Sixth Form Academic Awards
Queenswood Sixth Form Academic Awards offer a fee remission of up to 50% of day fees.
There is a rigorous assessment process comprising a written application, a verbal reasoning paper, an essay paper designed to prompt discussion and debate, and a final interview with the Principal, the Head of Sixth Form and the Chairman of Governors.
The award may be combined with other 16+ scholarships, but the total fee remission will not exceed 50%.
Who can apply?
This opportunity is open to all current Year 11 Queenswood students, as well as to external candidates. Existing Year 11 Academic Scholars can apply and go through the selection process.
What does the Academic Scholarship programme offer?
The programme is built around a termly cycle of university-style seminars. Members of the academic staff set stimulus material on a topic related to, but not covered by, the school’s schemes of work, and scholars come together at the end of each unit to discuss their findings and defend their opinions.
In addition, scholars have available to them a vast array of subject-specific extension courses and other enrichment courses set by teaching staff for self-study. They meet regularly with their staff mentor to discuss aspirations and opportunities. They are actively encouraged to enter external competitions set by universities and learned societies.
Our Sixth Form Academic Scholarship programme gives the academically gifted a sense of identity, pride and additional purpose as they reach towards ever higher levels of achievement.
Successful candidates for the Sixth Form Academic Award will demonstrate insatiable intellectual curiosity, both in their particular fields of interest and in the wider world. They will have demonstrated the potential to achieve the highest grades, and will be aspiring to study at the most prestigious higher education institutions.
Over what period does the fee remission apply?
The day fee reduction is applicable for the two years of the Sixth Form course, on the condition that academic standards are maintained.
What is the selection process?
There is a three-step process.
First round: applicants will first complete an application form outlining their academic credentials and why they believe they should be awarded the Academic Award.
Second round: Selected candidates will be invited to sit the written entrance assessments:
- Verbal reasoning
- A non-subject specific essay question (from a choice of three questions)
Third round: the top-performing applicants will be invited for interview with the Principal, the Head of Sixth Form and the Chairman of Governors.
How many fee reduction awards will be available?
We do not have a set number of awards. The number will be determined by the calibre of applicants.
My daughter is already an Academic Scholar; why can’t she just be awarded the fee reduction?
This opportunity is open to all Year 11 pupils. The aim is to identify and reward those with outstanding academic ability.
Does my daughter have to already be an Academic Scholar to apply?
No, this opportunity is open to all Year 11 pupils.
If my daughter isn’t already an Academic Scholar and she is successful in receiving this Academic Award, will she automatically become a Scholar?
Yes, she will become a Scholar and will join the Scholars’ programme.
My daughter is an international pupil, can she apply?
Yes, she can apply. This opportunity is open to all current Year 11 Queenswood pupils and external candidates.
Will the Scholarship programme be different for the pupils who will be awarded the fee reduction?
No, the Scholarship programme will be essentially the same for all Scholars. Our expectation is that those pupils who have been identified by this process as having exceptionally high academic ability will perform to an even higher standard than their Academic Scholar peers.
What is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 1 October 2025. External applicants must be registered for entry.
When will the tests take place?
The tests will take place during the week commencing 3 November 2025.
When will the interview take place?
The interview will take place during the week commencing 24 November 2025.
Where will the tests and the interview take place?
The tests and the interview will take place at Queenswood.
When will the results be available?
Successful candidates will be notified in December.
