Habs Boys Scholarship booklet HOW TO APPLY

Scholarship Programme

Introduction

Dear prospective Habs scholar,

Our purpose at Habs is to ensure that every student who comes through our school is empowered to be able to make a profound impact in the world. We want all our students to have the capacity to lead and to make a positive difference.

This level of ambition runs through our whole philosophy. As a highly selective school many of our students are considered gifted in most contexts, so our approach to teaching and learning is academically ambitious for all our students; we expect that all our students will be challenged above and beyond any exam curriculum.

We encourage our students to think hard and we nurture intellectual curiosity, all of which enables students not just to excel in exams and achieve their higher education goals, but also to develop an enduring love of learning.

We have a range of specialist scholarships available at Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Year 12 (16+), as well as academic scholarships for both prospective and current pupils. Our scholarship programme is inclusive. Whilst it offers the stretch and opportunity for our scholars to advance their passions and interests, much on offer is also available to all our students; we do not see scholarship as constrained to only those who are named as scholars. However, we have extremely high expectations of our scholars and we support them in playing an exciting leading role in our school.

As role models to our other students, our scholars help drive the level of ambition and curiosity in their subjects, have courage to challenge themselves and struggle with new ideas, and importantly they enjoy sharing their knowledge, passion and skills to help support and develop their school community.

A Habs scholar is also expected to maintain a range of other interests and demonstrate full commitment to school life in the broadest sense.

We award academic scholarships to those who consistently display and demonstrate our school values in all aspects of school life, and who we believe will have a positive and leading impact on our school community. And we award specialist scholarships to students who show the capacity to excel and to lead in their chosen specialist area.

We look forward to discussing this with you further and we wish you the very best of luck.

Mr Robert Sykes Headmaster

The programme summary

What is scholarship at Habs?

Scholarship at Habs combines key academic and personal attributes which reflect our overall values in particular ways.

Courage – A scholar is courageous in seeking to go outside their current understanding, challenging themselves to overcome preconceptions and develop their understanding.

Curiosity – A scholar is deeply curious and will take and make opportunities to explore their interests further.

Community – A scholar is committed to sharing their knowledge, skills and understanding and is eager to engage with others in developing these further.

Ambition – A scholar has the ambition to take their work to the highest level possible.

We believe all our students should try their best to display these attributes consistently throughout their time at Habs, which is why much of our scholarship programme is available to all our students.

Those students who demonstrate these attributes, and do so to the highest level consistently through their school career, will be recognised formally as scholars.

Our scholarships

Our entry points for our scholarships are in Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12. Assessments take place the preceding academic year, all details can be found on our website

Academic Art Drama Design and Technology Music Sport

Year 7 (11+)

Year 9 (13+)

Year 12 (16+)

Students may apply for mutiple subject based scholarships. Academic scholarships are based on performance in the admissions entrance assessments and in subsequent interviews.

For students who are already at Habs (moving into Year 7 and Year 9), students will be nominated for an academic scholarship. Nominations are based on sustained academic excellence (progress grades, end of year exams, baseline data tests and reports), engagement and attitude with academic and co-curricular life of the school and a consistent display and demonstration of our school values.

The final decision on all scholarships is made by the Headmaster. The number and type of scholarships awarded each year will be at the School’s discretion and information can be found in our Admissions Policy which is available on our website.

There also scholarships available during a student’s time at Habs. Further awards are made in Year 9 and Year 12. Students will be nominated by their Head of House and Head of School based on evidence of the attributes of the scholarship; such as sustained academic or performance excellence (progress grades, end of year exams, baseline data tests and reports), engagement and attitude with academic and co-curricular life of the school and a consistent display and demonstration of our school values.

Our scholarship programme

Our expectations of scholars

We have extremely high expectations of our scholars and they play an exciting leading role in our school. We expect our scholars to consistently display the Habs scholarship attributes and be a role model to other students in reflecting these values amongst the school community. For example, a junior scholar might be expected to attend subject societies regularly and engage fully in broader super-curricular opportunities provided by departments such as

competitions and symposiums. They will demonstrate ambition and curiosity in their subject matter to their peers. A more senior scholar would be expected to play a more leading role by delivering talks, running events and societies and inviting speakers. They will have courage to challenge themselves and regularly enjoy sharing their knowledge, passion and skills, having a positive impact on the school community.

