The Minster School, York

Short description: School in York, North Yorkshire, England

Short description: School in York, North Yorkshire, England

The Minster School

Address
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8 Minster Yard

York

North Yorkshire

YO1 7JA

England

Coordinates|  [ ⚑ ] : 53°57′42″N 1°04′51″W﻿ / ﻿53.961716°N 1.080791°W﻿ / 53.961716; -1.080791
Information
Type|

* Private preparatory day school
* Choral foundation school
* Cathedral school

Religious affiliation(s)| Church of England
Established| 1903,[1] but traces its origins back to 627[2]
Founder| Paulinus of York[2]
Closed| 2020
Department for Education URN| 121731 Tables
Head teacher| Angela Mitchell [3]
Gender| Mixed
Age| 3 to 13[4]
Enrolment| 161[4]
Website| www.minsterschoolyork.co.uk

The Minster School was an independent preparatory school[5] for children aged 3–13 in York, England. It was founded to educate choristers at York Minster and continued to do so, although no longer exclusively,[6] until in June 2020 it was announced that the school would close at the end of that term.[7] The building is Grade II listed[8] and has since been redeveloped as a restaurant, the York Minster Refectory.[9]

The Choir School moved to St Peter's School, York in September 2020.[10]

## Contents

* 1 Location
* 2 History
* 2.1 Suspension of staff in 2018
* 2.2 Closure
* 3 References
* 4 External links

## Location

The school occupied today's 8 Minster Yard, part of a complex of buildings in York, directly across from the York Minster.

The building was converted into the York Minster Refectory after the school's closure, and was opened by King Charles III on Maundy Thursday 2023.

## History

The building on the right (today's 9 Minster Yard) is one of the school's former constituent buildings. Built around 1755 for dean John Fountayne. The Roman column is also in view

The school traced its origins to a "song school" founded in 627 by Paulinus of York, the first Archbishop of York,[2][11] however the current school was re-founded in 1903.[2] The Minster School had a strong focus on music and, of the 180 pupils, 40 were choristers at York Minster.[11]

Buildings used by the school have been awarded listed status, among them the school house built 1830–1833,[12] two houses dating back to 1837,[13] and a Georgian building of 1755.[14]

The school buildings were used to depict the House of Lords in the 2016 TV series Victoria.[15]

### Suspension of staff in 2018

In May 2018, the school attracted national press attention when the headmaster and two other senior members of staff were suspended after three ‘unsecured’ air rifles were found in a staff area on school premises.[16] The Dean of York faced protests by parents supportive of the staff and angry at the manner of the suspension.[17][18] Faull was criticised by some for her heavy-handed approach towards the matter.[19] Two of the suspended staff were subsequently reinstated, while the headteacher remained barred from the school. Donaldson, who had worked at the school for several decades, formally stepped down from his position in November 2018.[19] Prior to the May 2018 suspensions, it was reported that the headteacher, Alex Donaldson, had been asked to step down by the Chapter of York and had been offered a severance package, according to parents involved in the matter.[20]

### Closure

In June 2020, the Minster announced that due to the shortfall caused by the lack of visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic it was unable to keep the school open. The school closed at the end of the Summer Term that year. Choristers were transferred to St Peter's School and other pupils were left to find alternative schools.[21] Following the school’s closure in 2020, planning applications were submitted to convert the former Minster School building to commercial and community uses. The proposals included the change of use of the Grade II-listed former school to a restaurant (use class E) with a new kitchen, plant and service doors, the creation of level access and a platform lift, internal alterations and re-roofing, and the integration of solar photovoltaic panels on the roof. The plans also involved external repairs and landscaping improvements including public open space, cycle parking and associated amenities. Parts of the school were turned into office space for Minster staff. The conversion and building work is thought to have cost several million pounds. [22]

