Scholarships and bursaries

A number of scholarships are available to girls applying to Headington School at 11+, 13+ and sixth form level. Scholarships may be academic or subject-based (art, drama, music and sport). All scholarships are based on merit and carry a fixed monetary value of £300 p.a., with the exception of music, where the scholarship will take the form of free tuition on one or two instruments.

Jump to Academic Scholarships
Jump to Art Scholarships
Jump to Drama Scholarships
Jump to Music Scholarships
Jump to Sport Scholarships

Parents of girls awarded a scholarship, who feel their financial circumstances warrant additional support, may elect to be means-tested by the school which may result in a higher financial award of up to 100% of fees in certain cases. Levels of financial support will be reviewed annually.

If you wish your daughter to be considered for a scholarship, you will be given the opportunity to register your interest in the course of the admissions process. Details of scholarship assessment dates are provided in full in the school Handbook.

In all cases candidates will be expected to pass the appropriate Common Entrance or Sixth Form Entrance Examinations in addition to the scholarship assessments. All scholarships are awarded and maintained on the understanding that the recipient will remain enthusiastic and committed to the field in which they have been recognised, either by making significant academic progress or by contributing to school teams, productions or orchestras as appropriate.

Academic Scholarships

These are awarded at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form level to candidates with exceptional academic potential and keen intellectual curiosity. At 11+ your daughter will attend our 11+ Scholarships Day and the result of this assessment, along with her Common Entrance Examination results, her interview and the reference from her current school, will be used to decide whether she will be awarded a scholarship. Very rarely and as a result of exceptional performance in the Common Entrance Examination, Mrs Coutts reserves the right to award an academic scholarship without separate assessment.

At 13+ scholarships are decided on the evidence of the 13+ Common Entrance Examination results, an interview and a school reference.

At Sixth Form level, students will sit scholarship papers, have a challenging personal interview and be expected to demonstrate high levels of achievement at their current school.

Art Scholarships

These are awarded at 11+ and 13+. Your daughter will be invited for assessment at the school. She will need to bring a portfolio of independent work and will have an interview with the Head of Art. Candidates will also undertake a practical test from observation, for which they will be offered a choice of media.

Drama Scholarships

These are awarded at 11+ and 13+. Your daughter will be invited for audition and assessment at the school. She will be required to deliver two short pieces; we recommend two minute monologues, one from a play and the other either self written or from a monologue book. She will also be asked to take part in some improvisation tasks.

Music Scholarships

These are awarded at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form level. The Director of Music will invite applicants of an eligible standard to attend an audition. Your daughter will need to demonstrate considerable potential and have a real sense of musicianship. As a guide, at 11+ it is expected that candidates will be playing at Grade 4/5 level and at 13+ Grade 5/6. Music Scholarships will usually entitle your daughter to free tuition on one instrument. The Loft Simpson Scholarship may also be awarded, which will entitle girls to free tuition on two instruments.

Sport Scholarships

These are awarded at 11+, 13+ and Sixth Form level. The Director of Sport will invite applicants of an eligible standard to attend a practical assessment and interview at the school. We will be looking for evidence of considerable talent in at least two sports, which is likely to include participation in a county-level or higher team. At Sixth Form level in particular, possession of team leadership and organisational skills will be an advantage. Your daughter will be asked to bring evidence of recent successes and achievements to support her application.