Access Awards & Scholarships 

Bedford School’s Access Awards and Scholarships have been designed to make education more accessible. We offer generous funding of up to approximately £1 million per year in recognition of academic, creative or sporting potential to provide a wealth of opportunities for boys, irrespective of their background.

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Applying for Access Awards & Scholarships

An application for the Access Awards and Scholarships must be completed and returned to the School at the same time as the Registration Form. Candidates will be expected to attend additional specific assessments to test their potential in this area. These will take place after the entrance assessment day. We ask for all applications for Access Awards and Scholarships to be received into the Admissions Department by 31st December 2012 at the latest.

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It is possible for boys to apply for more than one Scholarship.

Please note that we are unable to consider any boy for a scholarship or award outside of the allocated timescale. All decisions on these awards and scholarships are made in early February each year with the award commencing in the following September.

All boys applying for a Scholarship and Access Award must be registered with the School and have submitted a Scholarship and Award form. Full details of the assessment programme will be forwarded to you well in advance of the assessment day(s). Please click below for our entrance examinations and Scholarship dates.

Prep School entrance examinations and Scholarship day dates >>

Upper School entrance examinations and Scholarship day dates >>

Boys applying for a Sport or Music Scholarship must fulfil the academic requirements of entry into the school.

Access Awards

This award is given on academic ability. All boys at 11+ and 13+ sit the ‘Bedford Test’, a Curriculum Content Test, and undergo an interview. We will also apply for their most recent school report.

Boys at 16+ will be assessed by interview, written examinations at A level or IB and by their predicted GCSE results.

Scholarships

Academic, Music, Sport (including Golf) are available to boys at 11+, 13+ and 16+. All candidates must fufil our academic requirements and have the ability to cope with the School curriculum.

Successful scholarship candidates will receive a minimum of 10% of the School fees. Any amount awarded beyond this will be allocated on a means tested basis.

Academic Scholarships

Not only do we expect Scholars to achieve good results for themselves but to contribute to the School community as a whole. Scholars are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular academic societies and we expect them to set an example to others in terms of work ethic. We ask them, where appropriate, to share their abilities in programme of peer-group teaching (shown by educational research to be a key extra factor in bringing out the best in students). Ultimately, we expect Scholars at Bedford to be proud of what they are and to take pride in what they can offer.

Music Scholarships

Bedford School has a long established reputation for excellence in music. Our stunning Music School is home to one of the largest Music Departments in the country. A high proportion of our students learn to play several instruments.

The immense variety of musical activity at Bedford School could not happen without our Music Scholars. Not only do they provide the backbone for our many ensembles, they set the tone for music within the School. Music Scholars set high standards of dedicated practice and personal achievement and act as ambassadors for music in the School.

Find out more about Music at Bedford >>

Sports Scholarships

Bedford School has an enviable sporting tradition stretching back over two centuries. Today, our ethos is very much forward looking and we are thoroughly committed to providing the very best for our students, aiming to promote excellence in all that they do.

For many years, we have offered sport scholarships to students demonstrating the ability to success at the highest level in Rugby, Hockey, Cricket and Rowing.

In addition to the Sports Scholarships, we are also able to offer Golf Scholarships. Bedford School is very proud of its link with Woburn Golf Club, home to three outstanding championship courses. In partnership with the Woburn, we proved our Golf Scholars with regular professional coaching, full Junior Membership of Woburn Gold Club and the opportunity to participate in Inter School fixtures and the School Championship.

Find out more about Sports at Bedford >>