Supporting Your Child with a Scholarship Application
A scholarship can do more than ease the financial cost of sixth form, it can also help your child step into an environment that nurtures their potential, boosts their confidence, and sets them on a path to real academic growth. At Ashbourne College, the scholarship process is designed to identify promising students who will benefit from a vibrant, ambitious and supportive education.
If your child is applying for a scholarship, here’s what you need to know and how you can support them.
What Ashbourne Scholarships Involve
Scholarships at Ashbourne are usually offered to students with outstanding academic ability. However, we do also look for candidates with strong leadership qualities. We typically offer partial scholarships, covering up to 50% of the tuition fees. Although in certain cases we can go beyond that and offer more substantial scholarships, covering up to 100% of the tuition fees.
The goal is not only to reward academic ability, but to give students access to a community where they’ll thrive, with support, structure, and genuine care. The scholarship programme reflects the College’s broader approach: challenge, support, and a belief that hard work and strategy can lead to exceptional outcomes.
The Application Process
To apply, students complete a short form and take a written assessment in their chosen subject. If successful, they may be invited for an interview with senior staff or subject specialists.
It’s a focused but friendly process. Ashbourne is a relatively small college, and that means applicants are treated as individuals. The College is known for its warmth and inclusive ethos, and that applies from the very first contact.
As a parent, you can help by encouraging your child to prepare thoughtfully for the assessment and by discussing their reasons for applying. Reflecting on their motivations and goals will help them perform well during any interview stage.
What Ashbourne Looks For
Ashbourne scholarships are awarded to students who show strong academic potential, determination and a genuine desire to achieve. Your child doesn’t need to be perfect; what matters is that they demonstrate a solid academic foundation, a serious attitude towards learning and the ambition to keep pushing themselves further. Ashbourne also values leadership, particularly a student’s ability to be a positive influence in the classroom and help create an environment where everyone can thrive. Teachers look for young people who are curious, focused and willing to listen and respond to feedback. It’s not just about where a student is right now, but how ready they are to grow.
Scholarship students are challenged, but they are also cared for. Ashbourne’s team of ambitious and personable teachers create an environment where expectations are high, but the approach is friendly and flexible.
How to Support at Home
The scholarship process can be a confidence-building experience when approached calmly. You can support your child by helping them prepare without pressure, by reviewing practice materials, talking through their goals, and encouraging them to speak openly if they feel uncertain.
Remind them that this is an opportunity, not a test of their worth. At Ashbourne, success is not limited to those who are already perfect, it’s about progress, attitude and potential, reflecting our no ceiling approach. That’s what makes this process both fair and impactful.
Key Takeaway
A scholarship at Ashbourne is more than a discount, it’s a gateway into a culture of high support, high challenge, and true personal growth. If your child is passionate about learning and ready to commit, the application process is absolutely worth exploring.
Whether your child is looking for a fresh start or the next step forward, Ashbourne offers a learning environment where ability is recognised, effort is rewarded, and potential is taken seriously.
1. What do Scholarships at Ashbourne offer?
Scholarships at Ashbourne are usually offered to students with outstanding academic ability. However, we do also look for candidates with strong leadership qualities. We typically offer partial scholarships, covering up to 50% of the tuition fees. Although in certain cases we can go beyond that and offer more substantial scholarships, covering up to 100% of the tuition fees.
2. How should my child prepare for a scholarship application?
Preparation can include wider reading, subject-related competitions, or engaging in super-curricular activities. These demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for learning and help students perform more strongly in the assessment and interview. Preparing for the process also means encouraging your child to think carefully about why Ashbourne is the right place for them, what subjects they hope to study and what direction they may want to move towards in the future. They don’t need to have all the answers yet, but showing that they have reflected on their goals, and the steps they are already taking, can make a meaningful difference.
3. How does my child apply for a scholarship at Ashbourne?
The application process is straightforward: students complete a short application form, sit a subject-specific written assessment, and, if successful, attend an interview with a senior teacher.
4. What if my child isn’t awarded a scholarship?
Even if a scholarship isn’t granted, the process itself is a valuable experience. It develops academic thinking, builds confidence, and helps prepare for future applications, such as university admissions.