Bursary and Scholarship support is available to Senior School applicants only.
Although the School traces its history back to generous philanthropic donations it no longer enjoys the support of a financial foundation and is dependent on fee income to support scholarship and bursary awards.
A scholarship is awarded in recognition of a pupil’s merit and potential and is, as such, highly prized. Awards are determined by the results in the competitive entrance examination or by performance in assessments and auditions relating to Art, Music, Drama and Sport and are awarded irrespective of financial means. Pupils can apply for up to a maximum of 2 scholarships in addition to being considered for an Academic Scholarship the total financial value of a scholarship may be between 5% and 35%.
A bursary award is available to a small number of pupils who are offered a place but require financial assistance to be able to afford to accept it. Every bursary is means-tested and the value of the bursary is related to the income and financial resources of the pupil’s family.
A pupil can hold both a bursary and scholarship.
In order that parents can budget, all scholarships and almost all bursaries are ‘index linked’ in that they are awarded as a percentage of the published fees, so that when the fee increases the scholarship / bursary automatically increases.
All scholarships and bursaries are awarded at the discretion of the Headmaster who is accountable to the Governors for all decisions.
Scholarships and bursaries may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Headmaster in the event of unsatisfactory work or conduct or as a result of the pupil’s annual review. This action may occur as the culmination of a process of communication and discussion between the school and the parents.
Registrations, scholarship applications, and bursary applications for September 2026 places are now open.
For further assistance, please contact admissions@royalrussell.co.uk.
Parents must not assume their child has been, or will be, offered either a bursary or a scholarship until receipt of a formal written offer of a specific award.
All applications for Year 7 & 9 are automatically considered for an academic scholarship.
Please see below for more information on academic scholarships.
Royal Russell School offers scholarships for Years 7, 9 and 12 for excellence in overall Academic performance, Art, Music, Drama and Sport. Scholarships are awarded in recognition of achievement in these areas and, although the scholarship provides a percentage reduction in the school fees, we believe the financial benefit of a scholarship is secondary to the recognition of the pupil’s potential for success. The award of a scholarship confers a status upon the holder which will go forward with them in move to higher education. Scholarship holders are seen as an example to other pupils and are, therefore, expected to demonstrate high standards of work and behaviour in order to maintain their scholarship place. Scholarships are awarded through to completion of GCSE in Year 11 when re-assessment will take place for possible continuation for Sixth Form. Scholarships are subject to all normal terms and conditions in relation to the payment of fees.
All applicants at Year 7 and Year 9 are considered for an Academic Scholarship on the basis of their performance in the Entrance Exam. Sixth Form Scholarships are awarded on the basis of success at GCSE.
Those wishing to be considered for Art, Music, Drama and Sports Scholarships should notify apply when submitting the Registration form. Auditions/assessments will be held separately to the entrance tests and candidates will be expected to make arrangements to attend on the set dates as advertised in the Key Admissions Dates section of our website. All applications will require supporting documentary evidence.
All applicants for Years 7 and 9 are considered for an academic scholarship on the basis of their performance in the entrance examinations at 11+ and 13+.
Therefore, as applicants are automatically considered there is no requirement to complete a separate academic scholarship form. Academic scholarships will be awarded through to the completion of GCSE in Year 11.
A small number of Sixth Form scholarships are available for new pupils entering Year 12. Internal Sixth Form academic scholarships are awarded by the school based on achievement at GCSE.
An Art Scholarship entitles the recipient to a percentage reduction in school fees for the period of tenure. The Art Scholarship is valid throughout the period of tenure provided that:
The Art and Design Department at Royal Russell is housed in newly refurbished studios and rooms in the centre of the School. All pupils in Years 7 to 9 study Art as part of the curriculum; we offer Fine Art and Photography courses at A level and have a strong history of successfully placing candidates at Art School.
Art Scholarships are awarded in Year 7, 9 and 12 and are reviewed annually.
