11 Plus Exams Forum

Does anyone know how scholarships work?

I understand the school will offer a number initially but what happens if more than they expect do not get accepted? Is there a further round of offers?

Is it wise to delay accepting a place in case an offer comes through?

I am guessing they would not make an offer to someone who has already accepted a place.

every school will be different. When I was a Governor at an Indie a long time ago they didn't offer out any that weren't taken up - it just meant they could offer another one the following year

Are you on the waiting list?

Which school are you talking about?

Each school operates scholarships in a different way. Some have a different interview, some even have a different extra exam. DG

We have had offers from St Albans School and Columba's.

Thanks

The St Albans offer confirmation letters only arrived yesterday so you have some time yet.

St Albans does not have any separate scholarship interviews or exams and all applicants are automatically considered for a scholarship.

It would be worth writing to St Albans and asking if it would be possible to go on the waiting list for a scholarship if it would make a difference to your decision.

I know of families who have been offered 5% and 10% scholarships at St Albans which was not enough to be a major factor in their decision. One family with a 10% last year did turn it down for Habs. DG

Do you know how they work at Columba's?

I know a family who were offered 30% there last year but turned it down for St Albans.

I do not know whether that 30% scholarship would then have been offered to another family. DG

As far as I am aware unaccepted scholarship offers don't get passed on hence no waiting lists. They are exactly what they are meant for i.e the topmost performing pupils of the entrance exams. The indies I know don't have a separate exam for scholarships.

The fee discounts that come with scholarships are mostly capped at 50% level and many are offered at very much less. So being a scholar is honorary rather than a financial incentive.

However, I am aware bursaries or AP offers can be passed on to waiting list candidates if declined. The bursaries are also for candidates who performed at very well in the exams but perhaps not quite at scholarship level. These are income assessed and should be applied for before the exam.

Sometimes a scholarship candidate may have applied for a bursary and therefore end up with a significant reduction in fees or 100% free place.

I'm interested to know the answer to this.

We're in an independent school which children pass automatically to the senior school. Unexpectedly, we were offered an academic scholarship for senior school. We had known for some time we would probably move if our daughter was successful at another school so hadn't really even considered the scholarship as a possibility.

Another mother, whose daughter sat for numerous other external schools and recieved no offers, contacted me asking us to reject the scholarship as soon as possible so that it might be allocated to her daughter She had been so certain that her daughter would be offered the scholarship that she even told her daughter she would be receiving one. Frankly, I think she was bonkers to do this but even more bonkers to suggest that the scholarship should be passed on.

We'll be moving to another secondary school so it will be interesting to see what happens.

Scholarships are offered to those whom the school is very keen to have, and whom I guess are very likely to have other offers. I suspect schools offer more scholarships than they expect to pay out on. I have never heard of anyone already offered a place to be subsequently contacted and offered a scholarship. So St Albans Dad I should just make your decision based on the school that will suit your child the best. Do let us know what you decide!