Cathedral School achieves beacon status for music

The Voices Foundation has awarded the special status to Cathedral School in Redcross Way in recognition of its excellence in teaching music through singing across the entire school.

A certificate was presented by Nicola Wallis, chief executive of The Voices Foundation, in special recognition of the fact that the school has achieved Beacon Status after just one year of the charity's intensive in-school programme which trains every single teacher to teach music.

"We're absolutely delighted that Cathedral School has received this accolade – it recognises the dedication and determination shown by the staff, most of whom aren't music specialists, in taking this unique whole-school approach on board and keeping it going successfully," says headteacher Sylvia Morris.

• Cathedral School is one of several local schools which has registered its interest in taking on academy status under reforms announced by the new education secretary Michael Gove.