Scholarships & Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

We offer financial assistance to help with school fees; this can be awarded to cover up to 100% of the normal school fee. This extensive programme of financial support at The Portsmouth Grammar School is thanks to our alumni, friends and the school community. We are extremely grateful to all those whose generosity makes it possible for a growing number of pupils to join PGS each year. Assistance with fees is awarded based on financial need and the award reflects the outstanding academic potential of an individual pupil regardless of the ability to afford the school fees.

Applications for financial support should be made by the end of the November preceding the September of entry – so by Friday 25th November 2022 for September 2023 entry. Applications for financial support made after the main assessment dates are unlikely to be successful as the majority of funds available for fee assistance will have already been allocated. The main points of entry are at 11+, 13+ and 16+ which is where the majority of bursary support is awarded. Confidentiality

The school respects the confidentiality of bursary awards made to families and recipients are required to do likewise.

Scholarships

A scholarship at PGS is awarded to recognise exceptional academic or co-curricular ability. They offer a modest fee reduction and whilst awards may be accumulated for suitable candidates, the fee reduction associated with them is typically capped. Awards are not means-tested, but they may be augmented by the addition of a means-tested financial award where appropriate. Academic Scholarships

Academic awards are not applied for, but all pupils, both current and prospective, are automatically considered in light of their academic ability or potential. Academic awards are primarily made for achievement in examinations at 11+, 13+ and on entry into the Sixth Form based on the results of the GCSE examination. They may also be awarded to pupils who demonstrate a very high level of academic potential. Scholarships at 11+

Scholarship awards are made to pupils entering Year 7 based on their performance in the school’s 11+ assessments usually taken in the January preceding the September entry. All pupils applying to enter the Senior School in Year 7 are automatically assessed for such awards and there are no special scholarship papers. There are three types of academic scholarship at 11+: i. Scholarship awards are typically worth 6% of the school fees and may be awarded for excellence in the assessment in both Mathematics and English, or occasionally for exceptional performance in either Mathematics or English. ii. Exhibition awards worth 3% of fees are made for high achievement in the 11+ assessments. iii. The Governor Presentation Award (GPA) is a one-off award, currently worth £500, awarded following the 11+ assessment to recognise talent and potential. Scholarship awards are also made to pupils joining from the PGS Junior School on the basis of their overall academic performance, with particular reference to the core subjects of Mathematics and English. All children will be automatically considered as part of the Junior School’s programme of Continuous Assessment. Scholarships at 13+

We have a well-established entry in to Year 9 which caters for pupils joining the Senior School from preparatory schools, or those wishing to transfer from other local state or independent schools. Scholarships are awarded to these external entrants following academic assessment. The awards available are the same as those for 11+ entry. All pupils are automatically considered in light of their performance in the assessments. Scholarships at 16+

PGS has a thriving Sixth Form offering A Levels alongside an academic and personal enrichment curriculum. The Sixth Form attracts a large number of new entrants from independent and maintained schools, including schools overseas. Scholarships are awarded to internal and external candidates usually based on performance in the GCSE examinations and all pupils are automatically considered in the light of their GCSE results. i. Internal candidates may be awarded a generous HMS

Warrior Scholarship, which are provided to exceptional academic candidates entering the Sixth Form.