Visit Us APPLY NOW Giving Contact Us

Confidence for life. Respect for all.

Welcome to
Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation

Based in the heart of the historic and inspiring City of Durham, Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation brings together six centuries of experience in nurturing pupils. Chorister School (ages 3 to 11) and Durham School (ages 11 to 18) make up the Foundation.

EYFS Chorister School

Years 1 - 6 Chorister School

Years 7-11 Durham School

Years 12-13 Sixth Form

Moral Integrity

We want our pupils to leave us as mature and responsible young men and women, equipped with the skills to tackle the challenges ahead.

Ambition

Durham School encourages pupils to be ambitious, both in the academic progress they make and in the success they achieve in team sports.

Responsibility

Our pupils are punctual in all that they do. We use our resources responsibly, developing and caring for the environment around us. We are pioneers in discovering better ways of doing things.

Kindness

It is the generosity of today’s Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation community that helps enrich and enhance pupils’ learning in the classroom.

Registration Timeline

Enter your child’s date of birth and discover our admissions process

What is your child’s date of birth?

What is your child's gender?

Back

Be part of our community - our House system

School House

Boys, Boarding and Day

School House (Bungites) is a boys’ day and boarding House with a history spanning more than 175 years. Known for its strong house spirit, Bungites thrive in competitions, sports and creative activities alike. Under the guidance of Housemaster Mr Younger, every boy is encouraged to embrace opportunities, give his best and enjoy all that Durham School offers.

The Caffinites

Boys, Day

Caffinites House is Durham School’s boys’ day House, named after Benjamin Charles Caffin, with a history dating back to 1847. It is a close-knit community where participation and personal development are at the heart of daily life. Guided by Housemaster Mr McMillan, boys are encouraged to discover their strengths and build lasting friendships.

Poole House

Boys, Boarding and Day

Poole House is a boys’ day and boarding House, established in 1924 and named after former pupil and Second Master Robert Henry John Poole. It offers a friendly, close-knit community, guided by Housemaster Mr Jenkinson. Boys are encouraged to develop their talents, build lasting friendships and make the most of every opportunity Durham School offers.

Lodge House

Girls, Day

Mrs Naomi Fordyce is the Acting Senior Housemistress for Lodge House. She has oversight of all the girls in the House and is responsible for their wellbeing. Mrs Fordyce works closely with the Deputy Housemistress (DHM), Miss Tracey Black, and liaises with tutors and academic leads to ensure that the girls are making good academic progress and thriving in School.

MacLeod House

Girls, Day

Mrs Fiona Gowland is the Acting Senior Housemistress. This House is named after Norman MacLeod, who taught at Durham School for 35 years and was a well-respected member of staff. He passed away in 2005, but his legacy remains an important part of the School community. He was Housemaster of Caffinites for many years and was always forward-looking in his support for girls joining the School. Although MacLeod was a new addition to the Durham School House system in 2005, it has clear aims and objectives that uphold the traditions of the School while also reflecting modern values.

Pimlico House

Girls, Boarding and Day

Mrs Louise Hinde is the Senior Housemistress. The House was established in 1985, originally for Sixth Form girls, but over the years has expanded to welcome all year groups from 7 to 13. Pimlico is currently home to approximately eighty girls. A number of day girls also choose to flexi-board, perhaps for early morning sports training, revision and exams, or other practical reasons.

Our School in Numbers

Cras nulla diam, imperdiet vel accumsan vitae, interdum in nunc.

Activities and clubs on offer

Acres

Academic societies

292

Pupils are learning to play a musical instrument

Pupils play more than one musical instrument

364

Music lessons a week

Musical clubs

Sports Clubs

Nationalities

Our History

Late 12th century

Both Durham School and Chorister School can claim roots back to the Cathedral Schools of the early medieval period. King John Balliol of Scotland and Michael Scot, the famous medieval philosopher and alleged wizard, are amongst our famous medieval alumni.

1414

In 1414, Bishop Thomas Langley formalised the Cathedral’s schools into a school for song and a school for grammar, and in doing so created the roots of the modern DCSF.

1541

In 1541, Henry VIII gave the School its Royal Charter, re-founding the school after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. He introduced the ‘King’s Scholars’. Our top academic pupils are still known as King’s Scholars.

