The following arrangements will apply for all new Scholarships and Awards:

The numbers and value of Scholarship awards will vary from year to year, up to a maximum of 15% and will be dependent upon the quality of candidates entered and funds available. Means-tested Bursaries may be available to augment Scholarships.  In every single case, regardless of age or type of award being made a candidate’s whole contribution to school life is taken into account. They are subject to regular review and may be withdrawn if the Headmaster, in consultation does not feel that Scholarship standards are being maintained. 

Foundation Scholarship

For boys and girls at 11+

Foundation Scholarships may be awarded following examination and interview during the academic year of their 11^th birthday. Scholarship holders are subject to annual review by the Headmaster of the Prep School and then by re-examination in open competition and interview at both 13+ Entrance Scholarship level and at 16+ Sixth Form Scholarship level.  If successful at 13+ entry they will then be known as Entrance Scholars. 

Entrance Scholarship

For boys and girls at 13+

Entrance Scholarships are offered by examination and interview by the Headmaster during the academic year of their 13^th birthday and are subject to annual review and then re-examination and interview at 16+ level.  This will be in competition with all other applicants.

Nevill Trust All-Rounder Scholarship

For boys and girls at 13+

This is available through the generosity of the Nevill Trust for the duration of Years 9, 10 and 11 and is subject to annual review.  (The Trust wishes to acknowledge the School’s commitment to a philosophy of a rounded education).  Applicants’ suitability will be assessed on the basis of the academic Entrance examination or academic Scholarship examination in January and in at least one of the other Scholarship assessments (Sport, Art, Music and Drama).  Candidates may well be invited back for interview following the assessment.  The Scholarship value is 10% of school fees.  This Scholarship will be awarded only when all of the Academic, Music, Art, Sport and Drama decisions have been made.

At 13+ there are also Bedford and Dyson all-round awards specifically for pupils in Year 8 at Wellingborough School.  These are for the duration of Years 9, 10 and 11 and are subject to annual review by the Headmaster.

Sixth Form Scholarship

For boys and girls at 16+

Hawkes Sixth Form Scholarships are offered to boys and girls by examination and interview during the S11 year.  Scholarships are subject to annual review through interview by the Headmaster.

Music Scholarship

For boys and girls at 13+ and 16+

Music Scholarships are offered by assessment and then interview with the Headmaster to candidates of outstanding ability and potential and are subject to annual review.

Art Scholarship

For boys and girls at 13+ and 16+

Art Scholarships are offered based on a portfolio assessment by the Head of Art and interview with the Headmaster and these are subject to annual review.

Drama Scholarship

For boys and girls at 13+ and 16+

Drama Scholarships are offered by assessment and then interview with the Headmaster to candidates of outstanding ability and potential and are subject to annual review.

Sports Scholarship

For boys and girls at 13+ and 16+

Sports Scholarships are offered to boys and girls, based on practical assessment at the School by the Director of Sport and then interview by the Headmaster and are subject to annual review.

Awards

The Headmaster, in consultation, is able to make a limited number of smaller discretionary “awards”.  These may be in any academic subject or any of the above and are offered in recognition of excellence in candidates who are not Scholarship holders. Their purpose is to assist academic research or development in any specified subject area. 

Bursaries 2011

Bursaries – General

Bursaries are available, on a means-tested basis (subject to annual review), to support those pupils who would benefit but whose families are unable to afford the full fees.  Support is tailored to the individual means but can range up to full fee remission where circumstances warrant. 

The School makes use of the assessment basis developed by the Independent Schools Bursars' Association, taking account of relevant income, expenditure, assets, liabilities and family circumstances, such as dependent relatives.  Recipients of Bursary support include pupils in need of assistance to join the School, together with existing pupils where changed family circumstances, such as redundancy of a parent, may put their education and future prospects at risk.

The School does not have a large endowment for this purpose and so Governors endeavour to maintain a balance between fee paying parents, recognising the sacrifice which many make in order for their children to benefit, and those in receipt of awards. 

Applications for Bursary support are normally required to be submitted by the end of February each year for assessment to provide awards for the following academic year.  The majority of the available funding is allocated at this time.  However, where changes in family circumstances become evident outside of this timeframe, parents are encouraged to discuss their situation in the first instance with the Bursar. 

The Nevill Trust 6th Form Bursary

This is awarded through the generosity of the Nevill Trust for the purpose of providing an opportunity for Sixth Form education (Years 12 and 13) specifically for a pupil who is currently following GCSE courses in the Northamptonshire maintained sector.  An applicant must be guaranteed of achieving at least the minimum entrance requirement for entry into the Sixth Form.  This currently stands at four B grades and two C grades with an expectation of at least B grades in subjects to be continued to A level.  A successful applicant must be willing to contribute to the whole life of The School.  Prospective beneficiaries will be required to provide a personal statement detailing their interests and achievements and a current school reference, including predicted GCSE grades.  Interview will be with the Headmaster and Head of Sixth Form.  The extent of the award will be subject to assessment of financial circumstances, but depending on need, could cover up to 25% of school fees.  In exceptional circumstances further support could be available from The School.  The pupil’s family would be expected to cover all other costs including books, exam fees, games, clothing and trips.  The Bursary would be subject to annual review to ensure that expected academic standards are maintained and financial circumstances have not changed.

Additional Notes: 

• Parents and pupils should be reminded of the fact that a scholarship must be re-tested by examination at 13+ and 16+ and that it may be forfeited as a result of substandard performance at any time, having been given due formal notice. 

• Those pupils gaining scholarships in 2011 will be subject to annual review which will consist of a scholars’ report, interview and evidence of scholarship in The School as assessed by the Headmaster.  Additionally, all scholars and award holders, as a condition of the award, are expected to participate in any programme/activities for scholars where specified. 

• Music, Drama, Art and Sports awards will be subject to similar conditions: an annual review by Directors/Heads of those areas and the Headmaster evaluating the scholar’s contribution and commitment to excellence in his/her field and the promotion of that field in the school community.  These scholarships will be subject to re-examination at 16+ in open competition, prior to entry into the Sixth Form and are always conditional upon satisfactory academic performance as laid down by the Headmaster. 

• The outcome in terms of numbers of scholarships awarded, fee remission levels and recipients of any scholarship decision lies ultimately at the discretion of the Headmaster. 

• The value of the above scholarships is up to a maximum of 15% of the normal school fee net of the assessment of lunch costs.  All scholarships and awards are subject to the conditions of registration and admission.  The financial benefits attached to scholarships may exceed 15% of the normal school fee only through the award of a bursary, which is conditional upon submission of a statement of financial circumstances.  This could amount to 100% of the normal school fees. 

• Applicants may enter for and hold multiple scholarship awards but will receive only financial benefit up to 15% if no bursary is awarded. 

• The academic year runs from 1st September until 31st August.

• Absolute confidentiality will be exercised by The School in all dealings over scholarship or bursary matters and equally this is expected on the part of families.
  
  

For an application form for entry at 11+ only, please contact the Prep School Registrar, Mrs Jenny Roberts on 01933 222698 or e-mail her on jroberts@wellingboroughschool.org

For 13+ and 16+ entry, please contact the Senior School Registrar, Mrs. Pullen on 01933 222427 or e-mail her on registrar@wellingboroughschool.org