Bursaries and Scholarships

Bursaries are available where all of the following criteria are met:

• The child has the right to live and study in the UK on commencement of their studies at the School.
• At least one of the parents and the child has lived in the UK for at least two continuous years at the point of application.
• The parents live inside the M25 London orbital at the point of application, and throughout their child’s education at the School.

Parents must also fall into one of the following categories:

• British Citizens in possession of a British passport (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and Irish Citizens in possession of an Irish passport; or
• have ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status that will remain in place until the child completes their education at our School; or
• have ‘indefinite leave’ to remain in the UK.

At Westminster Under School bursary places are currently limited to Year 7 (at the 11+ entry point). For details of how to register online, please refer to the 11+ entry page.

As with all other entrants, pupils hoping to benefit from a bursary need to first gain a place at the Under School on academic merit, and candidates must be invited back to sit the School’s own entrance examinations in the January of the calendar year of entry.

The four stages of the bursary application process are as follows:

1. Online registration: you must indicate your intent to apply for a bursary at the point of registration, this will kick-off an eligibility check once your registration is complete;
2. Part A: once eligibility has been confirmed you will be invited to complete a Part A initial assessment;
3. Part B: these in-depth assessments are undertaken only where Part A indicates a family may be eligible for financial assistance, and once ISEB outcomes are known.
4. Home visits: these will take place either physically or virtually as part of the bursary application process.

Bursaries awarded to pupils entering Year 7 (11+ entry) continue, subject to satisfactory academic performance, until the pupil leaves Westminster School, potentially up to Year 13. Please note the bursary, which is subject to annual review, may be decreased or increased if financial circumstances change.

For more information about eligibility, and the associated deadlines for the bursary application process please refer to our Bursaries Policy, which is available to download from the Under School’s Policies and Reports page.

Westminster School offers bursary places for pupils entering Year 9 (at the 13+ entry point). For details of how to register online, please refer to the 13+ entry page.

• You must let the Registrar know if you intend to apply for a bursary at the point of registration. If your child is subsequently offered a place (in February of Year 6), you will be invited to complete a Part B in-depth assessment.
• As indications of bursary awards are made two years in advance for this entry point financial circumstances will be reassessed in Year 8 to ensure a bursary is still required.

Bursaries awarded to Westminster School pupils entering Year 9 (13+ entry) continue, subject to satisfactory academic performance, until a pupil leaves the School usually in Year 13. Please note the bursary, which is subject to annual review, may be decreased or increased if financial circumstances change.

For more information about eligibility, and the associated deadlines for the bursary application process, please refer to our Bursaries Policy, which is available to download from the Policies and Reports page.

Westminster School offers bursary places for pupils entering Year 12 (at the 16+ entry point). For details of how to register online, please refer to the 16+ entry page.

The four stages of the bursary application process are as follows:

1. Online registration: you must indicate your intent to apply for a bursary at the point of registration, this will kick-off an eligibility check once your registration is complete;
2. Part A: once eligibility has been confirmed you will be invited to complete a Part A initial assessment;
3. Part B: these in-depth assessments are undertaken only where Part A indicates a family may be eligible for financial assistance, and only for those candidates invited for interviews.
4. Parent interview: this will take place in person on the same day candidates attend School for their interviews, usually in the last week of November of the year prior to entry.

If a pupil who has been awarded a bursary is also awarded a Music or King’s Scholarship, the monetary value of the scholarship will be absorbed within the bursary.

Bursaries awarded to Westminster School pupils at Year 12 (16+ entry) continue until a pupil leaves the School at the end of Year 13. Please note the bursary, which is subject to annual review, may be decreased or increased if financial circumstances change.

Parents should consult the UK Visas and Immigration website for a detailed explanation of the criteria established by the United Kingdom, which the School adheres to. For more information about eligibility for bursaries, please refer to our Bursaries Policy, which is available to download from the Policies and Reports page.

King’s Scholarships are Westminster School’s academic scholarships and are not means-tested. King’s Scholarships are specific to Westminster School and are not available to pupils applying to the Under School.

Established by Henry VIII and affirmed by Elizabeth I in 1560, their historic link with the Royal Family continues today. King’s Scholars attend special services in Westminster Abbey at the Dean’s invitation and have ceremonial duties to perform in connection with the Abbey and the Crown.

