Third Form awards and financial support

Scholarship and Awards 

Sherborne invites talented and enthusiastic boys to apply for up to two of the various scholarships, awards and exhibitions that we offer.  These range from academic and creative to musical and sporting. 

In return for demonstrating high levels of talent and commitment in their chosen discipline(s), award holders are given many opportunities to stretch themselves and develop their abilities through involvement in additional tutoring, coaching, lectures, societies and social activities.

Owing to the levels of commitment required of successful candidates, boys are not able to apply for both a music and a sports award.  All other combinations of award are, however, permissible.

Scholarships and other non-means tested awards normally carry a maximum of 10% remission of the day or boarding fee (as applicable), excluding extras.  This applies to single award holders and to those who are offered two awards where the maximum total remission will normally be 10%.  In some cases, an honorary award may be made with no financial reward attached to it.  However, they will be recognised in the School as a Scholar in both areas.

The following Scholarships are available and can be worth up to 10% of the annual fees (excluding extras).  The School reserves the right to make an award that is higher or lower than this figure. 

• Academic
• Art
• Design and Technology
• Drama
• Music
• Sport

All applicants or those considering applying for a Music Scholarship will be invited to meet with the Executive Director of Music and perform to him in advance of their application. 

There are two additional closed awards available for current and former members of the armed services:

The Raban Award is available for the sons of serving or former personnel in any of the armed services who are applying for any of the Third Form scholarships and exhibitions.

The Nutting Award is available for the sons of serving Royal Navy personnel. To qualify for the Nutting Award, the boy must have applied for an Academic Scholarship.

Application Process for Scholarships and Awards

A year before your son is due to join Sherborne, all parents will be asked to complete an ‘Awards Interest Form’ which will indicate which awards you are considering entering your son for and whether or not additional funding would be required above 10%. Once these are received back in the Admissions department, we will ensure that you receive the application form (and financial forms if required) at the correct time during the Michaelmas (Autumn) term.  Please note that boys applying from Prep Schools must have the agreement of their Headteacher to apply for a Scholarship.  

All scholarship applicants must complete a scholarship application form available through the Admissions Department.  Completed forms must be returned to Admissions by 27 November 2023 for boys entering the School in September 2024. 

Any late applications may not be considered by the School.

Please note that applications for any scholarships or awards cannot be made in conjunction with an Open Bursary application.

How are the awards made?

All boys who have applied for an award will be required to come to Sherborne School on the designated assessment day in January/February.  Dates can be found on our website well in advance of these days.

Details regarding these Scholarship assessments will be sent out from the Admissions Department in early January.

Following the scholarship assessment days, the Head of Department for the relevant award will rank boys in order of merit and will meet with the awards committee to discuss the results.  The awards committee, consisting of the Headmaster, Bursar, Director of Admissions and Deputy Head (Academic) will consider each applicant and make awards based on the ranking.

Funding for awards is limited and therefore not all boys will receive a financial award.  In some cases, an honorary award will be made.  This award will carry no financial attachment, but will mean that the boy is considered to be a Scholar and will be included in any scholarship programmes that are part of that award.

Please see below for information regarding additional bursarial support for scholarship and award winners.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarship candidates who require additional bursarial funding must complete a scholarship application form and an Open Bursary/Additional Financial Assistance application form, if applicable, both available through the Admissions Department.  The following submission deadlines apply:

• Completed Open Bursary/Additional Financial Assistance application forms must be returned to Admissions by 30 October 2023 for boys entering the School in September 2024.
• Completed scholarship forms must be returned to Admissions by 27 November 2023 for boys entering the School in September 2024. 
• The financial circumstances declaration and additional information must be submitted to Bursary Assessment Associates (BAA) no later than 27 November 2023 (these details will be forwarded to parents upon receipt of a completed Open Bursary/Additional Financial Assistance application form).

Any late applications may not be considered by the School, but further information is available from the Admissions Department.

No request for bursarial assistance will be considered unless an the financial circumstances declaration and additional information has been submitted through BAA.  Any bursarial support awarded will be subject to annual review of parental circumstances, and in accordance with the criteria set out in the Bursary Policy.  We will aim to confirm the amount of any bursarial support at the same time as the outcome of the Scholarship process but this is not always possible if, for example, further information or a home visit is required.   

OPEN BURSARIES

In line with the School’s Charter and the objectives of the Charity, the governors of Sherborne School are committed to offering eligible parents or guardians means-tested financial assistance with the payment of school fees to enable boys to attend the School who would otherwise not be able to do so.  Such support is known as a bursary and may be awarded in the form of a remission of up to 100% of fees. 

Bursary awards are made on the basis of an assessment of a family's financial circumstances, including their savings, investments and realisable assets, as well as their income, the size of their family, any other persons dependent upon them and other relevant factors. Awards are subject to repeat testing of parental financial circumstances each year and may be varied upwards or downwards, depending on parental circumstances.

• Bursary Policy

Please note that Open Bursary applications cannot be made in conjunction with any scholarship or award application.

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR AN OPEN BURSARY

A year before your son is due to join Sherborne, all parents will be asked to complete an ‘Awards Interest Form’ which will indicate which awards you are considering entering your son for, including an Open Bursary.  Once these forms have been returned to the Admissions department, we will ensure that you receive the Open Bursary/Additional Financial Assistance application form for completion.  Following receipt of your completed application, you will receive the details for submission of your financial circumstances declaration to Bursary Assessment Associates (BAA), all of which takes place during the Michaelmas (Autumn) term. 

All Open Bursary application forms, must be returned to the Admissions team by 30 October 2023.  Submission of your financial circumstances declaration  must be completed electronically with BAA by 27 November 2023.

Any late applications may not be considered by the School, but further information is available from the Admissions Department.

WHEN ARE THE AWARDS MADE?

Open Bursaries are usually awarded in late February of Year 8, at the same time as our scholarship awards are made.   Open Bursaries are means-tested and therefore an application must be made to BAA by the given date to be considered.

Parents are welcome to contact the School after their son has been offered a place for an indication of whether they would be be considered for an Open Bursary. Such an indication will require completion of a Confidential Statement of Financial Circumstances Form and the return of the required supporting financial documentation to enable proper due diligence. Please contact Admissions for further information.

It is important to note that, simply because a family’s financial situation may indicate that they are applicable for a bursary, the demand for bursaries means that not every applicant will be successful in receiving an award. 

Please also refer to the School’s Bursary Policy or contact the Admissions Department for further information.