Freemen's Scholars' Brochure 2019/20

Introduction P3

How to Apply

Scholarship Aims P3-7

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SCHOLARS’ GUIDE Information about Scholarships at Freemen’s

2019-2020

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Introduction to the Scholarship Programme At Freemen’s we want children to learn, to lead and to make a difference. The Scholarship Programme is designed to support this aim whilst allowing us to foster the potential of our most gifted pupils.

Aims Scholars need to be ambitious about what they might achieve in and out of the classroom, and the Scholarship Programme • Provides relevant opportunities to expand intellectual horizons, • Develops creativity and harnesses confidence and curiosity, • Promotes independence and wisdom that will allow the Scholars to succeed in the next stages of their lives.

It is expected that the Scholars are leading lights of the Freemen’s pupil body, modelling and maintaining academic excellence, and taking a lead in the School’s aim for all pupils to make a difference.

The Scholarship Programme is structured into seven different categories allowing Scholars to achieve their potentials whilst being key members of Freemen’s community:

Academic Specialism Leadership and Service

Group Challenge Headmaster’s Symposia ExtraCurricular

Creativity Expanding Horizons 3

Academic Specialism

Academic Specialism

Scholars are invited to complete an academic task from a department of their choice. All departments offer extended tasks at three levels: Bronze (Upper 3 – Lower 4), Silver (Upper 4 – Upper 5) and Gold (Lower 6 – Upper 6).

Scholars do not have to study a subject in order to take the task. They are encouraged to broaden their curriculum offering by selecting a task that is additional to their current curriculum.

At Bronze and Silver level Scholars have the opportunity of completing tasks from subject areas that are not normally on offer until pupils reach the Sixth Form, providing them with an insight to subjects they might like to study in the future.

For further information on this section of the Scholars’ Programme please see the Scholars’ Academic Specialisms Booklet.

Leadership and Service Scholarships are awarded to individuals with exceptional skills and talents, and Scholars are encouraged to be involved in leadership and service activities throughout their Freemen’s careers.

There are opportunities for leading assemblies at all ages, mentoring other pupils – both academically and pastorally, or running co-curricular and academic societies. During the academic year a small group of Scholars will take on the responsibility of putting together the annual Scholars’ Journal, Perspectives. Furthermore, every pupil at Freemen’s is a member of a House (Gresham, Hale or Whittington); the Heads of Houses are eager to involve the Scholars in leadership and service opportunities that arise during the academic year.

Scholars are also encouraged to come and discuss their own ideas about leadership and service roles they would like to take on, so that they are using their skills to the best of their abilities.

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Leadership and Service

Creativity

Creativity

Invention, problem solving, imagination, creating and communication are all enhanced by thinking creatively. Therefore, creativity is included as one of the segments of the ‘Scholars’ Programme’ at Freemen’s.

At Freemen’s a wide range of creative experiences are on offer to all pupils. Scholars are encouraged to be involved with at least one creative activity beyond the curriculum. There are opportunities with theatre productions, art classes, concerts, creative writing, product design, and many more activities.

As with Leadership and Service roles, Scholars are encouraged to consider their own talents and interests and develop these as part of their bespoke Scholars’ Programme. Alternatively, a Scholar might take on a new activity to enhance their all-round curriculum.

Expanding Horizons Every year the Scholarship programme will offer at least one trip, visit, experience or masterclass to every scholar. At times there will be opportunities for additional experiences during the year.

Expanding Horizons

After visiting a place, or attending a workshop, Scholars are asked to feedback in some way to the whole school community. It might be that a small group lead an assembly or a talk at an academic society. Scholars might like to write a reflective piece for Perspectives, the Scholars’ Journal. It might be that the experience leads directly into the curriculum on examination syllabuses, and so the Scholars can feedback to their classes and peers.

The selection of trips and experiences are designed to expand the thoughts and ideas of the Scholars; there is purposefully a range of different activities booked each year, to enable as wide and varied an experience during a single Scholar’s career at Freemen’s.

