Scholarships information
Scholarships available Academic scholarships
Academic Scholarships are offered for entry at 11+ to candidates who have achieved outstanding results in the entrance examination and the subsequent interviews. We do not hold special scholarship examinations and no separate application is necessary. The value of an academic scholarship is usually between 10-20% of fees (up to 25% in exceptional circumstances) and the award is valid for the duration of the student’s time at Habs, subject to consistent academic performance and co-curricular participation.
Other scholarships
We also offer Art, Creative writing, Drama and Sports scholarships at 11+.
More information about each scholarship, including an indication of what we are looking for and how to apply, can be found further in this booklet.
Music scholarship
The Music department
The musical community at Habs is vibrant, welcoming and inclusive, with performance at all levels being encouraged and praised. Our motto is ‘Music for All’, with enjoyment and aspiration for excellence lying at the heart of all we do.
Habs has excellent musical facilities in purpose-built buildings. The concert life is rich and varied with major orchestra and choral concerts each term, jazz concerts, lunchtime recitals, Open Mic concerts, Music Tours, Festivals and Competitions. We have a large team of visiting music teachers with opportunities to learn a wide variety of different instruments, and large numbers of students enter practical and recorded performance examinations with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and Trinity College each term.
We offer an extensive co-curricular programme with specialist tutors and musical directors to cater for every age and ability. All students are invited to sing in Middle School Choir and Senior Choir, with Cantabile Chamber Choir and St Catherine Singers catering for more experienced singers. Choirs sing in termly school concerts, the annual Carol Service at St Martin-in-the-Fields and have also performed outside school at such venues as St George’s Chapel, numerous Cambridge and Oxford Chapels and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Our larger instrumental ensembles include Senior Jazz Band, Salsa Band, Wind Sinfonia and Concert Orchestra, with students above Grade 5 standard invited to join the Symphony Orchestra. As they become more accomplished, players of Grade 7 and above may be invited to the Joint Habs Elstree Symphony Orchestra and Habs Elstree Big Band, bringing together our most experienced players from across the Boys’ School and Girls’ School.
The department offers a range of chamber music opportunities, including string quartets and piano trios. Chamber ensembles take part in school concerts and also at the annual South East Schools’ Chamber Music Competition, with finalists performing at St George’s Church, Hanover Square.
Musical events run throughout the year, including concerts in school, the Carol Service at St Martin-in-the-Fields, chamber concerts, the annual House Music Festival, the Haberdashers’ Company Music Festival and the joint Habs Elstree Piano Day. There are also more informal opportunities to perform at lunchtime Open Mic concerts, and opportunities for soloists to perform in assemblies and at school events.
The Music and Drama departments work closely together with a significant amount of musical involvement in school productions in
recent years, from original songs written by students, to performances by a chamber choir and string ensembles.
Among the highlights on offer to students involved in musical ensembles and choirs is the biennial Music Tour. Recent tours have visited Belgium, Barcelona, Salzburg and Lake Garda. We also collaborate with Habs Boys School, whether through joint ensembles and chamber choirs, with recent concert performances at LSO St Luke’s and St John’s Smith Square.
What are we looking for in a Music Scholar?
Music Scholarships are offered to candidates who show exceptional potential as musicians, displayed through advanced musical skills and innate musicianship, and whom we believe will act as ambassadors for music amongst their peer group. Music Scholars will demonstrate advanced musical skills and/or potential for further development.
In an audition this is likely to be demonstrated in the following ways:
Accurate playing
Stylistic playing
Control of the instrument
Ability to ‘perform’ in a communicative way
Ability to encourage others in their music making
Music Scholarships, Awards and Exhibitions vary in value from a reduction in school fees and free instrumental tuition on one or two instruments to help with fees for individual instrumental lessons. In exceptional circumstances, candidates may be offered up to 50% reduction of school fees.
Music scholarship
As a guide, the following criteria should help you decide whether to enter your daughter for consideration for a scholarship:
Normally two instruments should be offered Principal instrument – around grade 5 standard (grade 6/7 if piano)
Second instrument – around grade 3 standard
It is not essential that the actual grade exam has been taken, but the candidate should be playing at this level
Contribution in school and outside musical ensembles will also be taken into consideration.
Music Award
To be considered for a Music Award for a single instrument, Grade 4/5 standard should have been reached.
Music Exhibition
Occasionally candidates who play less common instruments (the ‘rare breeds’ e.g. oboe, bassoon, brass instruments) at a lower standard (Grade 3) may be offered Music Exhibitions, but this is dependent upon the requirements of the department from year to year. Music Exhibitions may also be available when students arrive in Year 7 to encourage participation rates in certain instruments.
What is the value of a Music Scholarship?
The value of a scholarship is usually between 10-15% of school fees (but can be up to a maximum of 30% in exceptional circumstances).
