Scholarships at Warwick School
Scholarships at Warwick School
At Warwick School, we have a range of scholarships available for talented young people.
Our scholarships are awarded for high academic, music, or allround achievement and potential. These differ from our bursaries, which are means-tested awards that offer fee support based on financial need.
Scholarships are usually offered for pupils entering at 11+, 13+, or the Sixth Form. However, exceptions may be made in special circumstances.
A scholarship can be supplemented by a means-tested bursary. It is also possible
to receive both an academic and music scholarship.
Through our bursaries and scholarships, we hope to ensure that a Warwick School education is open to as many young people as possible, whilst empowering them to reach their full potential.
More information on all of our current scholarships are contained within this document.
Academic scholarshipsavailable at 11+
Academic scholarships of up to 50% fee remission are available at 11+ entry.
There is no separate application process, but candidates who score very highly in our admissions tests in English, Maths, and Verbal Reasoning are invited to return for a scholarship day. During this day, candidates will experience a carousel of taster lessons and have an interview with senior members of staff, following which some scholarship offers of 20% will be made.
In addition, a small number of candidates will be invited to sit an additional scholarship paper and to take part in roundtable discussions in groups, following which some scholarship offers of up to 50% will be made.
Sixth form academic scholarships
There is no process for applying for sixth form academic scholarships. However, some academic scholarships may be awarded to current pupils on the basis of their performance in internal examinations throughout years 10 and 11, as well as GCSE results, if they are not already an academic scholar. External applicants may be offered a place with an academic scholarship based on their current school report, their predicted GCSE grades, and their performance at interview.
All-round scholarships
– available at 11+
All-round scholarships of up to 50% fee remission can be applied for as part of the standard application process. All-round scholars are expected to show very high levels of academic performance, and the potential to make a significant contribution to one or more of the following areas of school life:
• Sport
• Drama
• Music
• Art
Applicants who score highly in the academic admissions tests will be invited back for a day of assessment in no more than two of the above co-curricular areas.
Music scholarships and exhibitions
There are fee remissions available of up to 20% for the most outstanding candidates. For 11+ entry, pupils will have to audition, performing a repertoire that is at least Grade 3 Distinction standard on their instrument. 13+ entry requires Grade 5 Distinction standard, and sixth form entry Grade 8 Distinction standard.
Typically, our strongest applicants will offer two instruments. The format of the auditions is two performances, plus some aural and theory tests, followed by an interview with the Director of Music and Head of Music Scholars.
If you think your son might be of the standard to apply for a Music Scholarship, please contact the Director of Music, John Mann (j.mann@warwickschools.co.uk).
King Henry VIII scholarships –available at 11+
King Henry VIII scholarships of up to 50% fee remission are funded by independent charities and are available to be awarded only to pupils living within the CV34 postcode. These scholarships fall under the same categories as the above, namely:
• Academic
• All-rounder
• Music
Pupils wishing to apply for King Henry VIII all-rounder and music scholarships are assessed in the same way as for the general all-rounder and music scholarships on the previous page. King Henry VIII academic scholarships are awarded based on academic performance in the entrance exams and at interview. King Henry VIII scholarships are only valid for as long as the pupil lives in the CV34 postcode.
Head Master’s Access Awards – sixth form
Head Master’s Awards of up to 20% fee remission are available for sixth form applicants whose profile is such that they are likely to achieve very well academically, make a significant contribution to the wider life of the school, and for whom a Warwick School education might not otherwise be accessible.
13+ scholarships
Academic, music, and all-rounder scholarships for external candidates are also available for 13+ entry. Candidates for music and all-rounder scholarships will sit the usual 13+ academic papers and, following an offer of a place, will be invited back for an assessment day in the Lent term in their chosen specialisms. There are also a small number of academic scholarships available to current pupils who are not already scholars, based on academic performance and internal exam results throughout years 7 and 8.