• There are a total of 48 King’s Scholars, with usually 12 chosen every year: up to eight King’s Scholarships are awarded at 13+ and up to four King’s Scholarships are awarded at 16+, to new pupils entering the School. King’s Scholars are required to board at the School and all belong to College, one of the six boarding houses.
• For election to a King’s Scholarship a candidate for 13+ entry must be under 14 years of age on 1 September of the year of entry and for 16+ entry must be under 17 years of age on the same date.
• The fee for King’s Scholars is set at the day fee for the academic year. The value of a scholarship may be supplemented by a bursary up to a maximum of 100% if there is proven financial need. The Governing Body usually reviews school fees for the subsequent year annually by the end of the summer term, for publication in early July.

How do I become a 13+ King’s Scholar?

To be considered for a 13+ King’s Scholarship, a pupil in Year 8 can take an examination at Westminster known as The Challenge.

How do I become a 16+ King’s Scholar?

For King’s Scholarships awarded at 16+, selection is based on overall performance in the Sixth Form Entrance Exam papers and interviews, which take place in the November before the year of entry.

The application for a King’s Scholarship is included in the Sixth Form online registration form. This form can be accessed via our 16+ entry page, where you will also find further details about the application process and the entrance examinations.

Westminster Under School offers annually a number of awards of up to 10% remission of current academic tuition fees, with free instrumental tuition, for candidates at 11+ who show outstanding potential on at least one instrument.

Candidates should have reached at least Grade 5 on their principal instrument and, though not essential, some skill on a second instrument is encouraged. Award holders will be expected to play a full and lively part in the musical life of the School.

How do I become an 11+ Music Scholar?

In order to be considered for a Music Scholarship, a child must be invited back to sit the School’s own entrance examinations in January; refer to the 11+ entry page for further information. Instrumental auditions will also be held in January. The closing date for entries for these awards is in the October before the year of entry, but the Director of Music will be pleased to meet prospective candidates beforehand by arrangement. Enquiries should be addressed to the Registrar.

During instrumental auditions, candidates will be required to play two contrasting pieces on their principal instrument and one piece on their second, to read at sight and to attempt a few ear tests. Choristers are also invited to sing. An accompanist will be provided by the School, so we ask that candidates do not bring their own. Plenty of time is allocated for rehearsal.

Westminster School awards up to eight Music Awards for 13+ entry annually. These are each worth 10% of the day fee, irrespective of day or boarding status. In addition, three music exhibitions may be awarded annually at 13+ entry. Both types of awards include free tuition on up to two instruments, and they may be supplemented by additional means-tested bursaries to a maximum of the full fees.

How do I become a 13+ Music Scholar?

Auditions for Music Awards are held in late January or early February of Year 8. Candidates who do not already hold a place at the School can apply, but they must be under 14 years of age on 1 September of the proposed year of entry and must subsequently qualify for a place by sitting The Challenge or Common Entrance. For details of The Challenge, please refer to ‘How do I become a 13+ King’s Scholar?’ in the section above. For further information, please contact the Music Department Manager, +44 (0)20 7963 1017.

A good ABRSM Grade 7 standard on the candidate’s first instrument is usually expected and it is recommended that a candidate should have an informal audition with the Director of Music in the preceding autumn before the formal auditions take place.

Westminster School awards up to four Music Scholarships for 16+ entry annually. These are each worth 10% of the day fee, irrespective of day or boarding status. They include free tuition on up to two instruments, and they may be supplemented by additional means-tested bursaries to a maximum of the full fees.

How do I become a 16+ Music Scholar?

Auditions for 16+ Music Scholarships are held in November for those candidates who are invited for interview after the Sixth Form Entrance Exams – please refer to the 16+ entry page for further information about the application process. A good Grade 8 standard on the candidate’s first instrument is usually expected. The Director of Music is very happy to discuss the process with prospective candidates. For further information, please contact the Music Department Manager, +44 (0)20 7963 1017.

The Henry Purcell Organ Scholarship is awarded biennially to a pupil at Westminster School. The Scholarship is worth 10% of the day school fees and will additionally offer free instrumental tuition on up to two instruments, including weekly organ tuition with the School Organist.

How do I become an Organ Scholar?

The Scholarship will be awarded to a 16+ pupil and both internal and external applicants are encouraged to apply. External applicants will be required to win their place academically via the 16+ application process. There will only be one Henry Purcell Organ Scholar at any time at the School. Subject to satisfactory contribution and progress, the organ scholar will normally be expected to hold the award throughout their time at Westminster.

The intention of this award is to encourage the promotion in the School of excellent organ playing, both in relation to the liturgy and more widely in performance, and to add a further strand to the strong links that exist between the School and the Abbey. For further information, please contact the Music Department Manager, +44 (0)20 7963 1017.