Applications
Scholarships & Bursaries
(Senior School and Sixth Form only)
Scholarships & Bursaries
The Girls’ Day School Trust offers scholarships and bursaries to ensure that its schools continue to be accessible to all able students. Scholarships and bursaries are awarded pre-entry, either for Year 7 or on direct entry to the Sixth Form.
What is the difference between a Scholarship and a Bursary?
- Scholarships are awarded on merit, irrespective of financial means. Offers are made based upon performance in the entrance examinations for Year 7 or, in the case of Sixth Form scholarships, for outstanding ability demonstrated in individual subjects and disciplines. The maximum value of a scholarship, if combined with a Founders’ Award, is 50% of the annual fees.
- Music Scholarships are awarded following an audition, an interview with the Director of Music and reference from the pupil’s music teacher.
- What are Founders’ Awards and who is eligible?
Founders’ Awards were introduced to support outstanding pupils who have been awarded a scholarship but who are not eligible for a bursary. Founders’ Awards can be made up to the value of 50% of the annual fees.
- How can I apply for a Founders’ Award?
If your daughter has been awarded a scholarship either at 11 or at 16 , you may be invited by the Headmistress to apply for an additional Founders’ Award.
A special Founders’ Award application form should be completed which is similar to the standard bursary form.
Bursaries are usually awarded to pupils in the top 50% of performance in the entrance examinations. All bursaries are means-tested and their value is related to the income and financial resources of the pupil’s family. The maximum value of a bursary can be the full published fees.
Most bursaries will be awarded to students from families with a total income of less than £16,500 per year and with no capital assets other than their home. It is highly unlikely that a bursary would be awarded to a family whose gross income is more than £48,000, other than in exceptional circumstances. We aim to assist as many families qualifying for bursaries as possible; however, given the demand, we are not usually able to offer support to all those who qualify.
- Will my daughter definitely get a bursary?
Each school has a limited budget available to award each year and, even though you may be assessed as eligible for a bursary, there is no guarantee that your daughter will get one. Priority will be given in the first instance to girls who perform in the top half of the ability range in the entrance test. Please be aware that, should you choose to accept a full fee paying place, you would not be eligible to apply for a bursary in subsequent years unless there was a significant and unforeseen change to your financial circumstances from the time your daughter first joined the school.
- How does the Scholarship and Bursary scheme work?
Scholarships and bursaries are available at Trust schools on the following basis:
They are only awarded to girls aged 11 or over to help finance their secondary education. Most scholarships and bursaries are awarded before entering Year 7 or on direct entry into the Sixth Form. Each school has a cash-limited budget each year and so, inevitably, awards cannot be made to all those who qualify on academic grounds.
Bursaries are only normally made available to girls whose parents have been resident in the EU for the two years prior to a bursary application being made.
Post-entry bursaries can be awarded to girls whose families suffer unexpected financial difficulties, and are no longer able to pay the fees in full. These bursaries are designed to avoid a girl’s education being interrupted at a critical stage and, wherever possible, are awarded so that the pupil can complete that particular phase of study.
Scholarships and bursaries may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Headmistress, in the event of unsatisfactory work or conduct. This action will only occur as the culmination of a process of communication and guidance between the school and home.
HSBC Scholarship Scheme
In addition to its own scholarship and bursaries scheme, the GDST is also involved in a major national support scheme initiated by HSBC. HSBC, the international banking and financial services group, is a major supporter of educational development programmes in the UK and overseas through its own HSBC Education Trust.
The HSBC Scholarship Scheme is designed to encourage access and diversity in secondary independent education by providing financial support to able children who enter from the state primary sector.
Scholarship places under this scheme are awarded on academic merit and are means-tested and applications follow exactly the same procedure as for the GDST’s own bursaries. The Scholarships support the pupils throughout their senior school career but are not transferable outside the GDST schools and only in highly exceptional circumstances between Trust schools. Scholarships are awarded to girls currently in the maintained primary sector. Awards are made based on performance in the entrance test, references from the girl’s current primary school and an interview following the test.
- What do you need to do next if you wish to apply for a bursary?
A separate leaflet is available directly from the School containing full information about the bursary scheme and details of how to apply and an application form.
If you need help in completing the form, please contact Miss L. Froggatt, Admissions Secretary on (0114) 266 0324 or the GDST Bursary Department on (0207) 393 6666 who will be happy to assist you.
- Discounts
Sibling Discounts
Discounts will be offered to parents with four or more children at the school at any one time at the rate of 15% off the third and fourth child.
Fees paid in advance
A reduction of 0.5% is payable if all fees are paid annually in advance.
For parents wishing to pay advance fees of more than one year, three different payment plans are available. Please contact the GDST fees department for more details.
Sixth Form Loyalty Discounts
From September 2010, a 10% discount off the annual fee will be awarded to girls entering the Sixth Form who have been at the school for 10 years or more (i.e. since Reception, Year 1 or Year 2).
If you have any further questions about bursaries, scholarships or Founders’ Awards, the Headmistress would be happy to speak to you at any time.
If you would like to read the information above in leaflet form, you can download a copy here (163.3 KB .pdf file)
This web site is for information only and does not form part of any contract between parents and the Trust. The information which appears here is written in good faith and was believed to be correct at the time of its addition to the web site. For the latest information on any particular issue, you are advised to contact the School direct.