How we support our scholars

In addition to the departmental support our scholars receive, we have a strong monitoring and tracking system to guide each scholars’ progress. Tracking and monitoring of scholars is undertaken by tutors and overseen by the Head of Scholarship. This is to provide the best possible support and challenge for scholars and to encourage their personal and intellectual development.

Term

Autumn Term

Spring Term

Summer Term

Event

Scholar’s Tea*

Tutors will meet with scholars regularly to discuss their engagement and their future ambitions and priorities in terms of further exploring and developing their interests. Scholars will also meet yearly with members of the Senior Leadership Team to discuss their achievements and ambitions every year. An overview of this process is given below.

Meetings with Tutor to set and review targets.

Meeting with Head of Scholarship. Meetings with Tutor for mid-period progress review.

Group Meeting with SLT Final Tutor meeting to review year and plans going forward.

**Scholars Lunch

*Scholars’ Tea – This takes place in the Autumn Term welcomes new scholars joining the programme to the community. They will hear from more senior scholars about their work over the previous year and learn more about scholarship at Habs.

Parent Reception – This takes place in the Spring Term and is an opportunity for parents to hear from an external academic speaker about the importance of scholarship and how they can support and encourage interest.

**Scholars’ Lunch – This Summer Term event involves a talk in Period 3 from an external speaker to the scholars followed by opportunities to discuss over a lunch with groups of scholars.

Our scholarship programme

Our approach

Habs is an inclusive community, we do not constrain the opportunity of scholarship to only those identified as scholars. Our scholars will, however be expected to play a leading role in all the scholarship opportunities.

While we provide stretch and challenge in every lesson throughout a student’s time at Habs, we have specific events where our academic scholars take the lead. These events also offer a structured opportunity for our students to develop and demonstrate their strengths and for the school to identify those who might be deserving of recognition as a scholar in Year 9 and Year 12. These events include: Family History Project Year 7, Science Fair Year 8 and Year 9, Dawson Independent Research Project (Middle School), Extended Research Project Conference (Year 10) and Habs Diploma (Year 12).

The school also offers an extensive range of academic clubs and societies which are open to all students. Scholars will be expected to attend a minimum of one academic society/ scholarship subject a week on a regular basis, in addition to three other co-curricular activities to explore their interests.

As an example of the range on offer:

Subject-based enrichment Societies and Conferences

Over 70 choices including: life drawing, portrait painting, Engineering Club, Maths Society, Code Breaking Club, Around the World Club (MFL), Politics Society, over 30 different music ensembles and 13 different sports.

Inter-School competitions and House competitions

Over 20 choices including: Inter-School Languages (French & Spanish Debates), Year 9 Joint Schools Geography Quiz and Veritas Essay Competitions for Year 7 to Year 13.

Subject-specific Olympiads, national challenges and competitions

An array of opportunities, including: British Mathematics Olympiad and UK Linguistics Olympiad, European Youth Parliament (Politics), and UK Space Design Competition (Science), ‘CREST’ Award in Biology (Science) , ‘SATRO’ (Engineering), BBC Young Musician of the Year and Massolit Video Competition.

Academic (and career-related) workshops and lectures

We recommend and expect regular attendance at our workshops and lectures. We have over 30 different choices; a few examples include Monday Night Royal Geographical Society, Maths in Action Lectures, fortnightly presentation of news and events in France, Spain and Germany, National Youth Orchestra and Public Lectures at LSE.

National and university essay competitions

We again recommend and expect participation in essay competitions. Last year there were over twenty different competitions, some examples: MMA Jeremy Hibbins Music Essay Competition, Corpus Christi Essay Competition (History), RGS Young Geographer of the Year Essay Competition, Stephen Spender Prize (translating foreign Language poetry into English) and Wellcome Trust Essay Competition (Science).