Candidates applying for an Art Scholarship at Year 7 and 9 will clearly display a particular aptitude for the subject and will have been involved in Art, Design and Photographic activities through school, clubs and work produced at home.
A portfolio of work will need to be submitted with the application form which will comprise of a series of pieces of the candidate’s own work. There is no prescribed format or specific requirement regarding content, however the suggested number of pieces is between 10 and 20 from which the Head of Art will consider their skills and potential. 3D work should be photographed.
Selected candidates will be invited to attend a practical assessment to assess their skill set. The assessment will not require any prior experience or preparation.
Successful candidates will receive a scholarship offer conditional upon their performance in the academic entrance exam.
Candidates should complete an application form and submit to Admissions and will then be requested to attend an interview with the Head of Art and should bring a portfolio of work from which the Head of Art will consider their skills and potential.
Candidates will also need to be prepared to discuss the work of a leading artist of their choice. The final award of an Art Scholarship will be conditional upon GCSE results and will be confirmed in August.
We recognise that children develop at different rates and unsuccessful applicants will be encouraged to reapply when appropriate.
For further assistance, please contact admissions@royalrussell.co.uk.
A Drama Scholarship is awarded to students showing strong ability and potential in drama.
Pupils holding Drama Scholarships will be encouraged to maintain their commitment to drama throughout their time in the school and we offer a programme of annual reviews with the Director of Drama to reflect on participation and progress in the past year and to set challenges for the year ahead.
A Drama Scholarship entitles the recipient to a percentage reduction in school fees for the period of tenure.
Typically, a candidate will be actively involved in external drama clubs and organisations and will have had many performance opportunities.
Drama Scholarships are available for pupils starting Year 7, 9 and 12 and are reviewed annually. The Drama Scholarship is valid throughout the candidate’s school career provided that:
Candidates will be required to attend a set half-day group audition run by the Director of Drama who will consider their skills and potential.
All applications require supporting documentary evidence including letters from the candidate’s current school and external organisation.
Attendance at audition will not guarantee a successful application. We recognise, however, that children develop at different rates and unsuccessful applicants will be encouraged to reapply when appropriate.
For further assistance, please contact admissions@royalrussell.co.uk.
By the time of their initial audition, our normal expectations for candidates for a Music Scholarship will be at the following grades on their chosen instrument, or performing pieces to the equivalent standard:
The relevant mark sheets must be provided to support this achievement at the time of the audition.
Music Scholarships are available for pupils starting Year 7, 9 and 12 and are reviewed annually. They are valid throughout the candidate’s school career provided that the recipient(‘s):
In the unlikely event of wishing to withdraw pupils from instrumental lessons, parents are requested to give the Head of Music a half term’s written notice or they will be liable for a half term’s fees in lieu.
A Music Scholarship is currently awarded to students showing strong musical ability and potential and entitles the recipient to a percentage reduction in school fees for the period of tenure. Scholarships are intended to assist with the cost of individual music lessons, as provided by the Royal Russell School Visiting Music Staff at school. Pupils are expected to attend a weekly lesson in School with a member of the Royal Russell School Visiting Music Staff unless prior arrangements have been agreed with the Director of Music.
Pupils holding Music Scholarships will be encouraged to maintain their commitment to music throughout their time in the school and we offer a programme of annual reviews with the Director of Music to reflect on musical progress in the past year and to set challenges for the year ahead.
Candidates meeting our normal requirements will be required to attend an audition with the Director of Music who will consider their skills and potential. The audition will include a practical performance, sight reading and aural tests. Candidates must always bring two copies of their music to the audition. One of these copies will be the piano accompaniment if the candidate wishes to be accompanied on the piano. (We are able to provide accompaniment if required.)
Potential candidates who have not obtained the required standard, and still feel they may be worthy of a scholarship, will be required to attend a short pre-audition in order for a member of the School’s music department to decide whether they show enough potential to go through to the main audition.