Life as a scholar at Warwick School
Academic scholars at Warwick School
Academic scholars at Warwick School have a long tradition of academic excellence which encompasses almost every academic discipline. As well as invariably gaining outstanding GCSE and A level results, our scholars go on to claim places at the UK’s leading universities
each year, including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, UCL, King’s College London, and Imperial College London. In addition to this, scholars play a vibrant and invaluable role in the academic life of the school, and are expected to be academic role models throughout their time at Warwick.
Key Stage Three (Years 7, 8, and 9)
All academic scholars at Warwick School fall under the tutelage of Mr Cooley, Head of Scholars, for their entire time at the school. Mr Cooley read Literae Humaniores (Classics) at St John’s College, Oxford, and has been Head of Scholars since 2011. He is also currently Assistant Head of VI Form for Higher Education.
In Year 7, academic scholars meet weekly on a Tuesday lunchtime. The group studies a wide range of topics originally based around the British Museum’s History of the World in 100 objects. These sessions allow Mr Cooley to get to know all the new scholars and for the boys to get to know scholars in other forms.
Throughout these years, there is a wide range of academic clubs and societies which will stimulate and interest our scholars, and in which they are strongly encouraged to take part. These typically include:
• Book Club
• Classics and Mythology Club
• Debating Club
• English Club
• Geography Explorers Club
• History Film Club
• Junior Philosophy Club
• Quiz Club
• Scriptwriting Club
GCSE (Years 10 and 11)
A typical scholar at Warwick School will follow a programme of 10 GCSEs, including all three sciences, English literature and English language, mathematics, a modern language, and three other subjects. It is likely that a scholar will also do the Further Mathematics qualification, which is a GCSE equivalent. At Warwick, we place no restriction on the combination of the three other subjects that can make up the suite of GCSEs, so a talented linguist could choose a second modern language, an aspiring classicist could select both Latin and classical Greek, and a top musician could choose Music as part of any combination. This allows our scholars to gain excellent qualifications in the subjects that most interest and inspire them, forming a superb foundation for further study.
In Year 11, attention turns to deciding potential A level subjects for the following year. The A level options evening in October contains information about each
of our 27 different A level subjects. Regular guidance from Mr Cooley and other senior members of staff throughout the year include an individual meeting following the January mock exams to discuss which A levels would be best suited for each scholar.
In a typical year, we would expect our academic scholars to secure a full set of top grades 8 and 9s in their GCSEs, allowing them to apply to the world’s leading universities in due course.
A levels (Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth)
Just as at GCSE, we place no restriction on the combination of A levels that can be chosen. A typical scholar will do either four single A levels, four A levels including Further Mathematics, or three single A levels plus an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
The Assessment and Interview Pathway (AIP) is a programme specifically designed to prepare any pupils, likely to include all scholars, who intend to apply to the most competitive universities. This is a twelvemonth programme which runs from the January of Lower Sixth to the December of Upper Sixth, and involves additional weekly or fortnightly subject-specific seminars. The programme helps to prepare pupils for the additional admission tests and interviews which form a part of the application process for leading universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, and for competitive
degrees such as Medicine and Law at all universities.
The Higher Education Evening in the January of the Lower Sixth includes information about university applications and a specific information session on applying to Oxford and Cambridge, which scholars are highly recommended to attend.
Sixth form scholars are also encouraged to meet with Mr Jefferies, Senior Tutor. Mr Jefferies read History at Christ Church, Oxford and has guided and advised generations of Warwickians through the process of applying to Oxford and Cambridge since he first started working at the school in 1995.
