Scholarships booklet

Scholarships

Scholarships at The Laurels

At The Laurels, all girls are encouraged to strive to achieve their very best in all areas of life. Our Arete programme overarches our whole educational philosophy, helping pupils to achieve eudamonia - happiness through excellence.

For those blessed with a particular talent, be it in academia, art, drama, music or sport, the scholarship programme allows them to become the best they can be, while also being of service to those around them as an inspiration and mentor.

Applying for a scholarship is a competitive process, of course, but I do hope that your daughter will enjoy the challenge and the opportunity to test herself against others.

Linda Sanders

General Information

The standard scholarship award is approximately 10% of a term’s fees and is automatically renewed for the duration of the pupil’s enrolment at the school, subject to satisfactory progress and conduct. Candidates are welcome to apply for more than one scholarship and can be awarded multiple scholarships.

All candidates need to pass the school’s entrance assessment.

All applications should be received via the scholarship application form and returned together with the required reference(s), before the deadline which is published on the website.

The acceptance by parents or guardians of any award offered after the assessment constitutes their agreement, and their daughter’s, to these conditions. Failure to meet these conditions could lead to an award being withdrawn.

Details of the requirements for specific scholarships are outlined on the following pages.

If you have any questions, please contact the Head of Admissions, Mrs Helen McKell (admissions@thelaurelsschool.org.uk).

Academic

All girls are automatically considered for an academic scholarship based on performance in the entrance exams for entry into Year 7.

Awards are available for general academic excellence, Maths and English.

Outstanding pupils are involved in The Laurels' academic enrichment programme. They are encouraged to pursue their intellectual interests and to fulfil their academic promise.

Laurels pupils have enjoyed considerable success in national competitions in recent years.

Music

The Music Department at The Laurels School is a thriving department which is led by our Director of Music, Dr Grace Gates, who formerly taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School and is a pianist and academic scholar. She is assisted by the visiting music teachers.

Opportunities for young musicians include performing to the pupils and their peers, taking part in the range of extra-curricular music making in the school, including chamber and choral activity, and representing the school at public events. There will also be opportunities to attend concerts and other enrichment events, including masterclasses and workshops.

The standard generally expected of candidates will be a minimum of Grade V on their principal instrument. Although high marks in Associated Board or Trinity examinations are often good indications of musicianship, we shall also be looking for a thorough grounding in technique and theory, and for musical potential. Girls who have not sat exams but who are considered to be of Grade V standard are welcome to apply.

The Director of Music is always available to offer advice should parents or current schools wish to get in touch. An informal preliminary discussion and pre-audition can be very helpful and can help establish whether a girl is likely to have a reasonable chance of success.

Music

THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Candidates for Music Scholarships at The Laurels School will be auditioned and awards are offered on merit alone. The audition will take between 15 - 20 minutes in total.

Candidates are required to attend an audition to perform a piece of their favourite music to the Director of Music. The piece is to be no longer than five minutes.

Candidates will also have a short interview with the Director of Music. During the interview, the candidate will be asked to talk about the piece she performed, as well as her wider music knowledge and interests.

Candidates should provide evidence of recent ABRSM or Trinity exams, if applicable, including the examiner’s report A reference is required from the current music teacher(s).

CONDITIONS

As a condition of their awards, Music Scholars are required to:

To participate fully in musical activities appropriate to their talents and to meet the high standards of musicianship expected by The Laurels School

Attend and assist within the Music Department, school concerts and open events, for which attendance is compulsory.

To be an ambassador for music both in and outside of the classroom.

Art

The Art Department is led by Miss Radcliffe and is situated in a purpose-built studio. A wide range of opportunities are on offer including printmaking, sculpture, and painting and drawing using a wide range of media. There are also regular visits to galleries and museums in London and further afield, and a very successful track record in competition success.

The assessment for the Art Scholarship is intended to discover artistic potential. Candidates need to show creative promise and enthusiasm when making or discussing art. Accordingly, candidates are required to submit a portfolio which can include a range of drawings and paintings as well as photographs of large pieces (bigger than A3) or three-dimensional works.

The portfolio should be brought to The Laurels School on the art assessment day. No framed works should be included. We are looking for evidence of the creative process as well as finished works.

ASSESSMENT PROCESS:

Candidates for Art Scholarships at The Laurels School will be given an art activity to complete in a workshop setting lasting 40 minutes.

Candidates will also need to provide a portfolio that contains no more than 10 pieces of interesting work. This can include sketch books and work in progress.

Candidates are required to discuss their work and art exhibitions that they have enjoyed, in a short interview with the Head of Art.

Candidates are also asked to share their opinion of an artwork in a group discussion.

A reference must be attached from the candidate’s current art teacher.