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Extra-Curricular All pupils at Freemen’s are offered a wide range of extra-curricular activities from Bridge Club to CCF and Barbershop Singing to Steam Engineers Club.

ExtraCurricular

With roughly 150 activities currently on offer, Scholars can broaden their skills and interests. There are also opportunities for Scholars to set up a new activity and take a lead on the running of this.

As part of the Scholarship Programme, the Scholars are encouraged to take a lead in clubs and societies. This might be that Scholars wish to lead a weekly session, such as for the Bachelor Society or the Philosophy Society, or it might be that Scholars teach younger pupils how to develop a skill in activities such as Debating or Chess.

For this section of Scholars’ Programme, the Scholars might like to take up a new skill. Not only is there the enjoyment of finding a new hobby or intellectual challenge, but Scholars will work with new faces and friends.

Scholars also have many opportunities to join in music or drama performances. Those on offer range from whole school musicals to plays written, directed and performed by individual pupils. The Drama department also offers opportunities for scholar extra-curricular involvement in back stage work, marketing, costume designs, set design and media.

Group Challenge

Group Challenge

Whether in the Junior School, Senior School or Sixth Form, Scholars take part in Group Challenges. They are all independent projects which the Scholars work together on to achieve success.

Each year there are nine suggested challenges, but the tenth option is Scholars’ free choice. Scholars are encouraged to bring their skills and talents to the Group Challenge, whilst also learning to work with others.

Scholars also can choose to work with pupils in different year groups, providing opportunities for learning and development that are not always possible at school.

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Headmeasters’ Symposia

Headmaster’s Symposia

Over the course of the year all Scholars are invited to attend symposia with Mr Martin and Mr Robinson.

The Senior Scholars will attend two evening symposia a year with Mr Martin. These are a chance for discussion, debate and exploration of philosophical, moral, or social topics.

The Junior Scholars will attend a lunch time symposium once a term with Mr Robinson. The Scholars are given intellectual and creative topics or questions to prepare and ponder in advance, and then over lunch lively debates and discussions ensue.

How to apply 11+ Academic Scholarships (Entry into Year 7) Eligibility: Pupils sitting entrance tests for Year 7 entry and Freemen’s pupils in Year 6 When: Awards will be made following the Scholarship examinations for Year 7 entry in January of Year 6 Criteria: Performance in the entrance tests (which internal applicants will also sit); Scholarship examination (by invite only, following the entrance examinations); interview; written school report covering: academic excellence and potential; attitude to work; and wider contribution to the School.

Fee: £50 for internal or external candidates.

13+ Academic Scholarships (Entry into Year 9) Eligibility: Pupils joining Year 9 in the following September and Freemen’s pupils in Year 8.

When: Awards will be made following the scholarship examinations taken in January of Year 8.

Criteria: Performance in the scholarship examinations; interview; written school report covering academic excellence and potential; attitude to work; and wider contribution to the School.

Application: During the Autumn term, a letter about the awards and the application process will be sent to parents of candidates who have accepted conditional places for Year 9 for the following September.

Fee: £50 for internal or external candidates.

16+ Academic Scholarships (Entry into Sixth Form) Eligibility: Pupils applying for entry into the Sixth Form and Freemen’s pupils currently in Year 11 When: Awards will be made following the scholarship examinations in November of Year 11.

Assessment: Performance in the scholarship examinations; interview; written school report covering academic excellence and potential; predicted GCSE grades; attitude to work; and wider contribution to the School. Candidates will be asked to complete critical thinking exercises. There might also be some general knowledge questions and a piece of extended writing. There is no further guidance and there is no need to prepare for the exams.

Application: In the autumn term, a letter about the awards and the application process will be sent to parents of registered applicants for Sixth Form entry in the following September.

Fee: £50 for internal or external candidates.

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