## References

1. ↑ Roden, John (2005). The Minster School, York: A Centenary History 1903-2004. York: Sacram Publishing. p. 1. ISBN 0-9535775-1-1.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "The Minster School: Standard Inspection" (PDF). Independent Schools Inspectorate. 2011. http://isischools.devprocess.com/DownloadReport.aspx?t=c&r=7146_012011_s.pdf&s=7146.
3. ↑ "Welcome from the Head Teacher". The Minster School. https://minsterschoolyork.co.uk/about-us/message-from-head/.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The Minster School - GOV.UK - Find and compare schools in England". https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/121731?tab=absence-and-pupil-population.
5. ↑ Prest, Victoria (12 January 2016). "Minster School plans expansion into neighbouring building". The Press (York). http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14195776.York_school_plans_expansion_into_historic_building/.
6. ↑ "York Minster recruiting boy choristers". Minster FM (York). 30 May 2017. https://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/2299457/york-minster-recruiting-boy-choristers/.
7. ↑ "Shock as The Minster School is closed – as York Minster suffers a ‘catastrophic loss of income’". YorkMix. 3 June 2020. https://www.yorkmix.com/shock-as-the-minster-school-is-closed-as-york-minster-suffers-a-catastrophic-loss-of-income/.
8. ↑ Historic England. "Minster Song School (part) (1257259)". National Heritage List for England. https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1257259. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
9. ↑ "York Minster Refectory | York Restaurant | British-style favourites" (in en-GB). https://www.yorkminsterrefectory.co.uk/.
10. ↑ Kelly, Rosalind (2022-09-05). "York Minster" (in en). https://yorkminster.org/latest/could-your-child-be-a-chorister-at-york-minster-2/.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "History". The Minster School. http://www.minsterschoolyork.co.uk/about-us/history/.
12. ↑ Historic England (14 June 1954). "Minster Song School (Part), York (1257229)". National Heritage List for England. https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1257229. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
13. ↑ Historic England (14 June 1954). "Minster Song School (Part), York (1257259)". National Heritage List for England. https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1257259. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
14. ↑ Historic England (14 June 1954). "Minster Song School (Part), York (1257261)". National Heritage List for England. https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1257261. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
15. ↑ Liptrot, Kate (27 August 2016). "York and Jenna Coleman star in ITV's Victoria". The Press (York). http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/14705728.York_to_star_in_new_ITV_drama_tomorrow/.
16. ↑ Ward, Victoria (29 May 2018). "Dean of York faces revolt as three senior teachers are suspended from private school over 'unsecured' air rifles". The Daily Telegraph (York). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/29/dean-york-faces-revolt-three-senior-teachers-suspended-private/.
17. ↑ "Parents stage protest demanding the reinstatement of York school head teacher". York Mix (York). 8 July 2018. https://www.yorkmix.com/news/parents-stage-protest-demanding-the-reinstatement-of-york-school-head-teacher/.
18. ↑ "York Minster School air rifles: Parents support teachers". 30 May 2018. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-44301463.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Parents stage protest demanding the reinstatement of York school head teacher". YorkMix. 22 May 2018. https://yorkmix.com/parents-stage-protest-demanding-the-reinstatement-of-york-school-head-teacher/.
20. ↑ "School head in gun probe 'was asked to quit'". Yorkshire Post. 5 Jul 2018. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/school-head-in-gun-probe-was-asked-to-quit-1760554.
21. ↑ "York Minster prep school to close through 'lack of funds'". BBC News. 3 June 2020. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-52912172.
22. ↑ "The Minster School report". City of York Council planning committee. https://democracy.york.gov.uk/documents/s154187/The Minster School report.pdf.

## External links

* Official website
* History of York Minster School
* Yorkshire Film Archive – Stillington, York, and Easingwold (1936–1942)[Usurped!]
* Profile on the ISC website
* ISI Inspection Reports
* York Minster School Alumni (unofficial social media group)
* York Minster Choristers Association (Social media group)

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