The Chorister Outreach Programme is a national government-funded scheme designed to encourage and enable cathedrals to use their musical resources to promote singing among children in primary schools.  It is part of the national Sing-up programme, led by the government’s Singing Ambassador Howard Goodall, which aims to achieve Singing School status for every primary school by the year 2012.

In Devon, the project is run as a collaboration between Exeter Cathedral and the Devon County Council Music Service.  It is also supported by the Royal School of Church Music, Devon Area, and the Benedictine Community at Buckfast Abbey.  The programme aims to instil and develop the joy of singing among children in primary schools, by offering specialist teaching input, continuing support and high-quality performance opportunities.  It also aims to raise levels of access, achievement and aspiration, and to encourage and develop collaborative projects for singing for both pupils and staff.

Following a highly successful pilot with four Exeter schools in the Spring of 2007, the project was fully launched in the Autumn Term of 2007.  Over the last two years, some 30 schools have taken part in the programme, involving around 1400 children.

• Full details of the programme may be found in the Notes for Schools (444KB - pdf help).

The Devon County Junior Choir was formed in September 2007, as an integral part of the Chorister Outreach Programme.  It is for primary school age children from Years 3 to 8 who are really enthusiastic about singing and who would enjoy the opportunity to enhance their singing technique and perform regularly.  Full details may be found here:  www.dcjc.org.uk