26.7 miles).
St Leonard’s Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Comprehensive School (1.3 miles); Durham Johnston Comprehensive School (1.7 miles); Framwellgate School Durham (2.2 miles).