Scholarships
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
At Barnard Castle School we seek to embrace, reward and – most importantly – nurture outstanding talent in children.
While all children will benefit from excellent teaching and facilities and the “Barney” way of life – civility, mutual respect and friendly endeavour – we also offer something extra to exceptional children. In return, we expect our scholars to enrich the life of the school, to lead by example and to enthuse others.
Explanation of Terms
• A scholarship is a major award won on merit and potential; it is a prized accolade which also usually includes a financial contribution towards fees. If the financial element of the scholarship is insufficient to allow a pupil to attend Barnard Castle School, then parents can apply for a means-tested bursary to supplement the award. However, it should be recognised that Barnard Castle School’s fees offer excellent value for money. A scholarship also requires a commitment on behalf of the scholar; the Headmaster values a positive outlook and someone who will make a significant contribution to the School.
• An exhibition is a minor award which is usually given to a child who demonstrates a high level of potential or who has almost reached scholarship level.
• A bursary is a confidential means-tested financial award for parents who could not otherwise pay part or all of the School’s fees. The funds for bursaries are limited and any award is a private arrangement between the School and the parents who receive it. Bursaries are re-assessed annually.
The Awards
Academic Scholarships and Exhibitions are available to children who perform exceptionally well in the entrance examinations to Years 7 and 9 and to children who can demonstrate outstanding ability when they enter the Sixth Form. All children are therefore automatically entered for this and no further nomination is required. The entrance exams are reliable generic tests of aptitude and intelligence; tuition for them does not make a significant difference in outcome and can place children under undue pressure. Entrance exams help us to measure not a child’s knowledge, but his or her talent, sometimes even latent talent. The Headmaster will interview candidates whose performances have been exceptional and they will be asked to present reports from previous schools and any other relevant information. Successful scholars will retain their awards throughout their time at School provided that they continue to display notable effort and achievement in their academic studies and, in the Sixth Form, they make a contribution to the Academic Forum. A Scholars’ Programme will also offer additional experiences to these children and potential Oxbridge candidates are often identified and developed from among this group.
Music Scholarships and Exhibitions are keenly contested and our Music Department is quietly proud of the achievements of its boys and girls in their varied and numerous performances in many venues in this country and overseas. Members of the Department are immensely talented and we are fortunate to be able to attract a range of professional music teachers to provide one-to-one tuition. Expectations are therefore high and applicants for scholarships in Year 7 should have achieved Grade 4 standard in their main instrument; applicants for year 9 will normally have achieved Grade 6 and those entering the Sixth Form will have Grade 7. Successful scholars will normally also offer a second study or singing. Assessment is by audition and involves a prepared study on the candidate’s first and second instrument, sight-reading, aural tests and a viva voce. Auditions take place during the week before the entrance examination. Music awards are made for choral, instrumental and organ scholars. Successful scholars are expected to support the musical life of the School and set the tone for non-scholar musicians by practising regularly and participating in Chapel Choir, orchestra, ensembles or bands as required. Awards range from free instrumental tuition to a financial contribution towards fees as well as free tuition for outstanding musicians.
Sport Scholarships and Exhibitions are awarded to boys and girls who show an exceptional level of ability, potential, commitment and leadership. Sport plays a vital role in the life of all pupils at Barnard Castle School and we have a long tradition of developing competitive teams as well sportsmen and sportswomen who compete at the highest levels. More importantly, we aim to teach children the value and pleasure of sport for life and the lesson of how to play it. We are committed to identifying and encouraging sporting talent from Year 7, but we are also mindful that children’s physical development after they enter senior school can affect their sporting ability significantly. Therefore we aim to reduce the pressure that children may feel by awarding two-year Exhibitions based on potential at Year 7 and by making Scholarships available at Year 9 and in the Sixth Form. Assessment takes place on the afternoon of entrance examination day and for Year 7 entry involves a range of generic sporting aptitude tests which will not be specific to any one discipline. Tests in Year 9 and Sixth Form will be more sport-specific. Awards can include a financial contribution towards fees and, in Sixth Form, additional complimentary membership of our new Fitness Centre. Scholars are expected to train regularly, demonstrate leadership, sportsmanship and outstanding ability in representing the School.
Art Scholarships and Exhibitions are available from Year 9 and in the Sixth Form. The Art Department is a vibrant place of creativity, offering a broad range of media to talented pupils and its public examination results are excellent. Scholars will also benefit from the School’s proximity to the Bowes Museum’s permanent collections of textiles, ceramics and paintings as well as its world-class temporary exhibitions. The School is continuously forging closer links with its neighbours in the museum to the benefit of our pupils. Scholarship candidates should present a portfolio of work and will be required to complete a drawing in School. Scholars are expected to be ambassadors for Art, attending additional sessions on a regular basis and always endeavouring to produce work of outstanding quality and creativity.
Drama Scholarships and Exhibitions are available to candidates entering the Sixth Form. Barnard Castle School Drama Department is well-known for its stimulating and often challenging productions and for its commendable examination results. Potential scholars are required to participate in a drama workshop either with each other or with an existing scholar. These will take place during the week preceding the entrance examinations. Successful scholars are expected to participate in a range of productions and to pursue Theatre Studies as an A’Level subject.
Conditions of Awards
Scholars, Exhibitioners and holders of Bursaries are required to satisfy the School’s entrance criteria and are expected to set an example to the rest of the School in their general conduct, their approach to academic studies and their participation in the full life of the School.
There will be a formal annual review of the conduct and performance of Scholars and Exhibitioners, and the award may be withdrawn if a pupil has consistently failed to fulfil the commitment that the award demands. Scholars of Art, Music and Drama are expected to study their subject for public examinations until they leave School.
With the exception of Year 7-8 Sports Exhibitions and annually-reviewed Bursaries, awards are normally made for the duration of a child’s career in Barnard Castle School. It is expected that recipients of awards will remain at the School until the completion of their Sixth Form studies. Exceptional reasons for leaving early should be discussed with the Headmaster as soon as they are known.
All awards will be reviewed annually and the Headmaster reserves the right to change the number and value of awards, to create new awards and to withdraw existing ones in exceptional circumstances.
Application
1. No application is necessary for academic awards.
2. Parents of pupils entering the School at Year 7, 9 or 12 may indicate on the application form their desire for a Scholarship Assessment, specifying whether this is in Sport, Music, Drama or Art.
3. Parents of children who already attend the School should write to the Headmaster in advance of the published Entrance Day test date to express their wish for a Scholarship Assessment, clearly specifying whether this is in Sport, Music, Drama or Art.
Entrance Days for entry to the school in September 2012
Years 3 – 10 Saturday 21st January 2012
Sixth Form Saturday 4th February 2012
