ON May Morning, choristers from Magdalen College School gathered at the top of the college tower to mark the beginning of spring.

Each year, the choirboys gather to sing Hymnus Eucharisticus at 6am as part of an ancient tradition.

But on Saturday, the college announced plans to break with 500 years of tradition by allowing girls to sing in their choir as Choral Exhibitioners in future years.

The invitation to girls to join the choir follows the decision last year by Oxford’s Magdalen College School, one of the UK’s top-achieving schools, to admit girls to its sixth form for the first time.

The historic change to the make-up of the choir, announced by Daniel Hyde, the college’s Informator Choristarum, is in line with the trend in cathedral choirs towards the inclusion of women.

Mr Hyde said the innovation had been warmly welcomed by boys and their parents, and added: “This is such an exciting opportunity to enhance and support our world-famous choral foundation.

“We will continue to maintain and develop our traditional men and boys choir, while also giving women in the college the opportunity to sing in their chapel.”

Also welcoming the change was Dr Tim Hands, Master of Magdalen College School, who said: “We are as committed at MCS to a rich and challenging extra-curricular programme as we are to academic excellence.

“This historic change, as well as adding to the richness of Magdalen College’s musical life, will give one or two of our very best hand-picked sixth form girls an enviable opportunity to make music within the university as well as the school.”

In March 2009, Magdalen College School, in Cowley Place, decided to admit girls for the first time in 500 years.

The school was established in 1480 as a part of Oxford University’s Magdalen College and in 2008 topped the country’s A-Level league tables.

Between £25,000 and £50,000 was allocated for upgrading the school’s 1928 sixth form building to cater for girls.

The school said it would increase the number of subjects offered in the sixth form as a result of the additional number of pupils on the roll.

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk