Scholarships and Bursaries Policy

Ackworth School has as one of its founding aims to support Friend children not in affluence. The School today strives to support Friend and non-Friend children who would benefit from an education at Ackworth School.

The School recognises the exceptional gifts and talents of young people through the award of scholarships.

The School has no foundation bursary or scholarship fund, a limited amount of bursary funding held in trust and access, along with the other Friends' Schools, to the Joint Bursary Scheme which provides some support for Friend applications. All other support and scholarships come from annual fee income. This therefore imposes a restriction on the amount of funds available for scholarships and bursaries in any given year.

In order to ensure that funding is fairly, socially responsibly and most effectively employed all new scholarships will be means assessed from 1st September 2007. The award of a scholarship will remain solely on merit in any of the categories described below but the financial implications of this award will be dependent on the completion and assessment of a scholarship/bursary form. The use of means testing for scholarships allows the award of scholarships to the value of 100% fee remission, although this level of support is extremely rare with between ten and fifty percent of day fees being the normal range.

Scholarships may be awarded at any point in a student's progression through the school or on entry. Normally the school will approach parents having judged a student worthy of consideration but parents will also have the ability to ask the school to assess for scholarship. In this the school's decision is final. Scholarships are tenable until the end of fifth form but are reviewed formally at the end of the third form. Sixth form scholarships are tenable for two years. There is a separate process for application for a Sixth form scholarship.

All scholarships are liable to be rescinded in the case of the student not meeting their potential or obligations explicitly stated in the granting of the scholarship.

Bursaries

Friends' applications should be directed to the Bursar from whom information regarding the Joint Bursaries Scheme can be obtained.

All other requests for bursarial support should be addressed first to the Head.

Academic Scholarships

Academic scholarships on entry at first to fourth form are assessed by entrance exam aggregate scores, school references and an interview with presentation to the Head.

Sixth form academic scholarships are awarded following mocks in January and through a sixth form scholarship exam (normally sat in February) and/or interview and are conditional on meeting expectations in GCSE exams or their equivalent. A letter inviting all fifth form students wishing to be considered for scholarship is sent to fifth form parents and also to external applicants for sixth form places.

Music and Art Scholarships

Music and Art scholarships and awards are assessed by auditions and by the presentation of a portfolio and practical assessment respectively. Awards exist below the level of scholarship that offer a fixed sum for the purchase of art materials or the award of the cost of instrumental lessons. Any conditions pertaining to the award of these scholarships are stated in the letter offering the scholarship.

Sixth form Art and Music scholarships are awarded during the spring term of the fifth form following recommendation, consultation and practical assessment by the relevant Heads of Department and an interview with the Head.

Creative Arts Scholarship

A small number of Creative Arts scholarships may be awarded for students who show exceptional potential in drama, design or an amalgam of musical, artistic, design and dramatic areas. As with Music and Art the Heads of Department will make the relevant assessments and recommendations to the Head.

Boarding Scholarships

Boarding scholarships can be made on the basis of academic entry and the social and community benefits that the student is able to bring to the school. These are often tied to bursarial support but not exclusively and may be used to meet the school's wider boarding objectives.

Fixed Value Awards

The GCSE Awards, a single payment, are made on the basis of performance each year in the GCSE examinations to current Ackworth students. The awards are made on the basis of overall performance and the number of such awards varies each year to reflect academic performance. The award is at the discretion of the Head.

The Highest Scholarship Awards, a single payment, are made to recognise excellence in A2 examinations. Normally two awards are made but in exceptional circumstances awards may be split. In considering candidates for the award, only core A2 results are usually eligible. The award is at the discretion of the Head.