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11+ Scholarships (Year 7)

For Entry in September 2025.

Candidates are now invited to apply for Year 7 (11+) academic, art, drama, music and sports scholarships before 31st October 2024. Scholarships awarded in Year 7 (11+) are tenable until the end of Year 11. Students may apply for more than one scholarship.

Information on our academic, art, drama, music and sports scholarships are detailed below and in the downloadable booklet. All candidates, internal and external, are welcome to apply and should review the application criteria listed with each subject.

To find out more about the requirements, please see the relevant information below, download our information document or contact the Admissions Team, admissions@notredame.co.uk, 01932 869993.

External candidates – applying to join Year 7
All candidates who sit the 11+ exam are automatically considered for an academic scholarship. If your daughter is offered a place, parents are also notified if she is successful in gaining an academic scholarship. External candidates do not pay any additional fees to be considered for a scholarship (this is included in the registration fee).

Internal candidates – Year 6 students
Our Year 6 parents will apply for their daughter to sit the 11+ exam and students will join our external candidates on exam day. There is an administration fee to sit the academic scholarship.

We are seeking scholars who have potential in and a genuine passion for art and design. In order to demonstrate this, candidates are requested to submit a digital portfolio of a creative set of work of up to 10 slides.
  • The digital portfolio could include paintings, drawings, collage, print-making, textiles, photographs and other craft samples.
  • The work can include art ideas produced at home as well and at school.
  • The work should demonstrate the candidate’s knowledge of observational drawing, painting and design ideas.
  • It should also demonstrate the use of colour and ability to work with a variety of materials.
  • Sculptures and other 3D work must be photographed and presented as part of the digital portfolio.
Practical assessment: Following an evaluation of all submissions, candidates may be invited to the practical assessment. During the assessment, candidates will be required to produce an observational drawing within one hour. This will be explained in full on the day. All materials and subject matter will be provided.
Please see the list below and provide as supporting evidence when applying for a drama scholarship.
  • A list of drama activities and productions in which the candidate has participated.
  • Any LAMDA/Guildhall/Festival comments sheets, if applicable.
  • A short review written by the candidate of no more than 500 words evaluating a drama production they have seen. This will form the basis for an informal discussion.
Auditions: Following an evaluation of all supporting evidence, candidates may be invited to audition. The audition process is informal and relaxed as we want candidates to enjoy the experience and perform at their best. Candidates will need to have prepared a short character monologue from a play of no more than two minutes in length and be prepared to participate in a group drama workshop. Regrettably, due to the group work undertaken, alternative assessment dates are not available.
All candidates will be invited to audition. The audition process is informal and relaxed, as we want candidates to enjoy the experience and perform at their best. Students will be asked to perform unaccompanied or use their submitted accompaniment score. For the audition, each candidate should be prepared to:
  • perform two contrasting solo pieces on her FIRST instrument.
  • perform a solo on her SECOND instrument/voice, if more than one instrument.
  • undertake some simple aural tests.
  • provide information on her level of skill (for example, grade exams) and involvement in music in or out of school.
As part of the audition, the Director of Music will talk to the candidate about her music interests and activities as well as general interests and involvement in school life and outside school. Candidates awarded a scholarship will be expected to make a strong contribution to the musical life of the school and encouraged to follow the music course to GCSE. They are also expected to complement their instrumental/vocal studies by participating in selected music ensembles and a choir.

Sport Scholarships are awarded to students with a proven high level of sporting ability and potential. Candidates are expected to offer at least one sport to a high standard. Candidates must also demonstrate flair for acquiring new skills as well as a passion and commitment to sport in general. It is expected that sport scholars will play a full role in the sporting life of the school.

All candidates must submit a written record of their sporting achievements including scanned or photos of awards and certificates, and photos of any cups or medals received. Please do not submit cups, medals, or original certificates or awards.