A scholarship may be awarded in conjunction with a bursary. Scholarships are held for the duration of a student’s time at the school, subject to sustained levels of progress, participation and performance.
All types of Music Scholarship may be awarded in conjunction with a Bursary or other Scholarship. Scholarships are held for the duration of a student’s time at the School, subject to sustained levels of progress, participation and performance.
Application Procedure
Applications for Scholarships will open in October 2024.
Art scholarship
The Art department
All creative minds are cherished within the Art Department and we provide every student with the opportunity to explore, experiment and expand their imagination using a wide array of media and resources. Students’ artwork is always celebrated through the School’s art displays, awards and competitions.
The Art Department is housed in large, bright, and airy buildings and include 3D sculpture equipment including ceramics and plaster; traditional drawing and painting resources including oil paints; digital photography and photo editing software; textiles including sewing machines and screen printing; CAD software including Photoshop & Illustrator and digital drawing equipment including Apple Pencils. Each teacher brings to the department their own area of interest and expertise and we have specialist teachers in sculpture, ceramics, textiles, painting, drawing, photography, and animation.
Our small class sizes allow for lots of individual discussion and support, developing each student’s own personal creative journey. We offer the Art, Craft & Design GCSE and an A Level specification which allows for each student’s individuality and strengths to flourish.
Students in every year group benefit from our fabulous annual artist-in-residence programme, which sees established artists running workshops, after school talks and individual tutorial sessions.
Each visiting artist brings to the school their individual working methods, techniques, inspiration, and media preferences; these residencies are a rich learning opportunity for all. Students are also able to take part in our extensive range of lunchtime and after school art clubs including life drawing, clay club, craft club, and digital drawing club.
We believe in the importance of learning outside of the classroom as seeing artwork up close is an essential tool in supporting our students to understand the artists they study in greater detail.
Regular trips to art galleries and museums are an important experience for all students. Residential art trips, which include a varied programme of gallery visits, workshops and working with local artists are regularly planned for GCSE and A Level groups. One of the Art Department’s highlights each year is the formal Art Exhibition which features work from all our GCSE and A Level students. Family and friends are invited to a private view where we are able to celebrate each student’s creativity, dedication and success.
What are we looking for in an Art Scholar?
Art Scholarships are offered to candidates who show a genuine enthusiasm for Art and Design. Art Scholars not only have exceptional technical skills but also use their creative and inquiring minds to find new approaches towards media and techniques.
Candidates should be able to:
Demonstrate an exceptional skill level in traditional forms of art and design: drawing, painting or sculpture, showing a command of formal elements relating to their area of specialism.
Have experience of working away from the classroom, demonstrating a genuine love of learning and the ability to work independently.
Critically analyse their own artwork and the artwork of others.
What is the value of an Art Scholarship?
The value of a scholarship is usually between 10-15% of school fees (but can be up to a maximum of 25% in exceptional circumstances).
A scholarship may be awarded in conjunction with a bursary. Scholarships are held for the duration of a student’s time at the school, subject to sustained levels of progress, participation and performance.
Creative Writing scholarship
The English department
In English, students are encouraged to read widely and work creatively, developing an understanding of different literary forms, combined with an ability to appreciate a variety of interpretations.
The English Department runs their own co-curricular reading programme, the Critical Reader Award, which encourages students to read a wide variety of texts. The department also offers a variety of co- curricular clubs and competitions. This includes House competitions such as the House Poetry Competition as well as one-off events throughout the year, such as World Book Day and National Poetry Day. Students in Lower 4 and Upper 4 (Years 7 and 8) take part every year in the Edna Judd Poetry Recital competition and in the national Poetry by Heart competition from Lower 5 (Year 9) upwards.
During the summer holiday, students are encouraged to take part in the Novel Writing competition, for which they write the first ten pages of a Young Adult novel; this competition is judged by a literary agent and students share extracts from their novels in a celebration evening.
Every year the department arranges a writer-inresidence who works with classes and with individual students, offering advice and guidance on their writing. Together with the Library, the department regularly arranges author visits.
What is the value of a Creative Writing Scholarship?
The value of a scholarship is usually between 10-15% of school fees (but can be up to a maximum of 25% in exceptional circumstances).
A scholarship may be awarded in conjunction with a bursary. Scholarships are held for the duration of a student’s time at the school, subject to sustained levels of progress, participation and performance.
What are we looking for in a Creative Writing Scholar?
Scholarships will be awarded to candidates who show exceptional potential as writers, demonstrating the capacity to write with originality and imagination. They will act as ambassadors for English among their peers and will hone their skills by taking part in writing opportunities throughout the school year.
These will include:
The opportunity to contribute to the school. magazine and creative writing club. Workshops with the annual writer-in-residence.
Participating in the novel writing and house poetry competitions.
Guidance and mentoring with entries for national creative writing competitions.
The opportunity to undertake an arvon writing course later in their writing career.
