The Royal Masonic School for Girls case studies (6)

The Royal Masonic School for Girls is committed to demonstrating that we provide public benefit and we regard it as educationally beneficial to widen access to the education we offer; this has always been a distinctive feature of RMS whose foundation was essentially charitable.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships and exhibitions are offered to encourage and reward excellence; they are awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement or promise in a particular sphere and involve financial support normally up to a maximum of 25% of the annual fee. Scholars will be given regular opportunities for prominence and leadership within their given specialism. Academic scholars will be expected to maintain high standards of work across the curriculum.

Scholarship Awards at 11+

Awards are given in recognition of excellence with regard to Academic achievement in the entrance examination, Sport, Art, All Rounder potential and Music. Further details of each type of Scholarships can be found in the drop-down boxes below.

All 11+ applicants are considered as potential Academic scholars and no separate application is necessary.  A small number of candidates will be invited to return for academic scholarship testing in early February, based on the results of the entrance assessments in January.

The deadline for applications for the other 11+ Scholarship awards will be in early December, with the assessments taking place in late January/early February.

Scholarship Awards at 16+

Awards are given for academic excellence, Music, Art/Textiles, Sport and Performing Arts.  The deadline for applications will be in early December.  The scholarship assessments will take place in late January/early February.

For further information about Scholarships, see below or contact the Registrar, on 01923 725354 or by email at [email protected] 
                                                                                                            

BURSARIES
Bursaries (means-tested assistance) provide financial assistance to enable suitable pupils whose parents could not otherwise afford the fees to benefit, or continue to benefit, from an education at RMS. They may be awarded to pupils who reach the School's required standards but who require financial assistance to take up a place; alternatively they may be awarded to enable an existing pupil at a crucial stage in their education to remain in the School during a period of financial difficulty.  These awards are subject to means testing, under a standard formula widely used within the independent sector, at the time the offer is made and annually thereafter (please refer to the Bursary Policy below).

Priorities in awarding means-tested fees assistance

The number of awards made each year will vary according to the quality and circumstances of candidates and the availability of funds. Unlike many other schools, RMS does not have a separate endowment fund for such fees assistance which is all financed directly from school income within a budget authorised by the Governors (with the exception of the Cadogan Rose Bursary – see below). For this reason,

The Governors' current criteria and priorities regarding the awarding of the limited funds available for bursaries are as follows

·         Scholarship Support Bursary – additional means-tested support to allow a new pupil, who has been awarded a scholarship, to take up their place here, where financial circumstances would otherwise prevent them from doing so. Typically this is limited to a maximum of 25% of fees payable.

Application for Scholarship Support for Sport, Art, All Rounder and Music Scholarships should be made at the same time as the Scholarship application itself, by the completion of the "Confidential Statement of Financial Circumstances" which can be downloaded RMS website page Applying to RMS – Scholarships and Bursaries.   The deadline for these Scholarship Support applications is the same as that for the related Scholarship.  

You will be given an opportunity to apply for Support for an Academic Scholarship if your child is invited for testing.

Hardship Bursary – short-term means-tested assistance to help parents of an existing pupil keep them at the School in times of unexpected financial difficulty, until such time that the full fees can be paid or the pupil can move into the maintained sector with minimum disruption to their education. It is not usual for Bursaries to be awarded to pupils below Yr 7.
Entrance Bursaries – after the above criteria have been met, there is unfortunately very limited opportunity for assistance for prospective pupils who have not been awarded Scholarship, other than in exceptional cases of welfare need or by way of the Cadogan Rose Bursary – see below.
A copy of the School's Bursary Policy can be found on the RMS website page Applying to RMS – Scholarships and Bursaries

For information about the above Bursaries, please contact the Bursar via her PA at [email protected]
                                                                                                                                                                                               

THE CADOGAN ROSE BURSARY
In addition to the above, we are delighted to have been able to offer the Cadogan Rose Bursary, to a pupil who would not normally be able to afford an RMS education.  The award will cover up to the full amount of school fees (depending on parental circumstances), and will also include a generous allowance for school uniform, educational trips and extras, for a pupil joining RMS in Year 7 until the end of their academic career at the School.

The purpose of the award is to enable able and/or talented pupils who would benefit from the educational opportunities offered at RMS, and who in turn will make a positive contribution to the life of the School, but who would not be able to do so without financial help.

The Cadogan Rose Bursary was set up to celebrate the tenure of Mrs Diana Rose as Headmistress of the School from 2002 to 2016, and the support and contribution given to the School by the Cadogan family over many years.  Lord Cadogan’s family has a long association with RMS. The Cadogan Family Trust is committed to philanthropy and Lord Cadogan is keen to give talented pupils the opportunity to access an outstanding, holistic education at RMS, regardless of means. Lord Cadogan’s huge generosity allows RMS to continue to fulfil the inclusive vision that lies at its heart. 

Full details of the award can be found on the RMS website page Applying to RMS – Scholarships and Bursaries

The closing date for applications for this bursary will be around mid-November and assessments will take place in late January.

If you have any questions regarding the Cadogan Rose award, please contact the Registrar via email [email protected]