All applications require supporting documentary evidence including letters from the candidate’s current school and music teachers. Attendance at audition will not guarantee a successful application.
Following the auditions, successful candidates will receive a scholarship offer conditional upon their performance in the academic entrance exam in January.
We recognise, however, that children develop at different rates and unsuccessful applicants will be encouraged to reapply when appropriate.
For further assistance, please contact admissions@royalrussell.co.uk.
Typically, candidates compete at a minimum county or academy level in their sport(s). We assess each candidate using physical testing, sport-specific assessment and references from coaches. We offer Sports Scholarships across all sports.
A Sport Scholarship entitles the recipient to a percentage reduction in School fees and a unique personal training programme that offers support in their specific sport in order to help scholars achieve the limit of their potential.
An athlete will be supported according to the four corners of Elite Performance: Tactical, Technical, Physical and Social.
We are looking for outstanding applicants to join our programme. Our normal expectations will be representation at County level and/or at a recognised Academy level or equivalent.
Sport Scholarships are available for pupils starting Year 7, 9 and 12 and are reviewed annually. The Sport Scholarship is valid throughout the candidate’s school career provided that:
Applications will be pre-screened and not all candidates may be invited to attend the assessment day. Please consider carefully what is included in the personal statement so that it accurately reflects the candidate’s achievements and aspirations. All applications require supporting documentary evidence, including reports from the candidate’s club(s) and current school. In some cases, submission of video evidence may be appropriate.
Pre-screened candidates will be invited to attend a set half-day assessment with the Sport Department who will consider their skills and potential. During the assessment, candidates will be observed in a number of different activities to include demonstration of set skills and their application in small-sided games, allowing accurate assessment to be made. Candidates will also participate in fitness tests, for example in speed and agility using speed gates.
Attendance on the assessment day will not guarantee a successful application. We recognise, however, that children develop and mature at different rates and unsuccessful applicants will be encouraged to reapply when appropriate.
For further assistance, please contact admissions@royalrussell.co.uk.
Bursary awards are typically granted upon entry at age 11 (Year 7), though applications from pupils aged 13 (Year 9) will also be considered. Please note that bursaries are not available for Junior School admissions.
Bursaries are means-tested, and are subject to review and may be adjusted. A bursary may be withdrawn or past payment reclaimed if the school is knowingly or recklessly provided with false information on income or assets.
All cases are considered on their own merits but it is highly unlikely that any significant bursary award would be made to a family with gross income of more than £40,000 per annum.
Parents wishing to be considered for a bursary on entry at Year 7 or Year 9 must indicate this on their Registration Form and complete a confidential Statement of Financial Circumstances form (SOFC) which will be sent to them by the PA to the Director of Operations, Mrs Donna Moon: moond@royalrussell.co.uk.
Bursary applications are expected from families who could otherwise not afford to pay full fees for their child/ren. Therefore, should your bursary application be unsuccessful, an offer of a place at full fees will not be made for your child/ren.
If the results of the January entrance examination indicate that the pupil has performed strongly enough for consideration of a bursary, the SOFC will be used to assess whether a bursary may be available. If this is the case, parents will be given an indication of the likely bursary value when the offer of a place is made. The School may require a meeting with parents to discuss the financial assessment before finalising any offer. The school reserves the right to require independent verification of the information provided on the form.
In order that parents can budget, all scholarships and almost all bursaries are ‘index linked’ in that they are awarded as a percentage of the published fees, so that when the fee increases the scholarship / bursary automatically increases.
All scholarships and bursaries are awarded at the discretion of the Headmaster who is accountable to the Governors for all decisions.
Scholarships and bursaries may be withdrawn at the discretion of the Headmaster in the event of unsatisfactory work or conduct or as a result of the pupil’s annual review. This action may occur as the culmination of a process of communication and discussion between the school and the parents.
Parents must not assume their child has been, or will be, offered either a bursary or a scholarship until receipt of a formal written offer of a specific award.
