SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR 13+ ENTRY
• A candidate may enter for more than one scholarship.
• All candidates must be in Year 8 at the time they take a scholarship.
• All candidates must reach the academic entrance requirements. If your child does NOT already have a place at Canford they must either take the academic scholarship exams or Year 8 Canford Entrance Tests.
• Parents are responsible for registering their child for each scholarship. The registration form will open in October 2024 when an email will be sent with the link to the registration form. Register your interest here: https://www.canford.com/admissions/13/scholarships-form
• Entries close on the 1st December 2024
SCHOLARSHIP DATES
MUSIC
27TH OR 28TH JANUARY 2025
SPORT
31ST JANUARY 2025 - BOYS
3RD FEBRUARY 2025 - GIRLS
DRAMA
5TH FEBRUARY 2025
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
6TH FEBRUARY 2025
ACADEMIC
10TH AND 11TH FEBRUARY 2025
ART
12TH FEBRUARY 2025
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION DEADLINE
(including those for the Armed Forces discount): 1st December 2024
Scholarships vary in value but are usually in the region of 5 – 15% of the fees. Smaller scholarships may be supplemented by means-tested financial assistance.
AWARD CONDITIONS
Winners of academic scholarship awards will not be required to sit Common Entrance (where applicable) or any other examinations. Those who are not awarded an academic scholarship but who perform satisfactorily will also not be required to sit further examinations e.g., Common Entrance.
The number and size of awards made in any category will depend upon the size and quality of the field and the availability of funds. No scholarship award or combination of scholarship awards will exceed 50% of the fees, although in exceptional cases, means tested financial assistance can take an award up to 100% of the fees. All Canford’s scholarships are indexed as a percentage of the fees so that their relative value remains constant throughout the pupil’s time at Canford.
In all cases the Governors reserve the right to determine the number and value of awards. All awards are tenable with effect from the September of the year in which they are awarded. They are renewable annually, reviewed at certain intervals and held throughout a pupil’s time at Canford on the recommendation of the Headmaster.
CANFORD ENTRANCE TESTS: 9th January 2025
In all cases a confidential reference is required from the candidate’s Headteacher, who should be informed of the application by the parents.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP SYLLABUS
ENGLISH
The paper will expect candidates to reveal insight into a passage (or passages) of fairly complex prose and/or verse. There will also be an essay question, which may require an analytical or imaginative response. Style and accuracy will be rewarded, flair and originality welcomed, and poor spelling, syntax and handwriting penalised.
MATHS
The initial section will test core mathematical fluency, particularly in arithmetic and algebra. The later section will allow candidates to demonstrate their problem solving and analytical skills. Whilst later questions will require pupils to think beyond what they might normally face, the underlying mathematics is all within the Common Entrance syllabus. Particular credit is given for how candidates approach a problem so it is important that they communicate their thinking clearly.
SCIENCE
Candidates will be randomly assigned to carry out a 30minute experiment in one of the three sciences. They will be expected to use ordinary laboratory apparatus such as metre rules, measuring cylinders, clocks, balances, microscopes etc. There will be one sixty minute paper combining all three sciences. This paper will focus on assessing the candidates scientific skills, drawing graphs, interpreting results, making inferences etc. Candidates will not be tested on any factual information which would not have been covered in the National Curriculum up to Year 8.
HISTORY
The first section will be a source-based question (on a topic for which no previous knowledge is required), which will test candidates’ abilities to handle historical evidence. In the second section there will be a choice of open-ended essay titles to give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate their skills of historical analysis, using evidence from any period or periods of history, which they have studied.
GEOGRAPHY
The paper is based loosely on the topics contained in the Common Entrance syllabus. However the nature of the questions is broad and tests the ability of pupils to apply their existing understanding to new source material. There will also be some general questions which test their ability to ‘think like a geographer’ rather than their knowledge. The paper involves a range of short and medium-length questions which are a mix of data response, knowledge and skills. While a fieldwork project is not expected, we hope that all scholarship pupils will have the chance to do some practical geography before sitting the paper.
FRENCH or SPANISH
The paper will consist of four sections: Reading, Writing (a letter or composition based on a stimulus), Listening and Speaking (general conversation).
REASONING TEST
No practice required. Previous papers are not published.
