Bursaries & Scholarships
A limited number of Academic, Music, Sport and Art and Design scholarships are awarded annually to girls entering Year 7 of the Senior School.
The Academic Scholarships are determined by performance in the Year 7 entrance tests, together with the interview and school reference. All candidates will automatically be considered; there is no need to apply for an academic scholarship.
For all other Scholarships, you need to apply when registering your daughter and the supporting documents need to be uploaded to your parent account by the deadlines indicated on the forms.
MUSIC SCHOLARSHIP
If shortlisted, candidates who have applied for a Music Scholarship will have an audition with members of the Music Department on the day of their interview.
Auditions will include:
- The performance of a piece on the girl’s main instrument, ideally of Grade 4 standard or higher, but it is not a requirement to have passed a graded examination. If your daughter’s Music teacher feels that your daughter is naturally gifted and plays at around Grade 4 level or higher, please consider applying.
- The performance of a piece on a second instrument, or a vocal piece. If the candidate has only one instrument, then she should perform a second, contrasting piece on her main instrument.
- Some short aural and sight-reading tests
- An informal discussion
There will be no written music papers. The potential of a candidate to contribute to the musical life of the school is the principal criterion. Music staff will accompany the candidates as necessary but candidates may bring their own accompanist if they wish. Music scholars will be expected to play a leading role in the musical life of the school by attending choirs, orchestras and other groups and to contribute to concerts, open mornings and such. Scholarships will be reviewed annually to assess this contribution.
For the Art and Design Scholarship, a candidate’s potential will be considered as well as achievement. Candidates need to upload their art portfolio to their online account made up of five pieces of art, craft or design work which demonstrates a wide range of different media and techniques. This may include both two and three dimensional work.
Shortlisted candidates will be required to undertake a 50 minute observational drawing test and to bring their Art Portfolio to their interview.
DRAMA SCHOLARSHIP
For the Drama Scholarship, candidates will need to submit a 1-2 minute recording of their performance of a monologue from a full length play that has been professionally published:
- The extract must be between 1 and 2 minutes when performed.
- The candidate should learn their part and perform without a script. They may wear costume in the recording but please ensure that their face is clearly visible and not obscured by their hair or costume.
- The copy of the script needs to be uploaded and must also show what play it is from, the playwright and which character they are playing. This can be handwritten on the copy if required.
- The section being performed should be highlighted
- The monologue may be part of a conversation with another character (not included), but it must make sense as a stand-alone speech. Lines should not be cut and pasted to create a monologue, changes should be minimal and should not change the meaning of the original scene.
Ideally, it is important that the chosen monologue is by a character of a similar age to your daughter. Students who are then shortlisted will be invited to attend a workshop/audition with the Head of Drama. A candidate’s potential will be considered (as demonstrated within the workshop/audition) as well as their prior participation and achievement.
To be eligible for a Sports Scholarship, students must be either outstanding at one sport (competing at County/District level or above) and/or have potential to represent the school at several sports (school A team or performance level in at least two sports).
Candidates will be required to submit an initial application to be considered for the assessment afternoon, which should include information regarding the sports they participate in at a high level, including school teams, external clubs and squads, evidence of competition results and/or times/distances, depending on the sport. You may also include school and club level references.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a sports assessment afternoon in the January before entry, which will include:
- Fitness testing
- Sports participation in the following sports, depending on their strengths and/or sports they wish to demonstrate their potential in: games, racket sports, gymnastics, dance and swimming.
- Interview with a member of the PE Department
All successful scholarship candidates are required to work hard, to contribute positively to the life of the School, to be a credit to the School and to set a good example to other pupils, as well as contributing positively on an ongoing basis to the area of school life in respect of which the Scholarship has been granted, failing which Scholarships can be withdrawn.
If you wish your daughter to be considered for any of these scholarships, you need to apply when registering your daughter and the supporting documents need to be uploaded to your parent account by the deadlines indicated on the forms.
FURTHER DETAILS WILL ALSO BE SENT TO YOU ONCE THE REGISTRATION FORM IS RECEIVED.
Northwood College for Girls offers a small number of Sixth Form Academic scholarships. These are awarded for academic excellence and potential as well as student embodiment of the values and ethos of NWC (excellence, courage and integrity) through extra-curricular involvement and voluntary activities. Scholarships carry a significant discount on school fees of up to 50%.
Girls who wish to apply should complete a formal letter of application, which should be signed both by the applicant and her parents by the deadlines indicated on the registration form, containing the following information:
· Notable achievements both in and outside of school
· Involvement in school and the wider community
· Suitability for the role of representing the school as a Northwood College Scholar, ambassador and role model
All applicants will then sit a critical thinking paper of 30 minutes and an essay paper, also of 30 minutes (for which no revision is required). Please note that the essay questions have been carefully selected to enable girls who excel in a variety of subjects, including the sciences, mathematics, humanities and arts, to perform to a high level. Applicants will then be invited to attend an interview with the Head and Director of Sixth Form.
We also offer a Sixth Form Sport Scholarship. In order to qualify for this scholarship candidates must meet at least one of the following essential criteria:
● Performing at an elite level in at least one sport, demonstrated by county level representation or above.
● Hold a National Governing Body Level 2 coaching qualification in at least one sport, demonstrated by coaching regularly outside of school.
Additional desirable criteria include:
● A Level PE Student
● Interested in sport & physical activity, with the potential to study a sports related degree at University.
A Northwood College Sixth Form Sports Scholar would be expected to do the following:
● Demonstrate a commitment to school sport, representing NWC in their main sport at all fixtures or coaching at an NWC club or squad.
● Assist with the Year 6 Sports Scholarship Assessment.
● Work alongside Sports Prefects to promote sport throughout the school.
● Lead an assembly for Junior School students on performing or coaching in sport and dealing with disappointment.
Assessment
● Interview with Director of Sport
● Sporting/Coaching CV (please upload a copy)
● Reference from external club or county to confirm performance level (dependent on essential criteria)
● Reference from external club or organisations where currently coaching (dependent on essential criteria)
● Video Evidence of sporting performance or sports coaching (cannot be the same evidence as GCSE PE NEA Evidence)
If you wish your daughter to be considered for any of these scholarships, you need to apply when registering your daughter and the supporting documents need to be uploaded to your parent account by the deadlines indicated on the forms.
FURTHER DETAILS WILL ALSO BE SENT TO YOU ONCE THE REGISTRATION FORM IS RECEIVED.
The Girls’ Day School Trust provides a limited number of means-tested Bursaries to enable suitably qualified candidates to enter or remain in the Senior School. They are available for entry into Year 7 and Year 12.
GDST Bursaries are awarded on the basis of financial need, though academic merit is taken into account. Bursary applications are assessed independently by the Fees Office of the GDST and applications take into account parental income and assets.
Bursaries to the value of 100% of fees can be awarded depending on individual circumstances. The bursary will include the cost of lunch, mandatory curriculum extras (such as day trips), a uniform grant, and free use of the coach service (providing the distance from your house to Northwood College is further than three miles). To be eligible for a bursary in Year 7, a candidate must be within the top 20% in the Consortium entrance examination. To be eligible for a bursary in Year 12, a candidate would need to achieve grades 7-9 in their GCSE subjects. For more information and details of eligibility criteria, please contact Mrs Jemma Davidson, Registrar, at admissions@nwc.gdst.net.
Bursaries must be applied for no later than the end of November prior to entry the following September.
GDST Bursaries
Thank you to all my daughter’s teachers for doing an amazing job.
— Current Parent