University Outreach opportunities

An array of opportunities, including: Corpus Christi College School Science Prize, ISSP (Linguistic) partnership led language programme including a day at Clifford Chance and International Studies Seminar at Trinity College, Cambridge (Politics).

Art scholarship

The art department

We are fortunate to have a wonderfully well equipped art department with a team of talented artists who are committed to encouraging and inspiring our students to make extraordinary art.

Day to day, the department is always open; our art department provides students with the opportunity to work in a vast range of media. We allow students to make their own choices and to use as much of our specialist equipment as they aspire to. We believe giving students the freedom to make their own choices allows them to take ownership of their own pathway!

Our department specialises in textiles, photography, graphic design and fine art. This includes anything from printing Bauhaus typography onto a T shirt to creating surrealism through ceramics. An art scholar should be getting involved in as many opportunities as possible.

All art and design students benefit from our small class sizes and at GCSE level and A Level, we mainly work one-to-one with our pupils forming a partnership of creativity, aiding students in advancing their individual style and approach. as life drawing and artistled workshops. Students are also encouraged to look at other subjects on the curriculum through a creative lens, applying their artistic skills in new and imaginative ways. Throughout the lower school, topical subjects are referenced enabling them to connect their skills and ideas to new subject matter.

Art scholarship

What we are looking for in an art scholar?

Art scholars play a vital role in the department not just through their own engagement, but by encouraging other students to take part in the many activities we run in our thriving department.

Our scholars inspire us with their passion and ambition for the subject, taking advantage of the wide range of specialisms offered within the department and developing their knowledge and techniques outside of school through visits to exhibitions and their own research projects. We are looking for eagerness to master the craft of being a young artist rather than a finished product.

A portfolio with character and expression with refinements to be made is the one we are looking for at Habs.

Scholars are expected to make full use of the opportunities open to the school community, such as visiting artist workshops, trips and open studios and are encouraged to enter external competitions and to exhibit their work around school.

Art scholars are:

Enthusiastic about art, curious when visiting galleries in their spare time

Eager to question how processes work

Able to observe the word around them being able to see differently to others

Not afraid to be vulnerable when experimenting

Personable, able to work as a team for community projects

Art scholarships are available at 11+ and 13+, to candidates who have passed the entrance assessment, based on the submission of a portfolio of their work which will be discussed at interview. As ever, it is potential and passion that we seek, not the finished article; ambitious works in development are encouraged, as are a range of ideas and techniques.

How to apply

STAGE 1

Students should submit a portfolio of 6 to 20 pieces in a simply presented digitalised format, e.g. a power point. We will look at the student’s potential rather than expecting highly finished work and welcome “work in progress” as part of the submission.

The portfolio should include current (completed within the last two years) examples the student’s independent:

Observational drawing

Use of colour media

Ideas and compositions

Written analysis of art or design work/s which inspire the candidate’s own work

Brief annotations explaining each piece or collection of pieces.

STAGE 2

After the entrance assessment, the Head of Art will select students, from those who have reached the required academic standard and demonstrated their potential as an art scholar to be invited for an interview. This takes place in January. During the interview, students will have the opportunity to talk about their

Applicants are also asked to prepare a short statement containing the following elements:

Please tell us about your art journey so far. What inspires you, what are your favourite media and materials?

If you were awarded an Art scholarship, what impact will you have on Art at Habs? Portfolios and the candidate statement should be submitted by email to admissions@ habsboys.org.uk. See the submission date on the website.

work and will be asked questions about it. They should attend with their physical portfolio although large scale pieces which are difficult to transport can be presented through photographs. In addition, students will undertake a short practical task.

Drama scholarship

The drama department

One of the most exciting and forwardthinking drama departments in the country, overseen by highly experienced teachers alongside directors and associates working within the industry, we aim to redefine traditional school practice to make bold, high-quality and transformative theatre in line with the UK’s other leading Youth Theatre companies.