Oxford and Cambridge success in recent years
In the last three years, there has been notable success in securing offers from Oxford and Cambridge. In the majority of cases, these successful candidates have been part of the academic scholarship journey throughout their time at Warwick. A list of successful applicants since 2023 is detailed below:
Architecture Magdalene College, Cambridge
Chemistry
Magdalen College, Oxford
Chemistry St Hilda’s College, Oxford
Computer Science King’s College, Cambridge
Earth Sciences Exeter College, Oxford
Engineering
Engineering
King’s College, Cambridge
College, Oxford
Catherine’s College, Oxford
Sussex College, Cambridge
College, Cambridge
College, Oxford
New College, Oxford (with a choral scholarship)
English Language and Literature
College, Oxford
Christ’s College, Cambridge
English Language and Literature
College, Oxford
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (as organ scholar)
French and History Churchill College, Cambridge Philosophy
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge German and Russian Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
St Catherine’s College, Oxford History
University College, Oxford (with a choral scholarship)
and Arabic
John’s College, Oxford History
Hall, Cambridge
All-round scholars at Warwick School
All-round scholars are expected to play a full part in the academic and co-curricular life of the school throughout their time at Warwick, and particularly in the disciplines for which they have been awarded the scholarship.
At Warwick School, we see no contradiction in combining a full commitment to sport, drama, art, or music with academic excellence. In recent years, many pupils who have secured top grades at GCSE and A level, and who have gained places at leading universities, also played 1st XV rugby, 1st XI cricket, or hockey, starred in the main school production, or were a leading member of numerous music groups.
Music scholars at Warwick School
Music scholars form a pivotal component of Warwick School’s Music department, and we expect our scholars to be role models for music within and beyond the gates of Warwick School. Our Music scholars lead by example, being committed to and enthusiastic about ensemble musicmaking, as well as taking solo opportunities throughout the year.
All Music scholars receive one instrumental lesson per week free-of-charge as an investment by the school to their musical development. Scholarships are to be maintained, as well as earned at audition, and retention of such an award year on year is assessed on merit.
King Henry VIII Choral Awards
We have close links with The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick who have a fantastic choir under the direction of Mr Hancock. They regularly do high-profile performances, most recently being the choir broadcast for Midnight Mass with BBC Television in December 2024. Our close links are symbiotic – our pupils benefit from an excellent musical training through a choral tradition and so also preserve the lifeblood of a magnificent choral tradition at St Mary’s.
The King Henry VIII Choral Programme is a new, exciting initiative that reflects our belief in the transformative power of choral singing. It offers young people exceptional opportunities to develop their musical talents, building their confidence and fostering a lifelong love of music as part of an outstanding, well-rounded education within Warwick Schools Foundation.
The Award, which is available from September 2026, gives a reduction on the pupil’s school fees – usually 20% - for as long as they remain an active part of the choir.
To be eligible for the Award, pupils must meet the criteria below:
• Be either a current pupil at the school or be offered and accept a place at the school
• Be a current member of St. Mary’s Choir or successfully audition and accept a place in the Choir
• Fulfil all commitments required by St Mary’s Choir
King Henry Choral Scholars will play an
active and important role in the musical life of the school and the wider Foundation.
Benefits and commitments include:
• All King Henry Choral Scholars will automatically become members of the King Henry VIII Consort of Warwick Schools Foundation, directed by Foundation Executive Music Lead, Mr Stuart Thompson
• Pupils in Year 5 upwards will usually be full Choristers and expected to join two rehearsals a week, one before school and one during lunchtime.
• Members of the Consort will also be required to participate in a range of additional events across the course of the academic year, which will include services at Warwick School Chapel, at local churches and cathedrals, and a programme of concerts at external venues across the country.
• Award holders will also benefit from a unique partnership with Armonico Concert, where each year the King Henry VIII
Consort will perform alongside professional singers, soloists and instrumentalists at one of Armonico’s concerts.
All Awards are contingent on remaining part of St Mary’s Choir. Anyone who leaves the Choir will rescind their right to the award and scholarship. The choral scholarship can be held in conjunction with other awards, such as bursaries or other scholarships.
For any children who would like to apply for a place at Warwick School from September 2026 and for the Choral Award, you should express your interest in the scholarship at the same time that your school application is made. Candidates will sit the entrance examination or assessment as normal and will be invited for a vocal assessment. Successful candidates will be notified as part of the School’s offer process. More information, including further details and the full application process, can be found at: warwickschoolsfoundation.co.uk/khviiichoral-award.
WSS-admissions@warwickschools.co.uk
warwickschool.org