Scholarships and Bursaries

Through our scholarships we formally recognise achievement and attitude in a number of areas of school life.

Please read the brochure above and click on the following awards below for further details and deadlines for each application:

Academic Scholarships

Please read our scholarship booklet.

Year 7 and Year 9 candidates are shortlisted by pre-test scores and school references.

Invited candidates attend interviews at St Swithun’s in January of year 6 (year 7 entry) or February of year 8 (year 9 entry).

Year 12 scholarships are awarded based on online interviews and performance in written entrance assessments taken in November of year 11.

Teacher supervising student during art lesson

Arts

Please read our scholarship booklet.

Candidates are invited to attend an interview, perform a practical activity and will be asked to share their portfolio. During the interview the candidate will speak to the head of art to talk about their interests, aspirations and achievements.

For further information and art scholarship application form please contact the head of art, Mrs Geraldine Clark, via email.

Application deadlines: TBC

Interview dates: TBC

Drama

Please read our scholarship booklet.

Candidates will be expected to be an actively involved pupil in their current school’s drama department and are able to offer either acting or design as their skill. The overriding factor in whether a candidate receives an award will be whether they show exceptional promise in Drama. If you are in any doubt about suitability for an award, please contact the Head of Drama Pepe Gudiño - Resendiz in advance at dramaawards@stswithuns.com

Application deadlines: TBC
Drama auditions: TBC

The Process
The format of the audition will be designed to allow each pupil an equal opportunity regardless of experience. The auditions will be held in a small workshop group, offering each pupil the opportunity to perform individually and with others. The workshop will last approximately one hour. Candidates will be assessed in either acting or design in the following ways.
Acting
Candidates will be required to perform two contrasting speeches from plays of their choice, lasting a maximum of two minutes each, performed ‘in role’ and script-free. One classical and one contemporary monologue. Both pieces should come from full-length published plays and not from speech-only audition books. Pupils should choose a role from a contemporary/classical play and their monologue should provide them with a versatile platform to showcase their acting strengths. Candidates will have a chance to ask the head of drama questions.
Accordion Title 3
Candidates should present two short demonstrations of design from plays of their choice. Candidates may choose one or more of the following design skills to show: Set Masks Puppetry Lighting Sound Hair, Costume & Make-up Pupils should bring evidence of their design work, either in photographic form, recordings or the actual articles. Candidates should be prepared to introduce their approach to design in terms of their influences, stylistic approach and process. Those specialising in Lighting and Sound may choose to demonstrate their practical expertise using equipment provided by St Swithun’s school (lighting board, lanterns, sound player sources) – you must notify us ahead of time if you wish to do this. Candidates will have a chance to ask the head of drama questions.
Interview
All candidates will have the opportunity to present their ideas and reasons of why they should be considered for a scholarship in a short interview with the head of drama and the headmistress. The head of drama’s decision is final. Brief written feedback for all shortlisted candidates will be included in the letter informing you of the outcome.
International Candidates
Candidates will follow the same steps as above with the exception of the workshop. The whole process will take place online via Microsoft teams or Zoom.

Mathematics

Please read our scholarship booklet.

Candidates are shortlisted based on their performance in written entrance assessments and are invited for an interview with the head of mathematics in the autumn term.

Music

Please read our scholarship booklet.

Further details are available via Ms YiRu Chiam Hall, Director of Music, via email or telephone.

Prospective music scholars/exhibitioners and their parents are strongly recommended to contact Mrs Hall, to arrange an early opportunity for a pre-audition: to meet, see the music department and discuss their situation in an informal, open-ended way.

Please be aware that the award of a music scholarship or exhibition at St Swithun’s does not qualify a candidate for a place at the school. All candidates must also fulfil our academic entrance requirements.

Application deadlines for music scholarships:

UK candidates

Year 7: Friday 29 November 2024
Year 9: Friday 29 November 2024
Year 12: Fridaqy 4 October 2024

Audition dates

Year 7: Thursday 9 and Friday 10 January 2025
Year 9: Thursday 23 and Friday 24 January 2025
Year 12: Friday 15 November 2024

Overseas-based candidates

Year 7: Friday 4 October 2024
year 9: Friday 29 November 2024
Year 12: Friday 4 October 2024

Overseas-based candidates may submit video recordings of performances by thr week following the applicaiton deadline. Online interviews for Year 7 and 12 overseas candidates will take place Wednesday 13 November 2024; Year 9 online interviews will take place on Wednesday 22 January 2025.

The video recording should consist of the following:

a) First Study Instrument
Performance of a pair of contrasting pieces (or songs) of the candidate’s choice.

b) Other Instruments
Performance of one piece (or song) of the candidate’s choice.

All pieces should be accompanied unless specified otherwise.

Interview and Discussion

During this session the candidate will speak with the Director of Music and Head of Instrumental Studies to talk about her musical interests, aspirations and achievements.

St Swithun's students celebrate becoming National Lacrosse Champions

Sports

Please read our scholarship booklet.

Successful applicants will be playing at county level or above for one of the school’s major sports (lacrosse, netball, cricket, tennis and athletics).

Ideally, they will also offer a second major sport to school A-team standard or have reached county level or above in one of the other sports played at St Swithun’s. There is an expectation that sports scholars are fully committed to sport at St Swithun’s, which includes attendance at matches and team practices.

Applications deadlines: TBC
Assessment dates: TBC

Candidates are invited to an interview and an assessment day.

For further information and a sports scholarship application form please contact the director of sport, Mr Jon Riley, via email.

Scholarships confer a small fee remission of 5% or 10%. If prospective students are unable to afford our fees their parents are encouraged to apply for a bursary (means-tested award). Scholarship candidates may also make a separate application for a means-tested award. All candidates must first have registered for a place by completing the school application form.

Means-tested awards of up to 100% of tuition fees could be available for girls who meet the senior-school’s entrance criteria. Means-tested awards are not routinely available for the prep school but may be considered, at the discretion of the school, for truly exceptional circumstances. Please discuss with the prep-school registrar before making an application.

Candidates for an assisted place follow the same entrance procedure as all other applicants but the standard senior-school application form should be completed and submitted at the earliest opportunity. Means-tested award applications should be submitted by the 30th September in the year prior to entry. In certain circumstances applications may be considered outside this timescale. For further information and an MTA application form please contact the school office. Guidance as to potential eligibility may be given to parents by the school bursar via telephone.

Decisions regarding the allocation of MTA funds are made when offers are confirmed; for year 12 and year 9 candidates this is in early December and for year 7 candidates this is in late January.

An MTA is intended to be for the duration of a girl’s time at the school. An award is subject to satisfactory educational progress and to an annual financial review. Girls allocated an award are normally expected to complete their education in the school up to and including the sixth form (years 12 and 13).

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