The Minster School was an independent preparatory school 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, until in June 2020 it was announced that the school would close at the end of that term. The building is Grade II listed and has since been redeveloped as a restaurant, the York Minster Refectory. The Choir School moved to St Peter's School, York in September 2020.

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 on Maundy Thursday 2023.

History

The school traced its origins to a "song school" founded in 627 by Paulinus of York, the first Archbishop of York, however the current school was re-founded in 1903. The Minster School had a strong focus on music and, of the 180 pupils, 40 were choristers at York Minster. Buildings used by the school have been awarded listed status, among them the school house built 1830–1833, two houses dating back to 1837, and a Georgian building of 1755. The school buildings were used to depict the House of Lords in the 2016 TV series Victoria.

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 on school premises. The Dean of York faced protests by parents supportive of the staff and angry at the manner of the suspension.

Closure

The school had relied upon income from York Minster. However the Minster's budget for 2020 had been based on expected tourist income in the coming year. 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 continue assisting the school. The school closed at the end of the Summer Term that year, and new places were found elsewhere for their existing pupils.