Our Lady's Abingdon School

Bursaries

Bursary Availability
We are always keen to welcome into the OLA community boys and girls with potential to contribute to the ethos and life of the School.

To assist families who are interested in joining but are unable to afford full fees, we have available a range of bursaries that provide financial assistance.
 

How to apply for a Bursary
To apply for a bursary at either our Junior or Senior School please complete the bursary application form available on our website www.ola.org.uk/Bursaries

Completed forms should be returned to:

Director of Finance and Operations
Email: DFO@ola.org.uk
Post: Our Lady’s Abingdon School, Radley Road, Abingdon-on-Thames, Oxfordshire OX14 3PS
 

Junior and Senior School Bursary Application Deadlines
The closing date for Senior School Bursary Applications for pupils requesting to start in September is November the year prior.

Applicants for Year 7 and Year 9 will be required to take an entrance interview. The Bursary Committee will then meet to make its final decision.

For successful candidates, offer letters will be available from January.

Funds and places permitting, applications for Senior School bursaries received later than November will receive a decision as quickly as possible following the scheduling of an interview and submission of a bursary application form.

Applications for Junior School bursaries can be made at any time in the school year. Once your child has been invited to the school for an assessment, a decision will be made as to whether a place and financial assistance can be offered.

Granted Bursaries
The value of a bursary will be re-assessed annually and may go up or down depending on current family circumstances.

The continuation of a bursary is dependent upon good school reports for effort, participation and behaviour.
 

Contact
If you have any questions regarding our bursary procedure please contact our Director of Finance and Operations Tel: 01235 524658 Email: DFO@ola.org.uk

OLA McAuley Scholarship Programme

Each academic year, OLA makes available a range of Scholarship awards under the McAuley Scholarship Programme. The programme, which is named after our school founder, Catherine McAuley, recognises and supports students with exceptional talents, both in academic and extra-curricular activities. 

All Scholarships, with the exception of Academic Scholarships for Years 7 and 9, must be applied for in the preceding Michaelmas term (Sept–Nov). Scholarships are not means tested. 

Scholarships Available: 

1. Academic Scholarships - Available for Years 7 and 9
OLA is renowned for the ‘value added’ it provides for students through its nurturing ethos, small class sizes and exceptional teaching. Results in public examinations have been consistently outstanding, and students regularly proceed to Oxford, Cambridge and Russell Group universities.

Our Academic Scholarships are not assessed by application. Assessment is by:

• Entrance examination
• Admissions interview
• School reports

Students will be required to demonstrate:

• Excellence in written papers
• Initiative, drive and a lively mind
• Good all-round ability with a strong interest in one or more subjects
• The desire and ability to contribute to the ethos and life of OLA

The Academic Scholarship award is 10% of school fees and continues until the end of Year 11.
 

2. Sixth Form Academic Scholarship
OLA’s Sixth Form offers a broad range of A Level options with all subjects being delivered in small class sizes by expert practitioners.

Students in Year 11, whether internal or external, may apply to be entered for the Sixth Form Academic Scholarship.

Candidates must demonstrate:

​• Academic excellence, particularly in their potential A Level subjects
• Initiative, drive and a lively mind at interview
• A desire and ability to contribute to the ethos and life of OLA

The Academic Scholarship award is 10% of school fees and continues until the end of Sixth Form.

As well as the Academic Scholarship, lower sixth formers can also apply for the Sports, Music, Drama, Textiles and Art Scholarships (see below).

3. Sports Scholarships - Available for Years 7, 9 and Lower Sixth
OLA offers an extensive programme of sports that encourages students to excel in their chosen disciplines. In recent years OLA alumni have included an international athlete, a tennis player and a county cricketer. Netball, badminton and swimming are other sports in which OLA students have excelled in regional and national competitions.

The Sports Scholarship recognises sporting excellence, achievement and potential.

Candidates who apply must demonstrate:

• High levels of performance and ability in one or more of OLA’s competitive sports
​• A commitment to all relevant sporting clubs in which the applicant demonstrates potential 
• A desire and ability to contribute to the ethos and life of OLA

The Sports Scholarship award is £300 per annum and continues until the end of Year 11 or, if granted in the Lower Sixth, to the end of Sixth Form. 

Those awarded the Scholarship are continually reviewed to ensure all requirements are being met satisfactorily.

