St Edmund's
Academic Scholarship | Year 12 | 16+
With its excellent pupil to staff ratio, St Edmund’s School can guarantee its Scholars the personal and professional attention that their talents deserve.
The highly prized title of ‘Scholar’ exemplifies pupils who contribute to the whole of school life but will take advantage of the many extension opportunities to develop their academic abilities. Our specialist, dedicated teachers nurture this enthusiasm, inspiring pupils to reach greater heights.
Academic Scholars will be challenged and stimulated both within and without the confines of the curriculum. At Sixth Form level, a wide range of societies gives pupils the opportunity to make presentations and lead seminar discussions on their coursework-related studies.
Beyond the curriculum, many organised activities provide the opportunity to develop powers of initiative and leadership. The Head of Careers takes a special interest in encouraging Scholars to seek the most exciting opportunities beyond school. We offer the Extended Project Qualification – a research project much supported by top universities.
KEY DATES
Assessments will take place on Saturday 8 March 2025
Closing date for entries: Friday 10 January 2025
REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR APPLICATION
- Awards are open to candidates entering St Edmund’s School in the Lower Sixth Form (Year 12).
- The 16+ scholarship tests for 2025 have been updated. Applicants must indicate on the application form whether they wish to be assessed in English/Humanities or STEM (Science, Technology, Maths). Instead of standard entrance exams in these subjects, candidates will take an aptitude-based test designed to assess their suitability for studying STEM or English/Humanities at A-level. This change was recently explained during the Sixth Form webinar.
- A report from the candidate’s present school will be required to complete the application form.
- Applications are invited from candidates who will be taking their GCSE examinations in the summer of Applicants should have outstanding ability in one or more subjects; they are expected to gain very good all-round grades, and certainly Grades 7 – 9 / A* or A grades in the subjects they intend to study at A-level. Candidates may support their application with the submission of coursework folders.
- The Scholarship Examinations will be held at St Edmund’s School and candidates must present themselves 15 minutes before the start of their first examination. The Assessment day on Saturday 8 March will be as follows:
Non Verbal Reasoning – 25 minutes
Verbal Reasoning – 15 minutes
Creative Comprehension STEM or English/Humanities – 45 minutes
Extended project planning task 40 minsLunch will be provided for candidates each day.
- Entries should be submitted to the Executive Administrator by Friday 10 January 2025.
SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA
| Essential | Desirable |
|---|---|
| An Academic scholar at 16+ should contribute to the whole of school life but take advantage of the many extension opportunities to develop their academic abilities. | Experience of extended research, for example having completed an extended project. |
| Excellent performance in the school’s scholarship examinations. | Able to lead groups in a classroom or be seen as an academic role model within their year group. |
| Noted to show great academic promise, initiative and future leadership skills. | Winner of national awards/competitions. |
| A desire to know, and desire to build the skills to allow understanding.. | Predicted grade 8 and above in all GCSE subjects |
| Able to shape their own learning in unanticipated ways, using reasoning to make connections across subjects and domains. | |
| Award/Competition winner | |
| Expected to gain very good all-round grade, and certainly 7-9 | |
| Candidates will also have an interview with the Head, or a members of the Senior Leadership Team. For candidates whose first language is not English, there will also be an English Entrance test. |
HOW DO I APPLY?
- Complete the online Registration form. (External candidates only)
- Complete and submit the Academic Scholarship form and upload any relevant reports and documents.
Awards of varying value, offset against the tuition fees for both day and boarding pupils, are awarded in the categories of Academic, Art, Drama, Music and Sport. Where fees are still prohibitively expensive, annually means-tested bursaries can be awarded to supplement a scholarship.
Bursaries & other fee remissions
Originally founded to provide a free education for the fatherless sons of the clergy of the Church of England and the Church in Wales, St Edmund’s now accepts applications from sons and daughters of the clergy, to whom a 25% discount is offered.
A discount of 25% may be offered to employees of the Dean & Chapter at Canterbury Cathedral.
Bursaries are granted on a means-tested basis to existing St Edmund’s families who experience hardship, and there is a limited means-tested bursary provision for families who are new to St Edmund’s.
Children of former pupils may be entitled to a tuition fee concession up to a maximum of 10% . If other remissions (eg scholarship award, bursary), equate to 10% or more then no further discount will be awarded.
Members of the Armed Forces receive a remission resulting in 10% of the boarding fee being payable by the family (in addition to the MOD CEA).
Sibling discounts are also available for third and subsequent children of the same family in the school at the same time.
Applications should be made to the Bursar in writing or by email on bursar@stedmunds.org.uk