St Edward’s College in Liverpool has published its Specialist Music Place arrangements for children applying to Year 7 in September 2027.
The College will admit 176 pupils, with 35 places available through its Aptitude for Music criteria. Families sometimes describe these as music scholarships, although St Edward’s officially calls them Specialist Music Places.
Applications are already open and the music deadline falls much earlier than the general secondary-school application deadline.
SE22 Piano School offers individual Music Aptitude Test preparation on Zoom for children applying to schools throughout the UK, including St Edward’s College.
St Edward’s College music application deadline
Parents must submit the College’s online music application by:
Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 4pm
Families can access the application and current information through the official St Edward’s College Year 7 admissions page.
The music application does not replace the normal secondary-school application. Parents must also apply through their home local authority by its published deadline.
Important dates for 2027 entry
St Edward’s College has confirmed the following schedule:
- Music application deadline: Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 4pm
- Performance video deadline: Monday 14 September 2026 at 4pm
- Music Aptitude Test at St Edward’s College: Tuesday 15 September 2026 at 5pm
- Results emailed to families: Friday 9 October 2026
Parents should read the school’s 2027 Admissions Policy before completing their application.
How does St Edward’s allocate its music places?
St Edward’s College will allocate 35 places through musical aptitude.
Up to 17 places may go to baptised Catholic choristers of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King. However, children do not need to be choristers to apply for the general musical aptitude assessment. The College welcomes applications from other young musicians.
For the remaining music places, the school considers applicants within the religious priority groups listed in its admissions policy. It then ranks candidates within those groups according to their musical aptitude scores.
When two or more candidates in the same group receive equal scores, the College uses independently supervised random allocation as the tie-break.
Children who do not receive a music place will automatically receive consideration under the school’s Faith criteria afterwards. Families relying on a documented faith category should submit the evidence requested by the College.
What happens in the St Edward’s College Music Aptitude Test?
Applicants attend a listening assessment at St Edward’s College. The school confirms that the test:
- lasts approximately 30 minutes;
- contains multiple-choice questions;
- carries a total of 50 marks;
- assesses differences in pitch, rhythm and melody.
The test focuses on musical aptitude rather than instrumental grades, written theory or previous examination results.
What must the performance video include?
Parents must upload a video of their child performing one piece on their main instrument or voice.
The performance must use one instrument or voice and last no longer than three minutes. The deadline for uploading it is Monday 14 September 2026 at 4pm.
St Edward’s explains that it does not judge the video solely as a traditional technical audition. The assessment also considers musical potential, expression and the child’s ability to communicate through the performance.
The school provides full information in its Specialist Music Place booklet.
Can children prepare for the St Edward’s test?
St Edward’s College states that the assessment requires no specific preparation. It aims to identify musical aptitude rather than knowledge learned for an examination. The school does not publish practice questions tailored to its test.
We do not provide or claim to know the exact questions that candidates will hear. Schools may also change their assessments from one year to the next.
However, familiarity with listening assessments can help children understand the process and respond more confidently. It can also reveal whether a candidate struggles with a particular type of listening task or with working independently under assessment conditions.
Generic practice cannot identify every child’s individual priorities. During a focused one-to-one lesson, we can assess the candidate, decide how best to use the remaining preparation time and offer relevant guidance on the listening assessment and performance video.
Families can book a one-to-one St Edward’s Music Aptitude Test lesson on Zoom.
You may also wish to read our guides to Music Aptitude Test scholarship tutoring and why we favour musical exposure rather than last-minute cramming.
What does a Specialist Music Place involve?
A Specialist Music Place requires an ongoing commitment to the musical life of St Edward’s College.
Successful pupils receive two music classes each week. Alongside the usual curriculum, they work on performance, composition and music theory. The programme aims to help them reach Grade 5 theory by the end of Year 9.
Music Place pupils also participate in the ensembles suited to their instrument or voice. They attend rehearsals and contribute to recitals, concerts and other College performances.
Families should therefore consider both the admissions opportunity and the musical commitment involved.
SE22 Piano School provides individual online preparation for the listening assessment and performance component. To receive tailored guidance before the September deadlines, book a one-to-one Music Aptitude Test lesson on Zoom.