NON-COMPULSORY SUBJECT
Marks for the Latin paper are only considered if they increase the candidate’s overall average. They are otherwise disregarded. The paper will test ability in comprehension and translation of an unprepared Latin prose; there will also be a grammar and derivation question. The paper will be set at CE Scholarship standard; words which do not appear in the CE Scholarship prescribed vocabulary list will be glossed. Note: those with some experience of Latin, but who do not wish to sit the Scholarship paper are invited to sit an optional Level 1 paper at CE; this will be for setting purposes only. Please advise us in advance if you wish your child to sit the Latin paper.
Past papers are provided to prep schools. If your child is not at a prep school please contact Admissions.
ART
Candidates will be required to execute specific tasks before the scholarship day, details of which will be sent in January 2025. On the day they will then be required to work in the Art School, bringing with them the set work, a portfolio and any other work that is appropriate. Holders of Art awards at Canford are expected to take Art at GCSE and A Level. For further information please contact the Head of Art, Nicola Will (nzw@canford.com)
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY
Candidates will be required to execute specific tasks before the scholarship day, details of which will be sent in January 2025. On the day they will work in the Design Technology Department, bringing with them the set work, a portfolio and any other work that is appropriate. Holders of Design Technology awards are expected to take Design Technology at GCSE and A Level.
For further information please contact the Head of Design, Jonathan Martin (jvm@canford.com)
DRAMA
Candidates should prepare two contrasting monologues (not poems) of between one and two minutes long. They should understand the context of the speech from the play it comes from and know the play well as it will be discussed in the interview. If candidates are more interested in backstage, i.e. lighting design, set design etc, they should prepare a 5-minute presentation demonstrating how their preferred design skill could be applied to a play text of their choice. On the scholarship day, candidates will work in the Layard Theatre on devised group work and solo tasks, along with group discussions and individual interviews. Holders of Drama awards at Canford are expected to take Drama at GCSE and to take a full part in major school productions. For further information please contact the Head of Drama, Rikki Jackson (rmj@canford.com)
MUSIC
Candidates will usually offer two instruments. Grade 5 (distinction) should be regarded as the minimum standard for the main instrument, although it is not expected that candidates will necessarily have taken that examination. This standard is given as a guide, and discussion with the Director of Music for consideration of individual circumstances is advised. For the scholarship audition, candidates should prepare two contrasting pieces on their main instrument and one piece on each additional instrument and/or voice. Where an applicant has been preparing scales recently, we will be glad to hear these as part of the audition, and it will be to their advantage to demonstrate a command of this important aspect of musical skill. Sight-reading of approximately grade 6 standard will be given on the main orchestral instrument, and there will be aural tests following the pattern of ABRSM grade 6. The Director of Music welcomes early contact from potential scholars for a ‘Pre-audition’, and is happy to answer any further questions, in the Autumn term preceding the Scholarships. This enables the candidate, parents and Music staff to meet informally and decide mutually on whether to proceed to the scholarship audition. Music scholarships offer free tuition on two instruments. Holders of Music awards at Canford are expected to take music at GCSE and A Level, and to play a full part as required by the Director of Music in the instrumental, vocal and concert life of the school, including singing in the school’s choir. For further information please contact our Music Department (slh@canford.com).
SPORT
If you have any other questions, please get in touch with our Admissions office.
On the day, candidates will be asked to choose two sports in addition to completing a physical test and an interview (exceptional talent in only one sport may attract an award, but all candidates will be required to participate in two sports on the day). These sports should ideally be in our focus team sports (Rugby, Hockey, Cricket and Netball) but it is possible to choose from other sports such as Rowing, Athletics (Cross Country), Tennis, Golf and Swimming. Potential in Athletics and Cross Country will be assessed on the day in the Athletic Development Tests (completed by all candidates) and via ranked performances on the Power of 10 website. Therefore, those choosing Athletics or Cross Country as one of their two nominated sports should also identify a third sport that they will participate in on the day. Whilst time will not permit more than two sports to be assessed, the interview and the school reference should ensure that other strengths are also noted. For further information, please contact the Director of Sport and Wellbeing, Tony Diprose (tony.diprose@canford.com)
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS
E: admissions@canford.com T: 01202 847207
