Life-changing opportunities
Northampton High School is part of the Girls Day School Trust (GDST), the largest group of independent girls’ schools in the UK. As a charity, the GDST awards bursaries and scholarships to the brightest and most deserving girls so that the largest possible number of talented girls can receive the benefit of a GDST education.
In particular, the GDST focuses its support on girls for whom the chance of a GDST education would be a transformative and life-changing experience. If your daughter would benefit from the educational experience that Northampton High offers, but your family is not in a position to cover the full fees, you may be eligible for a GDST Bursary.
Scholarships and bursaries may be held concurrently. Scholarships and bursaries usually stay in place for the time that your daughter remains at Northampton High School.
Scholarships
Our Scholarships are awarded to pupils in recognition of outstanding achievement. Scholarships are awarded to selected students entering Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form (Year 12).
Scholarships do not hold a remission in fees and are not means tested. Scholarships normally stay with the pupil throughout their time with us, up to the end of Sixth Form. It is possible to hold more than one Scholarship. Scholarships may be held alongside a Bursary.
Scholars will have access to out Scholars’ Programme, which recognises, rewards and celebrates our pupils’ characteristics, talents, interests and aptitudes, whilst providing them with enrichment and support. We offer ongoing development opportunities for students to build on their talents, model behaviour and represent the school in an ambassadorial manner.
Our Scholars:
- receive an annual award of up to £500, to enhance their academic interests.
- are given dedicated support to guide them in their supra-curricular and cocurricular activities.
- are invited to attend an annual Scholars’ Celebration.
- are invited to attend discussions on pupil-led topics, critical thinking sessions and lectures.
- are invited to attend an annual Scholars’ event. This could be to a museum, exhibition, theatre, lecture or a series of workshops or talks.
Reach Scholarship
In recognition of excellence in academic results in our entrance assessment, and performance in our Reach Scholarship paper.
The application process for external candidates is as follows:
The candidate’s performance in the entrance academic assessments and the additional Reach Scholarship papers will allow the school to identify the Reach Scholarship awardees.
- Students for Year 7 entry (11+) and Year 9 entry (13+) will be invited to sit for the Reach Scholarship on high-scoring performance in entrance assessment papers.
- Students for Year 12 entry (16+) will be invited to sit an Entrance Assessment examination, which comprises a cognitive ability assessment and an essay paper. On achieving a high-scoring performance, candidates will be awarded a Reach Scholarship.
The application process for internal candidates (current Northampton High School students) is as follows:
- Year 7 entry: Current Northampton High School students automatically move from the Junior to the Senior School. Current Year 6 pupils are invited to ‘opt in’ for the Reach Scholarship application process.
- Year 9 entry: Current Year 8 pupils are invited to ‘opt in’ for the Reach Scholarship application process.
- Year 12 entry: Current Year 11 students ‘opt in’ for the Reach Scholarship – proactively applying for the Scholarship and committing to sitting the Scholarship papers.
All candidates for the Reach Scholarships will be invited for an interview with the Head or a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Year 7 and Year 9 Reach Scholarship applicants will be invited to sit the Reach Scholarship papers on a specific date in January which will take place after the Year 7 and Year 9 entrance assessment days.
Year 12 Reach Scholarship applicants will be invited to sit the Reach Scholarship papers in November.
Flair Scholarship
In recognition of demonstrated talent (Sports, Art, Music, Drama, Dance, Food, Fashion Textiles, Creative Writing, etc.).
The application process for external and internal candidates is as follows:
● A written piece (by hand or typed, 500 to 1000 words) outlining the key reasons why they are deserving of the scholarship award, some detail about what they have been involved with to demonstrate their endeavour and how they will give back to the life of the school such as mentoring younger students, delivering presentations in assembly, etc.
● A video piece outlining or demonstrating their talent in the activity/activities/interests (maximum 2 minutes). Other formats may be considered – please contact the Admissions team if you would like to discuss your ideas before applying.