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
Thoughtful and precise use of language. A willingness to experiment creatively.
The ability to write in a clear and strong voice. Assured technical ability in the use of punctuation and grammar.
Application Procedure
Drama scholarship
The Drama department
The Drama department Drama at Habs is lively and inclusive, both in terms of the curricular and co-curricular opportunities. We strive for the highest standards with public performance and examination work and encourage as many students as possible to take part in the activities on offer. Habs has two Drama Studios, both black-boxes used for teaching and examination performances. We also have a designated Performance Space with tiered auditorium seating and high-quality lighting and sound equipment, which is managed and operated by our in-house Drama Technician. Typically, the department offers a wide range of performance opportunities, which involve taking part in local festivals, being part of the Coram Shakespeare Schools Festival, mounting at least two large-scale productions and a summer showcase which is a forum for the work that has been created by our wealth of co-curricular clubs.
We have an exciting programme of trips and visits to the theatre, taking in great work in a variety of venues from institutions like the Barbican to smaller local fringe venues. We also offer trips to backstage tours at the National Theatre and similar venues.
Taking part in drama productions is a good way to gather experience for keen actors and we strive to produce an eclectic programme from Shakespeare to musical theatre, with several stop off points in between! There is also space in the programme for student directed new work and we offer guidance and support to budding playwrights.
The Arts Award qualification is also offered and Bronze, Silver and Gold Level. This award presents opportunities for students to develop skills as assistant directors, technicians, designers and as part of the stage crew in addition to acting.
What are we looking for in a Drama Scholar?
Drama scholarships are offered to candidates who show exceptional potential as theatre practitioners, displayed through a range of performance skills and experience and whom we believe will act as ambassadors for drama within the school.
Candidates will display high-quality performance skills and/or the potential for further development, which is likely to be demonstrated in a number of different ways:
Drama scholars are expected to be able actors capable of being a successful member of an ensemble.
Demonstrating an ability to take direction.
Demonstrating the ability to use a range of performance skills.
By being able to share experience of live theatre, either as a member of the audience or company.
Candidates are not expected to have gained any particular level of drama qualification, eg, there is no particular advantage for applicants to have undertaken private drama examinations such as LAMDA or Trinity.
However, successful applicants will have participated both in and out of school in the following ways:
Taken part in a range of productions as an actor and/or musical theatre performer.
Have a passion and interest in theatre and performance.
Be able to demonstrate experience of creating a sustained characterisation.
What is the value of a Drama Scholarship?
The value of scholarships is usually between 10-15% of school fees (but can be up to a maximum of 25% in exceptional circumstances).
A scholarship may be awarded in conjunction with a bursary. Scholarships are held for the duration of a student’s time at the school, subject to sustained levels of progress, participation and performance.
Application Procedure
Applications for Scholarships will open in October 2024.
Sports scholarship
The PE department
At Habs Girls we understand that physical exercise is good for the mind, body and spirit. We strive to build confidence, develop character and resilience, and encourage sport as a way of life by improving students’ determination, goal setting and motivation. We offer an extensive range of co-curricular activities, which include both competitive teams and recreational clubs. The department runs a competitive fixtures programme in sports including lacrosse, netball, gymnastics, trampolining, cross-country, dance, badminton, football, swimming, athletics, tennis and softball cricket. We currently have some students from the Girls school who play squash and hardball cricket at the Boys’ school. Playing hardball cricket at the girls’ school is something we are working towards.
Our teams compete exceptionally well at local, regional, and national level and students regularly achieve county and national selection in a range of sports. Fixtures take place after school and at weekends, usually Saturdays.
The school boasts outstanding sports facilities: Indoor 25m swimming pool
Fitness suite
Sports hall
Dance studio
Two gyms
Nine tennis/netball courts
Six lacrosse pitches
What is the value of a Sports Scholarship?
The value of a scholarships is usually between 10-15% of school fees (but can be up to a maximum of 25% in exceptional circumstances).
A scholarship may be awarded in conjunction with a bursary. Scholarships are held for the duration of a student’s time at the school, subject to sustained levels of progress, participation and performance.
What are we looking for in a Sports Scholar?
Sports Scholarships are awarded to candidates in recognition of sustained sporting excellence, talent and future potential. Candidates will be active members of their school sports teams and are likely to be involved in sporting clubs outside of school with representative experience or its equivalent at county level or above.
Award holders will be ambassadors for Sport who will make a full contribution to the sporting life of the School. Scholars will be allocated a mentor, an older student, who will encourage their sporting participation; in time, Sports Scholars will become mentors for younger award holders.
How do I apply?
Candidates must submit a sporting portfolio along with references from 2 of the following: Sports Coach, Headteacher, Director of Sport or PE Teacher. Pupils should complete the online application form providing the additional information requested.
Application Procedure
Applications for Scholarships will open in October 2024.