CONDITIONS

Art Scholars are required to :

Participate fully in the school's art activities appropriate to their talents and to meet the high standards expected

To produce work for exhibitions and competitions and attend school gallery events

Drama

Drama is a popular and flourishing department at The Laurels School, led by our Director of Drama, Miss Cook. Pupils have access to a range of facilities including a dedicated Drama teaching space, alongside a stage for performances situated in the main school hall. Many opportunities are provided for pupils to develop their Speech and Drama skills including whole school productions, Drama competitions and extracurricular clubs. In addition to this, peripatetic LAMDA lessons are offered as an option to all pupils in the school. The Drama Department has an excellent track record of results in national competitions, with opportunities also offered for pupils to take part in workshops and extra-curricular trips to widen their experience of live theatre and performance.

When considering applications, potential Drama scholars should be looking to demonstrate a strong talent for performance coupled with an interest in learning about the craft of theatre-making. They should be able to evidence their engagement with extra-curricular performance opportunities and a dedication to honing their skills. In order to facilitate this, pupils will be asked to discuss their experiences and achievements in Drama and Performance with the Director of Drama following their audition and are encouraged to bring a portfolio showcasing these successes, to support this discussion. This should include productions they have been involved in (as a performer, designer or stage manager) as well as Drama clubs and live theatre performances they have seen.

There is no requirement for pupils to have taken any Speech or Drama qualifications in order to apply for a Drama Scholarship. If they have done so, and wish to highlight this in their application, this is information that would be useful to include in their interview and evidence portfolio.

Drama

Candidates for a Drama Scholarship at The Laurels School will be auditioned and awards are offered on merit alone. The audition will take between 15 - 20 minutes in total.

Candidates will be asked to perform two contrasting monologues. The pieces should demonstrate a difference in characters or theatre styles, and each should last between one and two minutes. At least one of the monologues performed should be taken from a full-length published play.

Candidates are expected to perform the pieces off-script with a printed copy of each piece provided for the assessor.

Candidates will then be given some tasks to complete by the Director of Drama to develop one of their pieces and demonstrate their ability to respond to feedback and direction.

Candidates will also have a short interview with the Director of Drama. During the interview, the candidate will be asked to talk about the pieces they performed, as well as their experiences and achievements in Drama overall. They will have the opportunity to share their portfolio in this discussion.

A reference is also required from a Drama teacher. This could be a teacher from the candidate’s current school or someone who has worked with the candidate in an external Drama setting.

CONDITIONS

Drama scholars are expected to become ambassadors for the Drama Department, acting as excellent role models for what a Drama student should be and engaging fully with the extra-curricular opportunities made available to them. They will also be expected to assist with the Drama Department in whole-school events such as open days, school tours and, of course, performance evenings. They will be required to take an active role in all school performances, whether that be as a performer, backstage technician, stage manager or assisting with front of house.

Sport

The Sports Department offers a wide range of competitive opportunities, activities and coaching, to stretch elite sports pupils and encourage a love of physical activity and the recreational opportunities that come through exercise and teamwork.

A Sports Scholarship may be awarded to girls who have a significant strength in the sports offered at The Laurels School or who are outstanding all-rounders, displaying the ability to progress. Candidates whose application shows outstanding achievement and potential will be shortlisted to attend a day of assessment.

Applicants should prepare a brief mini-CV or presentation to take with them to the interview which gives details about their sporting achievements to date, e.g. representation, clubs attended, photographs.

Sport

ASSESSMENT PROCESS

The girls will all show netball, football and athletics. During the assessment, they will participate in skills-based activities and small-sided games

They will have a brief interview to ensure they understand the commitment required and display the required passion to achieve. They will have the opportunity to refer to their CV or presentation. A reference should be included with the application form, from the current PE teacher or sports coach.

SPORTS CONDITIONS

A pupil who is awarded a sports scholarship is expected to:

• Represent the school in a minimum of 1 autumn and 1 summer sport

• Attend all practices, fixtures, competitions/tournaments

• Represent the PE department at open days/events

• Assist in leading Key Stage 3 clubs when in Key Stage 4

• Assist the Sports Captains with keeping the PE notice boards up to date with team sheets and competition information

• Mentor younger sports scholars (Sixth Form only)

• Engage with our Sports Scholarship Programme by attending scheduled events

How to Apply

If you have any questions, please contact the Head of Admissions, Helen McKell (admissions@thelaurelsschool.org.uk)

We can give some general guidance on your child’s suitability for a scholarship application, but your current school knows your child best.

Complete this form

Send the relevant references to admissions@thelaurelsschool.org.uk

You can send more than one reference per application, if appropriate Children can apply for a maximum of two scholarships from art, music, drama and sport

Academic scholarships are awarded based on performance in the entrance exam. Therefore, you do not need to apply for this scholarship.