Unlike many schools, The Cathedral School does not have an endowment fund to draw on to invest in our Bursary Fund, our estate or other resources.  We need to rely on the generosity and support of those who share our commitment to widening access to academic excellence, breadth of education and learning, and those who wish to see the School flourish.   

Fees paid by parents are carefully considered to ensure value for money and support the ongoing day-to-day costs of running a busy and vibrant independent school, where the quality of education and care is of absolute importance and continually improved. However, fees alone cannot cover all we seek to achieve as a School nor can fee increases protect the School in the future against external financial factors. 

Collective giving is a powerful tool to further strengthen the ties that bind us, and The Next Steps Giving Programme is request for support from the whole Cathedral School community - parents, guardians, extended family, Old Llandavians, staff and friends of the School.  

The Bursary Fund will enable us to widen access and provide additional transformational places – a vital step towards our ultimate goal of being able to be a school that any gifted and aspiring child can attend, regardless of their financial circumstance. 

The Bursary Fund will focus on supporting three new pupils each year for the next five years who stand out as being able to gain most from and contribute most to a Cathedral School education.   

Each young person will receive a 100% bursary designed to make a transformational impact, allowing them to fulfil their potential and pursue their aspirations. We also hope to make additional funding available to those who need it for uniform, school trips and other associated costs that will enhance their experience of an education at The Cathedral School.   

The achievements of past fund-holders, both bursaries and scholarships, illustrate the importance of the Bursary Fund today. Many have achieved great success in their careers and, by doing so, they benefit those around them.  

The Chorister Bursary Fund aims to widen access to choral training, making it open to many more promising young singers, regardless of whether their parents can afford the fees required for a private school education. We want to give the opportunity for choral training to more children from a wider range of backgrounds.  

All choristers currently receive a 35% reduction in fees. The Chorister Bursary Fund aims to provide an additional 65% of fees for pupils in Years 3 to 6, thereby creating a fund large enough to ensure choral places in perpetuity, irrespective of financial means.  

The choir began in its present form following the Victorian restoration of the Cathedral building and Llandaff Cathedral School was set up by Dean Henry Vaughan in 1880 to educate the boy choristers of the Cathedral Choir. The girl choristers were established by the Cathedral School in 1996 and, following an historic change in 2021, the girls were formally welcomed into the Cathedral music department and became part of the Cathedral Choir. From September 2022 full parity of opportunity was realised for boys and girls who wish to be choristers in Llandaff, and they now share duties equally. All the Choristers attend The Cathedral School which is the only remaining Anglican Cathedral School in Wales. 

The Choir has been heard internationally on broadcasts, most recently for a service attended by HM The King and Queen Consort which was broadcast live worldwide.

There are many opportunities throughout the year to hear the choristers perform. If you would like to discuss attending a forthcoming chorister event, please do get in touch. 

Throughout our history, the School has had a reputation for excellence. Starting as a chorister school, one of our earliest choristers moved from Llandaff to Westminster Abbey to sing at the coronation of Elizabeth II. The School numbers four Welsh rugby internationals amongst our alumni, which also includes musicians, politicians, and those who have served the people of Wales in the fields of medicine, business and the Arts. 

Whilst the current site remained relatively untouched between 1958 and 1987, since then, a consistent programme of upgrading and refurbishment has underpinned our development.

This programme of development was funded by the School’s own resources, financial support and donations. We are deeply grateful to those who have given generously to support The Cathedral School. 

Every gift, regardless of size, makes a difference and is an investment in our pupils’ education and future.

All gifts are meaningful, and we are immensely grateful to those within The Cathedral School community who have already supported the School and continue to do so.

As we are a registered charity (Charity Number: 1103522), it is possible to give in a number of ways and, depending on your circumstances, there can be tax advantages for both the School and the donor. Gifts do not always have to be in cash, nor do they have to be in your lifetime. However you give, your donation will go straight into our Bursary Fund, helping to widen access to an outstanding education.

Donors may choose to give on a regular basis. This is an affordable way of donating to The Next Steps Giving Programme and also allows us to plan for the future. Regular gifts add up and your contribution will join those of others to fund a bursary place.

A bursary place for a year at The Cathedral School is the equivalent to receiving:

The Cathedral School is able to continue to provide world class learning opportunities thanks to the generosity of donors like you. Thank you for considering supporting our Next Steps Giving Programme.