Across both academic and co-curricular drama we train students as dynamic theatre makers with an emphasis on processchallenging pupils to be storytellers, to take risks and discover their own voice, to create innovative, authentic and socially conscious work.

Each year we produce an ambitious and wide-ranging programme of work from large scale productions to studio shows, writing projects and collaborations with external partners. Work includes new writing, devising original work, adaptations of books and graphic novels and reimagining

classical texts. Students have opportunities to work alongside an incredible range of professional artists, including some of the country’s leading theatre makers, movement directors and writers. Alongside this there is an extensive range of additional creative projects, workshops, acting training, House drama events, film-making and scriptwriting groups.

Students regularly achieve the highest possible marks for their examined devising and performance work. Each year we have a high number of students successfully audition to become members of the National Youth Theatre.

Drama scholarship

What we are looking for in a drama scholar?

Drama scholars are integral to setting standards and also helping to define the direction of the work we produce both in school and outside.

We are looking for potential, talent and/or a willingness to learn and grow rather than a finished article. Whilst it would be good to see some experience based on their interest in drama, it is not an advantage to have any professional experience. You do not have to have undertaken formal qualifications in drama or public speaking to consider applying. We are looking for pupils who demonstrate:

Good natural instincts as a performer

The ability to listen, to affect the other person and be in the moment

Great energy, presence and playfulness

Openness to take risks and test themselves

Collaboration and ability to work as part of a group

An authentic voice, to demonstrate an interest in telling stories

An interest in the world around them and engaging their imagination

A desire to create their own work

A passion and curiosity about theatre, films, reading and other art forms

In addition to being an ambassador for the department in terms of pro-active engagement and enthusiasm, a drama scholar will:

Take academic drama to at least GCSE level and hopefully on to A Level

Take part in at least one large-scale production each year for their appropriate age group.

Take part in at least one additional cocurricular activity - New Views / Filmmaking / Open mic nights, taking on a leading role where appropriate.

Take part in all appropriate House Drama events, leading where appropriate.

Attend workshops, talks, theatre visits and actively seek further enrichment opportunities.

How to apply

STAGE 1

Please complete the Drama Scholarship application form (see website)

Applicants must also obtain a reference from a drama teacher, class teacher or the director of a production they have been involved in.

STAGE 2

After the entrance assessment, the Head of Drama will select students from those who have reached the required academic standard

References should refer to recent experience ideally within the last two years. Please send the link above to your selected referee and ensure that it is completed by application deadline.

and who have demonstrated their potential as a Drama Scholar, to be invited for a workshop audition. This takes place in January.

Music scholarship

The music department

The music department at Habs is among the strongest in the country. It is central to life at Habs, exceptional in both its quality and breadth of opportunity. With over 70 ensembles rehearsing every week, over 20 major concerts per year, and lunchtime performance opportunities every week, our musicians are part of one of the most vibrant and diverse music programmes in the country.

Whilst we value all our musicians, our scholars are central to the ambition of our music school. We are proud to work with some of the finest young musicians in the country. We are committed to helping them realise their potential, and to broadening their horizons along the way. Guided by our expert staff, many of whom work with major London orchestras or hold similar positions in their diverse fields of expertise, we put the interests and passions of the student first, helping them to find their unique voice through music.

Music at Habs is in a very exciting place. We are working together with the Girls’ School on more and more projects, raising the potential of what we can offer even further. We visit concert halls in London several times a year, curate projects through recording (our Big Band recently made a recording at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios), collaborate with drama to produce new work, and much more. As well

as the traditional orchestral instruments we have an exceptional jazz department, sending students every year to leading conservatoires in London and beyond. Since 2022 we are also delighted to offer tuition in Indian Classical music, on instruments such as Tabla, Dhol, and Harmonium. We have exciting young songwriters, rock bands, composers, improvisers, one of the largest guitar orchestras in the country - all genres and styles of music are given equal importance; we want our leading musicians to guide our course of study, allowing them shape what we offer with each generation that passes through the school.

For any young musician who wants to discover their potential and experience a breadth of styles and opportunity along the way, Habs is the ideal place. Together with our talented young students we are immensely excited about what the future holds for Habs music.

