Scholarships & Awards
Recognising talent, rewarding potential, and supporting boys to thrive.
Sherborne Boys offers a range of scholarships and awards for boys entering the Third Form or Sixth Form, recognising talent in areas such as academics, the arts, music, and sport.
Award holders benefit from enhanced opportunities.
This allows them to grow their skills through additional coaching, mentoring, lectures, societies, and enrichment activities. These awards celebrate both ability and commitment, offering boys the chance to thrive in their chosen discipline.
Third Form Awards & Financial Support
A range of awards are available to candidates entering the School at 13+ (Third Form)
Eligibility for all such awards is conditional upon the candidate having satisfied the School’s academic entry standards and been offered a place at the School. In addition, candidates for particular awards must satisfy any other conditions that apply to them, including success in the competitive selection processes that apply.
| Scholarships & Awards |
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Sherborne Boys invites talented and enthusiastic boys to apply for up to two of the various scholarships, awards and exhibitions that we offer. These range from academic and creative to musical and sporting. In return for demonstrating high levels of talent and commitment in their chosen discipline(s), award holders are given many opportunities to stretch themselves and develop their abilities through involvement in additional tutoring, coaching, lectures, societies and social activities. Owing to the levels of commitment required of successful candidates, boys are not able to apply for both a music and a sports award. All other combinations of award are, however, permissible. Scholarships and other non-means tested awards normally carry a maximum of 10% remission of the day or boarding fee (as applicable), excluding extras. This applies to single award holders and to those who are offered two awards where the maximum total remission will normally be 10%. The following Scholarships are available: All applicants or those considering applying for a Music Scholarship will be invited to meet with the Director of Music and perform to him in advance of their application. There are two additional closed awards available for current and former members of the armed services:
Application Process for Scholarships & AwardsA year before your son is due to join Sherborne, all parents will be asked to complete an ‘Awards Interest Form’ which will indicate which awards you are considering entering your son for and whether or not additional funding would be required above 10%. Once these are received back in the Admissions department, we will ensure that you receive the application form (and financial forms if required) at the correct time during the Michaelmas (Autumn) term. Please note that boys applying from Prep Schools must have the agreement of their Headteacher to apply for a Scholarship. All scholarship applicants must complete a scholarship application form available through the Admissions Department. Completed forms must be returned to Admissions by Friday 10 October 2025 for boys entering the School in September 2026. Any late applications may not be considered by the School. Please note that applications for any scholarships or awards cannot be made in conjunction with an Open Bursary application.
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| Additional Bursarial Support for Scholarship & Award Winners |
ScholarshipsScholarship candidates who require additional bursarial funding must complete a scholarship application form and an Additional Financial Assistance application form, if applicable, both available through the Admissions Department. The following submission deadlines apply:
No request for bursarial assistance will be considered unless an the financial circumstances declaration and additional information has been submitted through BAA. Any bursarial support awarded will be subject to annual review of parental circumstances, and in accordance with the criteria set out in the Bursary Policy. We will aim to confirm the amount of any bursarial support at the same time as the outcome of the Scholarship process but this is not always possible if, for example, further information or a home visit is required. |
| Open Bursaries |
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In line with the School’s Charter and the objectives of the Charity, the governors of Sherborne School are committed to offering eligible parents or guardians means-tested financial assistance with the payment of school fees to enable boys to attend the School who would otherwise not be able to do so. Such support is known as a bursary and these awards are made on the basis of an assessment of a family's financial circumstances, including their savings, investments, and realisable assets, as well as their income, the size of their family, any other persons dependent upon them and other relevant factors. Awards are subject to repeat testing of parental financial circumstances each year and may be varied upwards or downwards, depending on parental circumstances. Please note that Open Bursary applications cannot be made in conjunction with any scholarship or award application.
Application Process for Open BursaryA year before your son is due to join Sherborne, all parents will be asked to complete an ‘Awards Interest Form’ which will indicate which awards you are considering entering your son for, including an Open Bursary. Once these forms have been returned to the Admissions department, we will ensure that you receive the Open Bursary/Additional Financial Assistance application form for completion. Following receipt of your completed application you will receive the details for submission of your financial circumstances declaration to Bursary Assessment Associates (BAA), all of which takes place during the Michaelmas (Autumn) term. All Open Bursary application forms must be returned to the Admissions team by Friday 10 October 2025. Submission of your financial circumstances declaration must be completed electronically with BAA by Friday 28 November 2025. Any late applications may not be considered by the School.
When are the Awards Made?Open Bursaries are usually awarded in late February of Year 8, at the same time as our scholarship awards are made. Open Bursaries are means-tested and therefore an application must be made to BAA by Friday 28 November in order to be considered. Parents are welcome to contact the School after their son has been offered a place (in either Year 6 or Year 7) for an indication of whether they would be considered for an Open Bursary. Such an indication will require completion of a Confidential Statement of Financial Circumstances Form and the return of the required supporting financial documentation to enable proper due diligence. It is important to note that, simply because a family’s financial situation may indicate that they are eligible for a bursary, the demand for bursaries means that not every applicant will be successful in receiving an award. Please also refer to the School’s Bursary Policy or contact the Admissions Department for further information. |
| 2026 Scholarship & Award Dates |
Assessment Dates for Third Form Scholarships & Awards - 2026 Entry
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| 2025 Scholarship & Award Expectations |
Sixth Form Students
A range of awards are available to candidates entering the School at 16+ (Sixth Form)
The Scholarship application process runs parallel to the general entry assessment schedule in November of Year 11, as successful scholars must satisfy the School's academic entry standards and also demonstrate excellence in the competitive selection processes that apply for their chosen award.
Sixth Form Awards & Financial Support
The following options are available:
| Academic Award |
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Sherborne is able to offer a number of Academic Scholarships to pupils for Sixth Form entry. These will be awarded to candidates showing particular academic proficiency and promise. Candidates considering entering for these scholarships should normally be predicted six or more A*, A, 8 or 9 grades at GCSE. The Sixth Form Academic Scholarship assessment will be held in November 2025 (for 2026 entry candidates) and will include an academic interview and two subject based interviews based on the candidates' chosen A level subjects. |
| Music Award |
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Music scholarships and exhibitions are available on entry into the Sixth Form offering an exciting opportunity to boys to make a wide ranging contribution to the busy musical life of the School as well as developing their own individual musical ability. Applicants are strongly encouraged to meet and informally play/sing to the Director of Music in advance of their scholarship audition and interview. Please contact the Admissions Department to make the necessary appointment. |
| Sports Award (Walford Award) |
| A number of sports awards are available on entry into the Sixth Form for boys demonstrating exceptional talent and potential in their chosen sport or sports. |
| Sixth Form Bursaries |
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In line with the School's Charter and the objectives of the Charity, The governors of Sherborne Boys are committed to offering to eligible parents or guardians means-tested financial support with the payment of school fees. Such support is known as a bursary and these awards are made on the basis of an assessment of a family's financial circumstances, including their savings, investments, and realisable assets, as well as their income, the size of their family, any other persons dependent upon them and other similar factors. Awards are subject to repeat testing of parental financial circumstances each year and may be varied upwards or downwards, depending on parental circumstances. |
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