SE Dulwich Colleges: Received Art Scholarship Invitation but not Academic

[MamaSElondon]

Hello

My daughter received an invitation for an art scholarship, but not for an academic scholarship. What I would like to know is whether schools like Alleyn’s and JAGS send more than one type of scholarship invitation, or whether they prefer to offer scholarships to a larger number of students rather than inviting them for multiple scholarships.

Thank you!

Each scholarship will have its own timetable for interviews/assessments.

its v possible to get more than one scholarship. But invitation to one scholarship interview is no indication of likelihood of invitation to another.

@Charlotte120221 of-course, but, for example, can someone who receives an art scholarship invitation also receive an academic scholarship, or do schools usually prefer to give scholarships to different students rather than one person receiving more than one?

Kids can absolutely get more than one scholarship.

@Charlotte120221 @MamaSElondon
My daughter is at JAGS and knows many children at Dulwich College and Alleyn’s, and from these schools we have never seen anyone receive two scholarships at the same time.

I have often heard that academic scholarships are more commonly awarded to pupils coming from state schools and are sometimes combined with means-tested bursaries. However, I have never heard of a pupil who received a sport, art, or drama scholarship also being awarded an academic scholarship at the same time.

@MamaSElondon If your daughter is invited for an art scholarship, it means she has both passed the JAGS entrance exam and that her talent has been recognised and she has been specifically invited. In this situation, if there is another child with a very similar academic result who did not apply for an art, drama, or sport scholarship (or who applied but did not pass the relevant stage), the school may prefer to award the academic scholarship to that child so that she is also recognised and rewarded.

Getting an art, drama, or sport scholarship at JAGS is harder, as you need to prove both your academic standard and your talent. Usually only two or three pupils are awarded these scholarships each year, whereas JAGS offers around 20 academic scholarships per year.
So well done to your DD!

There is a banner outside DC which shows the huge number of pupils who receive help with their fees in the form of a bursary or scholarship. I would imagine they try to spread them around as many as possible across the 3 schools

Yes, that makes sense. I was just worried that if my daughter didn’t get an invitation, it might be because she wouldn’t be in the top set.

@MamaSElondon Top set? As an external student, JAGS offers places to around 60 pupils each year; the rest are taken from the juniors. If your daughter has received an Art scholarship invitation, that already suggests she has a very high chance of receiving an offer. Out of thousands of applicants, being shortlisted in the top 60 — do you really think that isn’t top set?

Especially at JAGS, most people don’t even know who holds an academic scholarship, whereas Art, Drama, and Sport scholars are much more visible because of what they produce and perform. There isn’t really a sense among students that “academic scholars are better than us.”

I’ve known students who received academic scholarships but later performed academically worse than some who didn’t. Over five years, academic performance can change a lot (some children heavily tutored for the exam). However, students who receive scholarships in creative subjects usually continue to be top performers in those areas.

@HewasH2O each school controls its own scholarship and bursary programme.

@dddddiva we’ve known several kids to get an academic scholarship plus a sports/music/art scholarship. Like you say the academic scholars aren’t always identifiable and there are different levels of scholarship, but it’s definitely possible.

OP not getting an academic scholarship in no way means your dd won’t be ‘top set’

Obviously, but all 3 schools also wish to give the impression that they are generous with their scholarship & bursary pots.

@Charlotte120221 That’s very interesting- I know hundreds of students who went to DC schools, and I’ve never heard of a single case.

@dddddiva all my kids went to Dulwich schools. Can think of a dozen examples amongst their friends…..

Gently - that’s a bit nuts. She got into JAGS at 11, therefore she’s very clever.

She will, however, be surrounded by other very clever girls. She probably won’t always be in the top set for everything. That needs to be absolutely fine by both of you, or she’s going to have a tough time.

JAGS is (rightly) all about resilience these days, not just academic excellence. So the ability to fail, and to take pride in work when it’s her best effort (but not the best in the class) will be something they focus on.

@Charlotte120221 For example, do those who receive academic scholarships get noticeably better grades or perform differently compared to the other girls?

So in my experience that’s a no.

a lot of kids are ultra prepared for the 11+. But they’re not necessarily the kids who excel at GCSE and A level.

In DDs year the scholarship girls were not the ones who went to Oxbridge

@Charlotte120221 so thats not fair isnt it. Can we reapply academic scholarship in year 9?

in Alleyns?

First of all, I should say that whether or not she receives a scholarship is not important to us, as financially it would make very little difference. But, my daughter received academic scholarship invitations from all the schools she applied to, such as Putney High and South Hampstead High, and she was also invited to Stage 2 assessments and interviews at schools that do not offer academic scholarships, such as St Paul’s and Godolphin and Latymer School.

I was born and brought up in SE London and we are planning to move back, and I would very much like my daughter to attend Alleyns or JAGs. However, as she did not receive an academic scholarship invitation from them (only), I began to wonder why not from Dulwich schools-

Also wondered if being the scholar at school is really important for the students?

Being a scholar generally doesn’t make much difference to their day to day lives. Am not aware of any extension activities only available to scholars in the Dulwich schools. It’s more about kudos.

each school is looking for slightly different things and each kid performs differently at each test/interview. It’s possible to get a scholarship to one and not even get an offer elsewhere.

Pretty sure scholarships are only available to newcomers in Y7 and Y11.

Alleyns sent an email yesterday saying they were compiling the academic scholarship shortlist and they would email on Tuesday.

If anyone receives an academic invite email would be grateful if you could post here. Not expecting one, but good to confirm - thanks!

Apologies for piggybacking on this thread. It’s been really helpful to read the perspectives from Dulwich parents, so I hope you won’t mind another question.

Our son has Year 9 offers from both Whitgift School (with an academic scholarship) and Dulwich College, and we’re finding ourselves torn in terms of which school to pick. Dulwich is double the distance but both Whitgift and Dulwich take the same time to commute on public transport.

He is academically strong, particularly in Maths and Science, which he genuinely loves. He’s ambitious and enjoys being intellectually stretched, though he isn’t particularly sporty. Temperament-wise, he’s kind, gentle and a little quirky, and he does best in environments where effort and ability are recognised and supported. Good pastoral care has been important in his current school.

I’d be very grateful for any insight into how Dulwich supports boys like this, and how you feel it compares, especially given the Whitgift scholarship in the mix.

Many thanks.

I can’t offer any experience but you could have described my son with that description.

He’s been offered a place at Dulwich and were thrilled because it seemed like the perfect place for boys like him. (Ms Cooke made us feel so welcome) So if you decide on Dulwich know there’s at least one other boy with the same personality.