Scholarships & Bursaries

We offer the following awards:

• Academic
• Music
• Art (not at 11+)
• Sport (not at 11+)
• Drama (not at 11+)

Awards are made at the following stages in a child’s education:

• at 11+ for entry into School House (the Junior Department); pupils are in Year 6 when they take the exam and must be under 12 on the 1st September of the year of entry.
• at 13+ for entry into the Senior School; pupils are in Year 8 when they take the exam and must be under 14 on the 1st September of the year of entry.
• at 16+ for entry into the Sixth Form; pupils are in Year 11 when they take the exam and must be under 17 on the 1st September of the year of entry.

As an HMC School the maximum value of any award is 50% of fees, with the exception of the means tested Foundation Bursaries. There are three levels of awards:

• Major Scholarship usually up to 30% (not at 11+)
• Scholarship up to 20% (not at 11+)
• Junior Exhibition (11+)

Music Scholars will also receive their instrumental tuition free of charge (maximum of two named instruments).

The School is fortunate to be able to offer these to successful scholarship applicants whose parents need financial assistance for their son or daughter and who, in the opinion of the Head, would derive great benefit from an education at Blundell’s. This bursary is means tested and offers a discount of up to 100% of basic tuition fees. Parents and candidates must arrange to visit the School and complete a statement of financial means form prior to the examination closing date.

A Services Boarding Package is available; please contact the Registrar’s Office for further details.

All awards continue into the Senior School, but pupils are subject to regular performance reviews throughout.

Candidates who win an award at 11+ can sit for one at 13+ to see if he or she can improve. If a higher standard is achieved, relative to their age, then a higher award can be made. However, the original award will not be lost if the reverse is true! This is also the case at 16+.

Pupils in Year 8 or Year 11 may apply to sit the scholarship examinations even if they failed to receive an award at an earlier stage. Pupils are not automatically entered, however, and must apply by the appropriate closing date.

On receipt of the scholarship application form Blundell’s will request a confidential report from the candidate’s current school and this will form an important part of the assessment process.

All exams are sat at Blundell’s. When candidates live abroad it may be possible, given enough notice, to arrange for papers to be sat at the candidate’s school.

Candidates may stay in a boarding house overnight during the examination period.

Sample papers for 11+ Entry Examinations and 13+ Scholarships are available from the Registrar’s Office upon request.

Please contact the Registrar’s Office for the appropriate entry forms.