Scholarships and awards at Holmewood House
At Holmewood House, we recognise and nurture pupils who show outstanding ability and potential – whether in the classroom, on the stage, in the studio or on the sports field. Our scholarship and award programme celebrates excellence across the curriculum, while our bursaries open the school up to families who might not otherwise be able to join us.
There are two distinct forms of support. Scholarships and awards recognise talent and dedication in a particular discipline. Bursaries are means-tested financial support with school fees. The two can work together: where appropriate, a scholarship pupil who needs financial help can also be considered for bursarial support.
Scholarship Readiness Award for Year 7 Entry
Our Scholarship Readiness Award recognises pupils in Years 7 and 8 who show outstanding ability across different areas of the curriculum, and prepares them to compete confidently for scholarships to their senior schools.
The Scholarship Readiness Award is available to children entering Year 7 (11+). The deadline for application is 31st January of Year 6, with assessments taking place in the Spring Term – usually in March, for entry the following September. Prospective pupils joining the school are also welcome to apply at this time via admissions.
Scholarship subjects
Children who demonstrate outstanding ability, dedication and potential are invited to pursue a scholarship in one or more of the following areas:
- Academic
- Art
- Design Technology / Engineering
- Drama
- Music
- Sport
For full details, please read our Scholarship Readiness Brochure, which sets out what the programme involves for pupils and families.
What a Scholarship Involves
Pupils invited onto the scholarship programme are expected to show real commitment and maturity in their approach to learning, dedicating time and effort to their discipline. Whatever their subject, scholars can expect to take part in a weekly Scholarship Club, attend enrichment opportunities including off-site trips and visiting speakers, and develop their leadership skills by championing their discipline within the school.
There is no remuneration for the Scholarship Readiness programme. Instead, scholars are given access to a range of enriching opportunities at no extra cost – the reward is the experience, the challenge and the preparation for senior-school scholarships.
Where a family needs financial support, and where appropriate, the scholarship programme can be tied to our bursarial support (see below).
Scholarships to Senior Schools
Holmewood House has a strong record of preparing pupils to win scholarships and awards to leading senior schools. Our Scholarship Readiness programme is designed to give talented children the confidence, breadth and polish they need to succeed at 11+ and 13+, whether their strength is academic, sporting, musical, dramatic or artistic.
You can see where our leavers go, and the scholarships and awards they have achieved, on our Destination Schools page.
Bursarial Awards
The Governors of Holmewood House are committed to broadening access to the school by offering means-tested financial support with school fees to eligible parents. This support is known as a Bursarial Award.
Bursaries are available from Year 3 onwards. They are means-tested, and the assessment of need is undertaken by an external company to ensure transparency and fairness. This company will, following their assessment, make a recommendation to the school for their consideration.
Bursaries are usually offered for twelve months at a time, after which families are required to provide updated information about their financial circumstances.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, award or bursary, please contact our admissions team, who will take your details and guide you through the process for 2026 entry: admissions@holmewoodhouse.co.uk.
Please also review our Scholarship Readiness Awards and Bursaries policy.
