Academic Scholarships
Scholars' Programme
“A scholar is never finished, he is always seeking..."
Ahmad Jamal
At Solihull, Scholars are visible role models for academic excellence. They are curious and passionate about learning new things; they are independent and flexible thinkers who seek out new challenges and learn from their mistakes when searching for solutions to unfamiliar problems. Throughout their time at Solihull, Academic Scholars are nurtured, driven and encouraged to revel in their academic pursuits. Mentored on their own personal academic enrichment journey - which may include individual tutorials and research, collective projects, trips and events, leadership of clubs and societies, and support for peers and younger pupils – Scholars should set the academic targets towards which all of our pupils aspire.
How are Scholars selected?
Scholarships are offered at the 11+ and 16+ level.
11+
The top performers in the 11+ exam are invited to a scholarship interview which includes a discussion of the pupil’s work, questions that explore the pupil’s thoughts and ideas and a discussion of stimulus material.
The aim of the interview is to get a sense of the pupil's intellectual potential. On the whole we are interested in the way a pupil thinks rather than hearing a ‘right’ answer. No preparation is necessary for the interview, except for the selection of their exemplar work.
16+
Students applying for a general academic scholarship should be expected to achieve at least six GCSEs at Grade 8 or above in any subjects. All applicants sit a one-hour multiple choice critical thinking paper, designed to assess flexible thinking and problem-solving skills. The idea is to identify students with exceptional potential, a passion for learning and an ability to contribute to the intellectual life of the school.
How to apply: https://www.solsch.org.uk/scholarships
What are the expectations of scholars?
Scholars should be academic role models and as such we expect all of our Scholars to maintain high standards of effort and performance. They are also expected to play a role in the intellectual life of Solihull and in the Sixth Form to work to assist their department (for example, running sessions with Lower School pupils or being an ambassador for the subject).