There are two types of music award –scholarships and exhibitions:

A scholarship typically includes 10% remission of fees and free tuition on one instrument in school.

An exhibition gives free tuition on one instrument.

Music scholarship

What we are looking for in a music scholar?

Music awards are offered to students who show exceptional potential and innate musicianship.

We would expect students to demonstrate enthusiasm for music together with stylistic awareness and interpretative understanding.

Music scholars should exude an enthusiasm for all types of music. They should enjoy discovering new music and be itching to discuss it.

Students may be at any level on their instrument(s) and may have one or more instruments to offer. While most successful applicants are already at, or above Grade 6 on an instrument upon application, the department places significant value on rate of progress: students who have achieved Grade 4 or 5 in a very short space of time have also been successful in the past.

As a guide, the following criteria should help you decide whether to enter your son 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 assessment has been taken, but the candidate should be playing at this level. Contribution in both school and outside musical ensembles will also be taken into consideration.

How to apply

STAGE 1

Please complete the Music Scholarship application form (see website).

Students have the opportunity as part of the application to write briefly about what it is that excites them most about their music.

Applicants must also obtain a reference. References should refer to recent experience ideally within the last two years. Please send the link above to your selected referee and ensure that it is completed by application deadline.

STAGE 2

After the entrance assessment, the Director of Performance will select students from those who have reached the required academic standard and who have demonstrated their potential as a music scholar; they will be called for audition. Whilst a high level of technical capability is important, we are most excited to hear communicative performance and an

authentic connection to music. In the audition we hear students perform a piece (this could be on multiple instruments, though we do not require more than one), complete some brief musicianship tests, and do some sight reading. We also hold a short interview in which we want to find out more about the individual, and their interests in music.

Sports scholarship

The sports department

Involvement in sport and physical activities creates team spirit, positive relationships and pride in individual and team achievements beyond the classroom.

Our teams compete exceptionally well at local, regional, and national level and students regularly achieve county and national selection in a range of sports.

We are immensely fortunate on our 100-acresite to offer outstanding sports facilities including: seven rugby/football pitches; two all-weather hockey pitches (both floodlit) which become 18 tennis courts in the summer; three grass cricket squares; three artificial cricket

wickets (plus grass and artificial cricket nets); the Solai indoor cricket centre; a double size sports hall; 400 metre grass running track with synthetic sprint track and jump/throw areas.

Our state-of-the-art indoor sports complex complements the outdoor facilities and includes: a 25 metre, eight lane swimming pool, with variable depth capability; fitness suite; gymnasium; squash courts; multi-use space and climbing wall.

Sports scholarship

What we are 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.

Outstanding skill, expertise or potential in any one or several sporting fields will be considered, but candidates are encouraged to show their potential in at least one of priority sports at Habs: football, hockey and cricket.

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.

Sport scholars are also expected to demonstrate the school’s values as they relate to sport at the highest level; courage in developing new skills; curiosity about other sports and the science and philosophies that underpin high performance; playing a leading role in developing a sporting community and being an example to others in terms of their attitude and approach to sports; ambition –both for themselves and for the school.

Sports scholars will receive:

Access to strong regional fixture lists across a wide range of sports

Be part of partnerships in place with local clubs, academies and elite sport pathways

High quality coaching from teaching staff and employed professionals.

Access to the High-Performance Programme for pupils who show the potential to perform in elite sports.

Membership of Rewire Fitness which provides app-based support and a neurotraining programme aimed at elite athletes

Access to a range of online seminars aimed at supporting sports scholars hosted by Independent Coach Eduction.

1:1 Mentoring with staff and/or senior studentsSport Psychology seminars and online training through the Believe Perform online platform

Sports Nutrition seminars

Strength and Conditioning assessment and development

Tactical and Leadership Seminars

Video analysis

Small group scenario training

University visits to include lab testing and opportunities to explore links with business opportunities in relation to future career pathways.

Regular high-quality sports tours and visits within the UK and abroad

How to apply

STAGE 1

Applicants should complete the application form detailing previous sporting experience.

