Church of England cathedral schools could soon act as sponsors for city academies or even convert into academies themselves, in a move designed to spread the musical and educational expertise of the country's cathedral schools across their wider communities.

The proposed move seeks to unlock the resources and expertise held by cathedral schools for the wider benefit of their respective cities and regions. The plan would mean that a much wider range of local young people would gain free access to the opportunities of cathedral music-making and choral music.

The Very Rev Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark and spokesman for the Association of English Cathedrals, said: "The public image is that cathedrals run small exclusive fee-charging preparatory schools for boy choristers. The truth is that many cathedrals do not have boarding schools at all, but may have direct involvement with several Voluntary Aided 'State' schools."