1640

Scottish invaders during the Bishops’ Wars of 1640 saw the school building destroyed, and so lessons had to be taught out of the teacher’s own houses. The English Civil War saw enough political turmoil that no new buildings could be built for twenty years.

1660

In 1660, Durham School was moved to a new purpose-built building on Palace Green, opposite the Cathedral. The School was necessarily a small school, though the eighteenth century saw some illustrious pupils, including leading abolitionist Granville Sharp, and poet and theologian Christopher Smart, author of Jubilate Agno.

1815

Pupils have been rowing on the River Wear for generations, and it is suggested that scholars took part in the Waterloo Regatta of 1815. The School entered its first boat – the Argo - in the Durham Regatta in 1838. Today the Boat Club still thrives as a home for both novice and internationally experienced rowers alike.

1844

In 1844, Durham School moved to its present location across the river from the Cathedral. This paved the way for an expansion of pupil numbers, boarding and sports. Durham School Cricket Club (est. 1847) and Durham School Football Club (est. 1850) stem from this time.

1853

To this day, each pupil is part of a House, each with its own traditions and history. Bungites, or School House as it is more formally known, got its name from the tall tales told by former Housemaster and Headmaster Henry Holden by the fireside in the House common room. In one story he described how he save the life of a boy using a cork bung. From this, he became known as “Bung” and pupils in his house “Bungites”. This naming pattern stuck with those in the House of Rev Caffin, becoming The Caffinites. Other Houses are named after other famous teachers, including Poole, MacLeod and most recently Lodge. Pimlico House takes its name from its locality.

1885

In 1885, Bow School was started by William Bramwell on the Bailey opposite St Mary-le-Bow church. When the school relocated to its current site in 1888, it became the first purpose-built preparatory school in County Durham. Independent from Durham School until gifted to Durham by Headmaster Charlie Adamson in the 1970s, the site eventually closed in 2025, following Bow’s merger with Chorister School.

1902

In 1902, Chorister School took on fee-paying boarders for the first time. This reversed the medieval practice of apprentice choristers who were educated in exchange for their efforts singing in the choir. It was not until 1948 that more than 24 boys were educated at the school.

1926

In 1926, Durham School built its War Memorial Chapel, which now stands above the school and is a central hub for the school community. The 98 steps up to Chapel represent the 98 ODs known to have died in WWI at the time of its construction. Further research has shown that over 125 ODs gave their lives in the service of their country in WWI and a further 90 in subsequent conflicts. All of whom are commemorated in the chapel.

1948

In 1948, the Chorister School was expanded to include non-Choristers, then consisting of four day-boys and eight boarders for a total of 36. This number would expand to reach the milestone of one hundred pupils in 1955.

1979

In 1979, Basil McNay OD donated a fold of Highland Cattle to the School. The cattle were part of School life for over two decades, with each House taking responsibility for one or more of the gentle beasts. They won prizes at the Highland Show and the Great Yorkshire Show, amongst others. In 2000, it was decided that the cows posed too great a risk of the spread of Foot and Mouth disease. Their descendants are alive and well off-site in County Durham.

1980s

The 1970s and 1980s were periods of growth for the Foundation, with new facilities, including the Luce Theatre, being developed. The creation of a School Theatre reflected the ever-increasing emphasis on performing arts at the Foundation, which has fostered such talents as Rowan Atkinson, Alexander Armstrong, Michael Gough, Will Todd, Chad Stuart, Rod Clements & Olly Quinn.

1985

In 1985/86, the School enrolled its first female pupils, initially only in the Sixth Form, leading to the creation of Pimlico House. Over the next 20 years, the School transitioned to a fully co-educational institution for ages 3–18. MacLeod House opened in 2005 as a second girls’ house, followed by Lodge House in 2024 as the third.

1996

In 1996, Durham School and Bow School became independent of the Dean and Chapter. In 2021, Chorister School joined this Foundation, which was renamed Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, reunifying over 600 years of education tradition in the centre of Durham.

2021

In 2021, Durham School opened its third international school in Nairobi, Kenya, spreading its motto ‘Confidence for life, Respect for All’ to a new generation of pupils outside Durham.

2025

In 2025, Durham School celebrated 175 years of the Durham School Football Club with fixtures for both the School 1st XV and Old Dunelmian sides watched by over 600 spectators on the Playground.