School to end 900-year boarding tradition

Salisbury Cathedral School, established by St Osmund has announced that it will no longer offer boarding for students. Parents and pupils were informed of the decision on 30 January.

Head teacher Sally Moulton said the decision “has not been taken lightly” and stressed that it is not due to financial pressures, adding that “the school is in a position of strength.” Moulton explained that the move responds to changing attitudes among parents, with fewer than five per cent of the school’s 220 pupils currently boarding.

“Boarding has played an important role in our history, and we recognise the contribution it has made to generations of pupils. However, it now serves a relatively small proportion of our community,” Moulton said.
The resources saved by ending the boarding model will be reinvested to enhance the overall school experience, particularly for pupils involved in the school’s renowned Cathedral choir. The school also plans to extend its day from 07:30 to 18:00.

The decision follows a long history: Salisbury Cathedral School has been in the city since 1241 and on its current Cathedral Close site since 1947, according to BBC reporting.