4. Art Scholarships - Available for Years 7, 9 and Lower Sixth
OLA has long been renowned for the quality of the art its students produce. The main entrance to OLA’s Senior School is always vibrant with GCSE and A Level artwork. The Art Scholarship rewards artistic excellence.

Candidates are required to:

• Submit a portfolio of work
• Attend an interview where they will be asked to discuss work in a range of media
• Demonstrate a desire and ability to contribute to the ethos and life of OLA

Successful candidates are expected to study art at GCSE or A Level, as appropriate.

The Art Scholarship award provides £300 per annum and continues until the end of Year 11 or, if granted in the Lower Sixth, to the end of Sixth Form.

5. Drama Scholarships - Available for Years 7, 9 and Lower Sixth
The Performing Arts programme at OLA provides frequent opportunities for students to develop their talents both inside and outside the curriculum. Our impressive drama studio and auditorium regularly stage outstanding works, whether in performances assessed for public exams or for school plays, which have recently included Romeo and Juliet and Hairspray.

The Drama Scholarship rewards students who demonstrate excellence in and passion for the Dramatic Arts. Candidates must demonstrate:

• Superior vocal and movement skills
• An appreciation of the content and style of performance material
• A desire and ability to contribute to the ethos and life of OLA

Candidates are required to attend an audition. If selected, they must then go on to study Drama at GCSE or A Level, as appropriate, and to participate in the annual school play.

The Drama Scholarship award provides £300 per annum and continues until the end of Year 11 or, if granted in the Lower Sixth, to the end of Sixth Form.

6. Music Scholarships - Available for Years 7, 9 and Lower Sixth
Music is at the centre of all that OLA offers. Students regularly go on to study music at university having achieved the highest grades in their public exams. Through our ensembles, orchestra and choirs, students have regular opportunities to turn practice into performance.

The Music Scholarship provides help to nurture young talent, reward excellence and support musical potential. Candidates will be required to attend an audition and an interview to demonstrate:

• Innate musical skills
• That they are working towards or beyond the ABRSM standards applicable for the award: Year 7 – Grade 4, Year 9 – Grade 5, and Lower Sixth – Grade 7
• A desire and ability to contribute to the ethos and life of OLA

The Music Scholarship award provides free individual tuition for one instrument at school by one of the school’s visiting music staff. For exceptionally gifted students this may be extended to two instruments. The award continues until the end of Year 11 or, if granted in the Lower Sixth, to the end of Sixth Form. 
 

7. Textiles Scholarships - Available for Years 9 and Lower Sixth
The Textiles department has benefited from significant development and investment in recent years. As a result students can use top of the range facilities and industrial equipment. The department also has its own dedicated Computer Aided Design room where all pupils are taught to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to complement their creativity. 

The Textiles Scholarship rewards students who demonstrate an aptitude and passion for Textiles. Candidates will be expected to: 

• Show and discuss a portfolio of their design work along with a textiles product that they have previously produced. Candidates are encouraged to present work carried out both at school and in their own time
• Demonstrate a desire and ability to contribute to the ethos and life of OLA

If selected, candidates must then go on to study Textiles at GCSE or A Level, as appropriate.

The Textiles Scholarship award provides £300 per annum. The award continues until the end of Year 11 or, if granted in the Lower Sixth, to the end of Sixth Form.
 

8. All Rounder Scholarship - Available for Years 9 and Lower Sixth
All Rounder Scholarships are awarded to current OLA students in Year 9 or Lower Sixth on the recommendation of the school’s staff and at the discretion of the Principal.

The All Rounder Scholarship:

• Requires no formal application
• Recognises OLA students who are achieving very well academically and are making substantial contributions to the life of the school

The All Rounder Scholarship award is 10% of school fees and is reviewed annually.
 

Scholarships Application Key Dates 
Scholarship application forms are available online www.ola.org.uk/Scholarships. Key dates for Scholarship applications for entry to the school in September are given below:

Application deadline: Sixth Form Academic Scholarships November

Sixth Form Academic Scholarship Interviews for short-listed candidates
November 

Application deadline for external and internal candidates: Music, Art, Drama, Textiles and Sports Scholarships November

Auditions/Interviews for external and internal candidates: Music, Art, Drama, Textiles and Sports Scholarships November