Scholarships
Walthamstow Hall Senior School is one of the UK’s top performing independent schools with a long-established reputation for identifying talent and achieving excellence in all areas. The School’s winning combination of top flight teaching, motivated students, exceptional facilities and effective partnerships with parents ensures that every pupil becomes the best that they can be. Since its foundation as a charity for missionary daughters in 1838 the School has maintained a strong ethos of making a Walthamstow Hall education accessible to talented pupils whatever their circumstances.
Walthamstow Hall Senior School offers financial Awards to pupils who show exceptional promise academically or in sport, drama or art, or a combination of these. This is determined through Walthamstow Hall assessments. There are two types of Award; ‘Exhibitions’ are Awards worth a value of up to 10% of tuition fees and ‘Scholarships’ are Awards worth between 11 and 20%, per discipline, of tuition fees. Pupils wishing to apply for Awards are assessed by examination, interview and, where appropriate, audition/practical assessment. Awards worth 5 – 20% of the value of annual fees are usually the norm but Scholarships of a value up to 50% of the fees are also offered to very exceptional pupils. Recipients of Awards are referred to as ‘scholars’. For Year 9 and Sixth Form Awards, parents can apply for up to a maximum of two disciplines.
Awards (Scholarships and Exhibitions)
Awards are offered to pupils who demonstrate exceptional promise in Walthamstow Hall Senior School assessments.
Academic Awards
Academic Awards are offered at the Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12 entry points to the school.
At Year 7 entry, the School requests confirmation early in the Autumn term from parents who wish their child to sit academic scholarship papers. In addition to the ISEB entry test, candidates will be invited into Walthamstow Hall to sit scholarship papers in English and Maths. These papers are each one hour long and are set by Walthamstow Hall.
At Year 9 entry, both existing Walthamstow Hall pupils and candidates from other schools sit Walthamstow Hall entrance papers in Maths, English, Science, a language and one other subject (chosen from History, Geography, Latin or Religious Studies, nominated by the student). Award offers are made based on performance in these examinations.
At Sixth Form entry, scholarship offers will be based on an academic scholarship interview and mock GCSE results.
Music Awards
Music Awards are offered at the Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12 entry points to the school.
At Year 7 entry, candidates are asked to audition two instruments in front of a panel which includes an external adjudicator. The pupil should perform with at least two instruments, the second of which can be voice. Candidates should be performing at a minimum ABRSM Grade 4 or equivalent level in their first instrument. The candidate will also be required to demonstrate their sight reading ability, will have a short aural assessment and will be interviewed by the panel.
The same audition process is followed for Year 9 entry where candidates would be expected to be performing at a minimum ABRSM Grade 5 level or equivalent in their principal instrument.
Again, the same audition process is followed for Sixth Form where candidates would be expected to be performing at a minimum ABRSM Grade 7 level or equivalent in their principle instrument. Candidates will also sit a written paper. It is generally expected that the candidate will study Music at A Level if successful in winning an Award.
Existing Music Scholarship/Exhibition holders will be invited to reapply for Scholarships in Year 11 for the Sixth Form.
Music scholars are expected to attend all relevant orchestra and ensemble practices and to perform in and support all School concerts and open mornings.
Sports Awards
Sports Awards are offered at the Year 7, Year 9 and Sixth Form entry points.
At Year 7 entry, candidates attend a sports assessment morning at Walthamstow Hall. The assessment includes a range of activities designed to test leadership, team work, skills, aptitude and potential. (Candidates are not expected to have played lacrosse before). The assessment panel includes internal and external adjudicators. Candidates are also asked to submit references from two sports coaches, from for example, outside clubs that they play for. Candidates short listed for an Award will also be interviewed by a panel.
The same assessment, interview and reference process is followed for internal and external candidates for the Year 9 Sports Awards.
For Sixth Form Sports Awards, skills and leadership skills will be assessed along with an interview with the Director of Sport, Headmistress and outside assessor. References from two sports coaches/teachers will be requested. There is no requirement to study PE at A Level.
Existing Sport Scholars (from 2024 for Year 7 Award holders and 2022 for Year 9 Award holders) will be invited to reapply for Sports Awards in Year 11 for Sixth Form.
Sports scholars are expected to attend all relevant School sports practices and coaching sessions, to represent the School when selected for matches and competitions and demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship and team work. The participation and support of School sport will be reviewed annually and the continuation of scholarship support reviewed accordingly.
Drama Awards
Drama Scholarships are only offered at the Year 9 and Sixth Form entry points to the school.
For Year 9, candidates have an interview, undertake group work, including improvisation, and perform a prepared audition piece in front of a panel of internal and external adjudicators. For applicants from other schools a reference request will be made to their current school regarding the suitability of an Award.
For Sixth Form, candidates will have an audition and an interview with the Headmistress, Head of Drama and an outside assessor. For candidates from other schools a reference request is made to their current school regarding the suitability of the Award. It is generally expected that the candidate will study Theatre Studies at A Level if successful in winning an Award.
Existing Drama Scholars (from 2022) will be invited to reapply for Drama Awards in Year 11 for Sixth Form.
Drama Scholars are expected to support the Drama department, performing in and assisting backstage in school productions.
Creative Art Awards
Creative Art Awards are offered at Year 9 and Sixth Form entry points.
For Year 9, candidates sit an Creative Arts examination at Walthamstow Hall and submit a portfolio of work which is assessed by the Headmistress and Head of Art. They are also required to undertake work in controlled conditions.
In Sixth Form candidates can choose one of the three Creative Arts disciplines. Candidates need to submit a portfolio of work which will be assessed by the Headmistress and Head of Art/Textiles or 3D Design and an outside assessor. They are also required to undertake work in controlled conditions and will have an interview the Head of either Art/Textiles of 3D Design, the Headmistress and an outside assessor. A reference request will be sent to the current school of outside applicants on the suitability of the Scholarship. It is generally expected that the candidate will study Art, Textiles or 3D Design at A Level if successful.
Award Conditions
- Candidates for Sports, Music, Drama and Creative Art Awards must fulfil Walthamstow Hall’s usual entrance criteria in the school’s entrance examinations, interview and Head’s report.
- Award examinations/practical assessments must be taken on the designated scholarship examination/assessment days at Walthamstow Hall. For Year 7, 9 and Sixth Form entry candidates must sit all scholarship papers on the designated day at the School. No exception can be made to this requirement. For Year 7 and 9 entry, overseas candidates may sit the entrance exams (but not scholarship papers) at their current school.
- The Headmistress’s decision on the offer and value of an Award is final.
- It is a matter of integrity that parents consider very carefully their commitment to taking a place at Walthamstow Hall when they apply for an Award. If an Award is offered but parents subsequently decline their daughter a place at Walthamstow Hall the Award will not be offered to another candidate who would have benefited.
- Walthamstow Hall assume that if an Award is applied for and given that it will be accepted for the duration of a student’s career at Walthamstow Hall until the completion of her Sixth Form studies.
- Scholarships are applied retrospectively each term based on satisfactory progress, participation and conduct in School.
- We are always delighted when parents accept an honorary Award so that the financial discount associated with an Award can be re-diverted into the School’s bursary fund. In such instances the pupil is still recognised as a scholar and receives her scholarship prize.
Please refer via the following link to our Bursary and Scholarship Policy on the Policies page of this website.
