Scholarships Tick: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary, Existing pupil bursary/hardship award, HM forces discount, Sibling discount
Scholarships and bursaries – further details
Headmaster’s Scholarships are awarded for Senior School entry in Year 7, to pupils who have demonstrated excellence in academic, sporting, musical, artistic or dramatic endeavours in their school career to date, in conjunction with their performance on Assessment Day. Pupils being considered for these awards will also be considered for an Exhibition.
Assessment Day for Year 7 entry is usually in November. Year 6 pupils sit online assessments in the morning, and the assessment for Headmaster’s Scholarships takes place during the afternoon of the same day.
Cranford House offers a number of Academic Scholarships for entry at Sixth Form, subject to the Headmaster’s satisfaction with performance. This Sixth Form Scholarship is awarded to pupils who demonstrate excellence on the Assessment Day.
For more information, please contact: Mrs Alison Young, Registrar, Cranford House School, Moulsford, Oxfordshire, OX10 9HT. Tel: 01491 651218 Email: admissions@cranfordhouse.net. We offer a small number of scholarships to pupils on entry into Year 7 and Year 12. These are awarded purely on merit, based on academic, sporting, artistic, dramatic or musical endeavour.
Senior Entry (Year 7) Scholarships
The Laurence Scholarship
Named in honour of the School’s founding Headmistress, the Laurence Scholarship celebrates academic excellence and recognises pupils with outstanding potential. This award is granted to those who achieve the highest marks in English and Mathematics during Senior Entry Day assessments.
There is no application process for the Laurence Scholarship; instead, it is awarded automatically to top-performing candidates, reflecting their exceptional ability and promise. The Scholarship stands as a tribute to our tradition of academic excellence.
Headmaster’s Scholarship (Music, Art, Drama and Sport)
The Headmaster’s Scholarship recognises pupils who have demonstrated excellence in sporting, musical, artistic, or dramatic pursuits throughout their school career. In addition to their achievements in these areas, candidates are also assessed based on their performance so must be available to attend the Year 7 Senior Entry Day.
Pupils must apply for the Headmaster’s Scholarship (indicated on the Senior Entry Form sent in September of Year 6) and must be available to attend the Year 7 Senior Entry Day (November of Year 6). This award celebrates the breadth of talent and creativity within our school community and supports pupils who show exceptional promise beyond the academic sphere. Please see below for qualifying criteria:
Music Scholarship
Candidates should perform one or two pieces on their main instrument and one on any other instrument (includes singing), as well as undertaking aural and sight-reading tests. As a guide, it is likely a candidate will be around Grade 3. Candidates will also be expected to discuss music performed and demonstrate an understanding of the works of different composers. Music award holders are expected to take a full lead in the musical activities of the school.
Drama Scholarship
Prepare and perform a short monologue or poem of the candidate’s own choice which is of an age-appropriate level. It may be an original piece or candidates may be inspired to choose from a range of readily available material. The piece should be around 2 minutes duration. Candidates will also need to demonstrate a range of knowledge and understanding of the theatre and dramatic performance and discuss their interest in Drama.
Sport Scholarship
It is likely that candidates will be playing sport regularly at a competitive level with an external club. Candidates may provide a supporting letter from their current Headteacher or coach describing sporting participation, successes and their commitment and dedication both to teams and on an individual level. This scholarship also acknowledges an individual’s potential, through a multi-sports assessment. The candidate will be asked to bring full PE kit on the Senior Entry Day.
Art Scholarship
Candidates will be required to bring a portfolio of work to the Senior Entry Day containing any of the following: a sketchbook of ideas and thoughts, completed artwork showing good observational and technical skills in mark making, drawing in its broadest sense, and/or showing a flair for pattern, design, innovation and colour, demonstrating an understanding of visual language. Candidates may also bring in 3D work in a range of media, such as ceramics, hard materials or soft sculpture. There will also be a practical assessment on Senior Entry Day and an interview where the candidate will have the ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the work of a number of artists, including their techniques and different styles, through informal discussion.
Sixth Form Entry (Year 12) Scholarships
Pupils entering the Sixth Form may elect to sit one scholarship paper in a subject of their choice in addition to a core paper that all Sixth Form applicants sit. The scholarship paper does not need to be a subject they are currently studying, but should be one in which they feel confident and excel.
Each subject paper is tailored to its discipline and some may involve a practical element (eg Art, Drama, Music and Sport) whereas others will be more essay/assessment based. The total marks from the Scholarship Paper and the Core Paper are combined to determine overall performance.
This is also used to decide recipients of the Headmaster’s Scholarship, which carries both prestige and practical value for university and further education applications.
The Scott-Ely Sixth Form Scholarship
This Scholarship is awarded to a pupil who is a true all-rounder and recognises academic excellence alongside a strong commitment to Cranford’s values and ethos. It honours students who embody the spirit of the school in both achievement and character.
Bursaries
The Governors of Cranford are committed to broadening access to the school by offering eligible parents means-tested financial support (a bursary) with the payment of school fees. Bursary support is based on an assessment of financial circumstances and considers capital assets, income, investments and savings.
Each application is considered upon its own merit; however, the School has a duty to ensure that any financial support it offers is well-focused and targeted towards those most in need. Factors considered include, but are not limited to, the suitability of the child to the School and the financial circumstances of the family.
Before applying for a bursary, each child must be registered with the Admissions Office. The Registration Form can be found below or is available directly by contacting: admissions@cranfordschool.co.uk. Please note, the deadline for bursary applications for entry at the start of the academic year (ie September), is the end of September of the preceding year. Bursary applications that fall outside of this timeline may still be considered, where funds are available.