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.


ART AND DESIGN SCHOLARSHIP

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.


SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP

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.


FOR SIXTH FORM ENTRY (16+) 

To be eligible for an Academic Scholarship for the Sixth Form, a candidate would need to achieve grades 7-9 in all their GCSE subjects.

To apply for a Sixth Form Academic Scholarship for entry in September 2024 please register your daughter by Friday 10 November 2023 and the scholarship exams will take place in November 2023.


BURSARIES

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.

We are grateful for the ongoing support of John Lyon’s Charity, who provide one annual 100% academic bursary. 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