In addition to the sessions above the HPP programme will also allocate time for supervised study/catch up during particularly busy times in the year. This is especially important given the large amount of time that high performance sport occupies.

Applicants must also obtain references from two of the following: Sports Coach, Headteacher, Director of Sport or PE Teacher. Please send the link to the reference request to your chosen referees.

STAGE 2

After the entrance assessment, the Director of Sport will select students from those who have reached the required academic standard and invite them to a practical session and interview, which will be in addition to the usual student interviews.

The practical session will include a sport aptitude test as well as activities relating to the candidate’s main sport.

Design and technology scholarship

The design and technology department

The design and technology department is an ambitious, forward-facing department which is popular in the school. We are fortunate to employ a skilled team of engineers and designers who are friendly and enjoy open discussion and innovation. We are always keen to respond to individual interests and enthusiasms.

At present there are five teachers, all of whom are well-qualified subject specialists as well as a full-time department technician. Colleagues enjoy considerable flexibility and room for initiative, with a measure of delegated responsibility. The department has a longestablished reputation of achieving excellent results at GCSE at A Level.

Our department specialises in wellengineered, creative solution to real world problems and students can work in a range of materials and contexts that access the full suite

of tools and thinking skills. The department is well resourced and enjoys the use of modern manufacturing approaches such as waterjet cutting, 3D Printing and use of other CNC equipment, amongst the more traditional tools and equipment.

The Department offers a range of exciting opportunities to develop students beyond the constraints of the curriculum and our cocurricular teams regularly qualify for the final stages in national and international competitions.

Our current offering includes Vex robotics, F1 in Schools, safe cracking and Greenpower racing, alongside our aerospace society and automotive societies. In addition to the numerous competition and societies, pupils are regularly awarded the prestigious Arkwright scholarship for their potential to become one of the leaders of the engineering field.

Design and technology scholarship

What we are looking for in a design and technology scholar

Design and technology scholars play a vital role in the department and will be expected to look for opportunities to not only promote and enjoy our current offering but also to develop life in the department by looking for new opportunities that can be explored in the Design and Technology department. For example, this may be looking for new competitions which might mirror the department’s ethos and values or launching a new academic society that engages and enthuses students in the study of Design and Technology, or in raising standards and expectations with the high quality of work produced.

A genuine interest in the world around them and a desire to know more about how things work, or how they might be improved.

The ability to break up complex problems to see the smaller stages involved in problem solving and to construct creative solutions.

The ability to work with others in both a leadership position and as part of a broader team.

An interest in taking a leading role in the life of the D&T Department and to look for opportunities to promote the work in both lessons and co-curricular.

To advocate for taking a D&T pathway at option points (Year 8, Year 9 and Year11)

An approach where they want to develop what they see and pursue their own projects both in and out of school time.

How to apply

STAGE 1

Applicants should submit a portfolio of selected pieces in a simply presented digitalised format to the design and technology department for review. We will be looking at potential rather than expecting highly finished work and welcome “work in progress” as part of the submission.

The portfolio should demonstrate activities students have undertaken in their own time and might include:

Products made from woods, metals, plastics or modelling materials

Sketches and notes where students have developed their creative ideas to produce design work that demonstrates their creative flair

Written account of activities which demonstrate their wider interest in the way things work.

STAGE 2

After the entrance assessment, the Head of Design and Technology will select students from those who have reached the required academic standard and demonstrate their potential as a design and technology scholar and invite them to an interview. During the

Applicants are also asked to prepare a short candidate statement containing the following elements.

Please tell us about your design and technology journey so far. For example, what inspires you, what are your favourite techniques and materials?

If you were awarded a design and technology scholarship, what impact will you have on design and technology at Habs? Portfolios and the applicant statement should be submitted by email to admissions@habsboys.org.uk .

interview applicants will be asked to talk through their previously submitted portfolio. They will also be asked to respond to a design problem-based question to evaluate their problem-solving skills.

Our purpose

To empower young profound impact

purpose young people to make a impact in the world