St Mary's School Calne

Scholarships and Bursary Awards

Scholarships are awarded up to 40% of a Scholar’s boarding or day fees, as applicable. Awards are granted solely on merit as the result of a competitive examination. To be able to allocate funds to those girls who would most benefit from them financially, only a proportion of the percentage offered - 5% - will be awarded automatically. The remaining 35% - or a proportion thereof – will be allocated, subject to a means test, at the Governors’ discretion. This process will remain entirely confidential and parents may request the relevant forms at the time of the scholarship award. In addition to the full Academic Scholarships, Exhibitions may be offered to internal or external candidates showing outstanding ability in a single subject, each up to 10% of a scholar’s boarding or day fees. Only 5% will be awarded automatically, the remainder being subject to a means test at the Governors’ discretion.

All awards are retained to the end of Sixth Form.

At 11+

One Music Scholarship and three Academic Scholarships will be awarded to girls who excel within the Scholarship entry group. Papers will be taken in English, Mathematics and Science.

At 13+

One Academic Scholarship, one Music Scholarship and one ‘Bodinnar’ All Rounder Scholarship will be awarded to girls who excel within the Scholarship entry group. Papers will be taken in English, Mathematics, Science and French and, in addition, for ‘Bodinnar’, flair and ability must be represented in two or more disciplines selected from Art, Drama, Music and Sport.

Sixth Form

Two internal Academic Scholarships will be awarded to current pupils in their final GCSE year at St Mary’s for the duration of the Sixth Form.

One Open Academic Scholarship may be awarded to an internal or an external candidate for the duration of the Sixth Form.

Open Scholarships for Art, Drama and Music may be awarded to an internal or an external candidate for the duration of the Sixth Form. Girls accepting one of these awards are expected to take the subject to A Level.

In addition to the full Academic Scholarships, up to two Exhibitions will be offered to internal or external candidates, each up to the value of £1,000, payable in two equal instalments of up to £500 at the beginning of LVI Form and UVI Form.

Foundation Scholarships

Applications for consideration for a Foundation Scholarship should be sent directly to the Headmistress. These awards are presented at the discretion of the Headmistress to highly academic girls whose family financial circumstances would otherwise prevent them applying to the school.

OGA Bursaries

Bursaries from the Old Girls' Association Bursary Fund may be available. This Fund was set up to provide a means-tested bursary or bursaries for the daughters of Old Girls wishing to enter the School. Once awarded, bursaries are usually paid termly, and reviewed annually to confirm that the parents' financial situation is unchanged.