Scholarships

Scholarships

We currently offer scholarships in both of our Specialism Areas; Performing Arts and Maths & Computing.

Year 7 Performing Arts Places
Year 7 Performing Arts Places will be offered before the end of the autumn term. If we would like to offer your daughter a Performing Arts place, you will receive a letter through the post before Monday 19th December 2011. Please note that this letter does not necessarily offer your daughter a place at St Marylebone as all offers have to go through the Pan-London procedures, the results of which will not be known until 1st March 2012. We do not write to those who we are not intending to offer Performing Arts places to, so if you do not receive a letter please assume that your daughter will not be offered a Performing Arts place for entry in September 2012. Your daughter’s application will now be considered under any other category that may apply according to the completion of their original application form (i.e. Open or Church of England) as in the guidelines set out in the St Marylebone CE School Admissions Policy.

YEAR 7
Each year St Marylebone School offers 14 Performing Arts Scholarship places for Year 7 entry. These are offered in: Music (Instrumental), Music (Choral), Dance and Drama. Scholarships are also awarded during the school year to students in any year who have displayed aptitude for, exceptional commitment to, and passion for a Performing Arts subject.

Performing Arts Scholars play an active part in the life of the school, particularly within their chosen art form. Scholars act as ambassadors for the Performing Arts in the school and are given many opportunities to perform, often taking a leading role in artistic events. Students with scholarships take part in extra-curricular activities and will participate in concerts and performances throughout the school year. Scholars are frequently selected to perform at special events in the school calendar, for example at Open Evenings and for special assemblies.

Each scholar receives an Individual Education Plan for the academic year, outlining their targets and achievements. This allows subject teachers to support the development of scholars’ aptitude as they progress through their school career.

All Performing Arts Scholars are awarded a prestigious St Marylebone gold tie – this identifies them as scholars to the rest of the school.

All those wishing to apply for a Performing Arts place at Year 7 entry must complete the supplementary application form included in the application pack. Applicants can only apply for a scholarship in ONE subject.

All those who apply for a Dance/Drama scholarship place are auditioned – these auditions usually take place in November. Applicants will be written to prior to the date of their audition with details of the date, time and venue for the audition, as well as information regarding what the audition will involve and the criteria which will be used to assess applicants during the audition. The Music audition process is slightly different – see below for details.

Dance

There is no preparation required for Dance scholarship auditions. The audition will involve a group warm-up and students will be taught a motif/phrase which they then have to perform in small groups. No previous training or dance knowledge is required for the audition.

Drama

Students have to prepare a ten-line monologue based on a character from a fairytale, which they will perform in the audition. The audition also involves small group improvisation and reading an unseen line of Shakespeare – no preparation is needed for this part of the audition.

Music

The initial music aptitude test is a multiple choice listening test which all applicants for both Music (Instrumental) and Music (Choral) must take. The test lasts for approx 1 hour and involves a variety of questions around pitch, rhythm, melody, and identifying similarities or differences in a piece of music. This test is designed to test musical aptitude and potential and as such assumes no previous training, knowledge or experience of music or music theory.

Following the music aptitude test, the 36 highest scorers (24 Music (Instrumental) and 12 Music (Choral)) are invited back for further aural tests. These tests are designed to test musical aptitude and ability further, but still assume no previous musical knowledge or experience.

Following the auditions, any student who has not been awarded a Performing Arts Scholarship will have their application considered under any other category that may apply according to the completion of their original application form (i.e. Open or Church of England) as in the guidelines set out in the St Marylebone CE School Admissions Policy.

YEAR 12

Students applying for a Sixth Form place at St Marylebone School can apply for Performing Arts scholarships in the following subjects: Music, Music Technology, Dance, Drama, Maths and ICT. Those wishing to apply for a scholarship should be intending to study their chosen scholarshipp subject at A-level.

Scholars in Year 12 & 13 play an important role in the school’s Performing Arts subjects. They act as ambassadors for Performing Arts events and activities across the whole school, and are often selected to take leading roles in performances and concerts. Sixth Form scholars are given opportunities to lead their own artistic projects, creating fantastic student-led productions. Scholars at Sixth Form level are also given responsibilities to support the work of the Performing Arts faculty with younger students in Years 7 to 11. Extra-curricular activities are an important part of the life of a Performing Arts Scholar at Sixth Form and students enjoy expanding their experiences and knowledge.

Students wishing to apply for a scholarship for entry into Year 12 have to attend an audition in addition to their Advice and Guidance meeting. These auditions usually take place in February. Applicants will be written to prior to the date of their audition with details of the date, time and venue for the audition, as well as information regarding what the audition will involve.

Sixth Form Performing Arts Scholars are awarded ‘Arts College’ pin badges to represent their scholar status.

For more information about Performing Arts, please visit their microsite.

Lower School

Maths and ICT scholars are selected at the end of Year 7, based on their aptitude for and commitment to Maths or ICT activities. The new scholars are presented with their gold ties and scholarship certificates on Founders' Day.

Scholars receive extra mentoring and support in school and are offered a wide range of opportunities to develop their specialist subject further. They take part in many of the extra-curricular activities on offer and act as ambassadors for Maths and ICT to the rest of the school. Scholars are often selected to represent their subjects at Open Evenings or at special events, and are given chances to further develop their skills in Maths or Computing through project work and external activities.

Sixth Form

Maths and ICT scholars are also appointed in Year 12, having been selected as part of the Sixth Form admissions process. This involves sitting a test and having a discussion with a Maths or ICT teacher in addition to the Advice and Guidance meeting.

Scholars for Maths and ICT at Sixth Form act as ambassadors for their subject to the rest of the school. They take part in extra-curricular activities and are called upon to support the work of the Maths and ICT departments throughout the school. Sixth Form scholars are given opportunities to help younger students and help promote the school’s Maths and Computing status through external events and activities.

Sixth Form scholars in Maths and ICT are awarded ‘M&C’ pin badges to represent their scholar status.

For more information about Maths & Computing, please visit their microsite.