Successful shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview with the Head, members of the Senior Leadership Team, and relevant Heads of Faculty or Subject Leaders for an audition (for example, Drama, Music, Dance) or a practical session (for example, Sport, Art).
The guideline criteria currently in place for Flair Scholarships are linked to performance by objective measures wherever possible, e.g. Grade X at x entry; sporting competition at County or equivalent, etc.
Year 7 and Year 9 Scholarship interviews to be held in December or early January (not reliant on having attended entrance assessment day).
Year 12 Scholarship interviews will be held in November/early December.
Spirit Scholarship
In recognition of characteristics prized by the School.
The application process for external and internal candidates is as follows:
● A written piece (by hand or typed, 500 to 1000 words) outlining the key reasons why they are deserving of the scholarship award, some detail about what they have been involved with to demonstrate their endeavour and how they will give back to the life of the school such as running a competition or project, inviting a speaker to give a talk with the aim of promoting awareness and/or interest in a particular topic.
Successful shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and be ready to discuss with the Head or a member of the Senior Leadership Team their application.
Year 7 and Year 9 Scholarship interviews to be held in December or early January (not reliant on having attended entrance assessment day).
The Head and/or Director of Sixth Form to interview Year 12 Scholarship applicants in November/early December.
The Application and Assessment Process
● Sixth Form applications are made during October and November. The Sixth Form entrance assessment date takes place in early November each year.
● Year 7 applications – the deadline for Scholarship and Bursary applications is 30 November each year. Entry assessments take place in mid-January.
● Year 9 applications – the deadline for Scholarship applications is 30 November each year. Entry assessments take place in mid-January.
Timeline for making awards
Notification of awards: Year 12 Scholarships are awarded by letter by Christmas of each year. Year 7 and Year 9 Scholarships are awarded by letter before February half term.
Badges: Scholar badges awarded at the school Speech Day in July each year. A Scholars’ celebration/presentation event will be held in the summer term.
Bursaries
If your daughter would benefit from the educational experience that Northampton High School offers, but your family is not in a position to cover the full fees, you may be eligible for a GDST Bursary. To be considered for a Bursary we ask that all girls are registered with us. Bursaries are only offered to pupils entering Year 7 or Year 12. For entry in September 2024, the deadline for submitting a Bursary application is Thursday 30 November 2023.
When and how should I apply for a Bursary?
If you are interested in applying for a Bursary for your daughter, you should register her for a place with us by the end of October 2023, by completing our online Registration Form.
Once your daughter is registered, you will be able to submit a Bursary application on your parent online registration account.
The online Bursary application should be completed by Thursday 30 November 2023. Applications after this date will regrettably not be considered.
You will be asked to submit proof of your income and assets, such as P60s, payslips, HMRC self-assessment forms, mortgage statements, council tax bills, or recent benefits paperwork. These can be uploaded directly to the site via the Document Phase of the application process.
The outcome of your Bursary application will be communicated to you in mid-February 2024. Please contact Miss Olivia Cheng, Registrar, at o.cheng@nhs.gdst.net with any questions.
Does my daughter qualify for a Bursary?
Bursaries are means tested according to parental income and assets.
All Bursary applicants are required to sit an entrance assessment and may also be invited to sit the Reach Scholarship assessment.
Due to the huge number of Bursary applications received, financial eligibility does not guarantee a Bursary award. Academic merit and performance in the assessments are also taken into account when making a decision regarding a Bursary award.
Bursary awards can be up to 100% of the value fees and are offered to selected girls entering Year 7 and Year 12.
The amount of the Bursary and number of Bursary awards depends on local demand and the funding available.
Bursaries awarded for less than full fees are done so on a graded scale, according to parental income.
For further information on the eligibility, please refer to the GDST Bursary information here.
Bursaries are reassessed annually, in case of a change in circumstances. A bursary award may go up or down to reflect such changes. This ensures those most in need continue to receive our support.