The written record could include:
  • how long the candidate has been participating in her chosen sport or sports.
  • school/club/county or national participation and level courses attended, awards gained (along with awarding body/level/year achieved)
  • details of positions of responsibility (e.g. captain)
  • references from sports club coaches
  • candidate’s aspirations
  • candidate’s other interests, sporting or otherwise, in and out of school
  • any other relevant information to support the candidate’s application.
Practical assessment: Candidates will be assessed in a variety of fundamental motor skills as well as their ability in a selection of activities.
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16+ Scholarships (Sixth Form)

Candidates are now invited to apply for Year 12 (16+) academic, art, drama music and sports scholarships before 31st October 2024.

Scholarships awarded in Year 12 are tenable until the end of Year 13.
Students may apply for more than one scholarship.

To find out what is involved in the 16+ academic, art, drama, music, and sport scholarships, please see the relevant information below or contact the Admissions Team, admissions@notredame.co.uk, 01932 869993.

Academic scholarships in the Sixth Form are awarded based on the results of a scholarship examination, an interview, and the student’s mock examination results. The 45-minute online examination assesses logic, comprehension and thinking skills and is not subject specific. It consists of reading comprehension, verbal reasoning and non-verbal reasoning. The students will be able to draw on a range of skills and experiences from the varied elements of their GCSE courses and it is not necessary to prepare for this exam. We use Atom Learning for our examination who work with more than 100 independent schools.
Candidates wishing to be considered for a 16+ Art scholarship will complete the online scholarship form and include their digital portfolio submission.
  • The portfolio could include photos of original paintings, drawings, collage, printmaking, textiles, photographs and other craft work.
  • The work can include art ideas produced at home, external art classes or current schoolwork.
  • The work should demonstrate the candidate’s knowledge of observational drawing, painting and design ideas.
  • It should also demonstrate the use of colour and ability to work with a variety of materials.
Candidates will be interviewed by the Head of Art and the external assessor. The interviewers will explore how the candidates will contribute to School life, as well as their chosen specialism.

Digital submissions for Drama scholarships should include:

  • A list of drama activities and productions in which the candidate has participated.
  • Any LAMDA/Guildhall/Festival comments sheets, if applicable.
  • A short review written by the candidate of no more than 500 words evaluating a drama production they have seen (this will form the basis for their interview).

Candidates will be interviewed by the Head of Drama and the external assessor. The interviewers will explore how the candidates will contribute to School life, as well as their chosen specialism.

Auditions
Following an evaluation of all submissions, candidates may be invited to audition. This would be informal and relaxed as we want candidates to enjoy the experience and perform at their best.

Candidates who apply for a 16+ music scholarship will complete the online scholarship form and include their accompaniment scores required for their audition. Further submissions such as certificates are not required prior to audition. Students will be asked to perform unaccompanied or use their submitted accompaniment score. For the audition, each candidate should be prepared to:

  • Perform two contrasting solo pieces on their FIRST instrument.
  • If more than one instrument, perform a solo on their SECOND instrument/voice.
  • Undertake some simple aural tests.
  • Provide information on their level of skill (for example, grade exams) and involvement in music in or out of School.

Candidates will be interviewed by the Director of Music and the external assessor. The interviewers will explore how the candidates will contribute to School life, as well as their chosen specialism.

Auditions
All candidates will be invited to audition. This process is informal and relaxed as we want candidates to enjoy the experience and perform at their best. The external assessor will talk to the candidate about music interests and activities, as well as general interests both inside and outside School.

Candidates applying for a 16+ sport scholarship will complete the online scholarship form and include their supporting evidence. All candidates must submit a written record of their sporting achievements and may include scanned or photographed awards and certificates, as well as details about any cups or medals received. Please do not submit cups, medals, DVDs or original certificates or awards.

The written record could include:

  • How long the candidate has been participating in their chosen sport or sports.
  • School/club/county or national participation and level.
  • Courses attended; awards gained (along with awarding body/level/year achieved).
  • Details of positions of responsibility (e.g. captain).
  • References from sports club coaches (if applicable).
  • Candidate’s aspirations.
  • Any other relevant information to support the candidate’s application.

Candidates will be interviewed by the Head of Sport and the external assessor. The interviewers will explore how the candidates will contribute to School life, as well as their chosen specialism.

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