This small, specialist music boarding school in Surrey was founded by Yehudi Menuhin to offer musically gifted children the opportunity to fulfil their musical potential alongside their academic studies, irrespective of nationality and the ability to pay.

Yehudi Menuhin School is a specialist independent day and boarding school that offers a well-rounded education to talented young string players, pianists and classical guitarists.

Founded by violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin in 1963, this Surrey-based school is said to be one of his proudest achievements – and with its continued celebration of young musical talent, this school is a lasting legacy to a violin prodigy who influenced generations of string players.

Located in Cobham, this prestigious but charming school of just 80 students aged eight to 19 years continues to deliver Menuhin’s vision of enabling musically gifted children from all over the world to pursue their love of music. It is popular with international students – just under half come from overseas (Ireland, Europe, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Mexico and Brazil). The majority of the school's students are boarders, either weekly or full, and there are two single-sex boarding houses on the campus.

The legacy of Yehudi Menuhin lives on; his grave lies just metres away from the 300-seat main concert hall, which is named after the founder.

There’s a broad and strong focus on music here, including instrumental training, aural training, traditional music theory and harmony, improvisation and the history of music. Specialist teachers tutor students in instruments inculding the cello, harpsichord, piano, guitar and violin.

Teaching follows the National Curriculum for England, and students take GCSE, AS and A Level exams; German, art, swimming and music theory are taught by specialist teachers from junior school upwards. Class sizes are small, and there’s plenty of one-to-one tuition; some classes are based on ability rather age so can be quite mixed. Extra-curricular activities include drama, sport and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

The selection process involves a series of auditions, and there is no academic entrance exam. Annual tuition fees are £44,208 pounds (boarding) and £43,068 (day students); students can apply for bursaries through the government’s Music and Dance Scheme.

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