Sports Scholarships are open to students joining St Edmund’s at 11+, 13+ and 16+.
St Edmund’s Sports Scholarships honour and celebrate exceptional talent in the main college sports. Entries are encouraged from applicants who can demonstrate excellence, talent, outstanding achievement and promise.
Please note application deadlines apply. All scholarship applications for September 2024 entry are now closed. Details of how to apply for September 2025 will be available here soon.
Sports scholars at St Edmund’s
Sports scholars are leaders who inspire other students with their passion, resilience and dedication. Scholars are expected to represent St Edmund’s College in competition at A team level and to make a significant contribution to our extra-curricular sporting calendar.
We encourage scholars to play for clubs and we will support this as far as possible. However, scholars must always be available for College fixtures in the first instance, including Saturday fixtures. Occasional absence may be granted but this will be at the discretion of the Director of Sport and Headmaster.
Sport scholars enjoy:
- A sport-specific personal mentor alongside a peer mentor.
- Fortnightly individual or small group technical, tactical and video analysis sessions.
- Full access to the St Edmund’s sporting network, which includes opportunities to hear talks, lectures and seminars from leaders in their sporting field.
- Access to online podcasts with established individuals within the sporting industry alongside guidance and advice on a range of sport science principles.
- Guidance with goal setting and reviewing performances.
- Access to a strength and conditioning coaching.
- Access to physiotherapy and support with injury rehabilitation.
Applying for a Sports Scholarship
- Applications are considered by the Director of Sport and his team.
- Accepted applicants are invited to the sports scholarship assessment day.
- Successful applicants receive a financial scholarship.
- Scholars also immediately benefit from the guidance of specialist staff and sporting enrichment activities.
- Scholarships are awarded on merit and are not means-tested.
- All scholarships are reviewed annually.
- A number of scholarships are available each year.
- Students joining at 11+ may make an application as an internal candidate for the award at 13+.
| Age group criteria | |
| 11+ | Sporting ability, attitude and character, athletic potential and academic performance are the key factors in selecting a sports scholar. |
| 13+ | Sporting excellence in a specific sport, personal qualities, athletic potential and academic performance are the key factors in selecting a sports scholar. |
| 16+ | Regional/national excellence in a specific sport, leadership skills/character, and academic performance are the key factors in selecting a sports scholar. |
Current students of the College and Prep can apply at any specific age group or may be invited by the Director of Sport and his team at any time during their school career.
| Specific sport criteria | |
Applicants wishing to be considered for a Sport Scholarship should have a significant strength, county level (or equivalent) or above, in at least one of the sports offered at St Edmund’s College. |
|
| Cricket | CAG/County Performance/District |
| Football | Professional Academy/District |
| Hockey | Standout player in School/Club |
| Rugby | Standout player in School/Club/County |
| Swimming/athletics | County standard times/distances |
| Tennis/badminton/squash/table tennis | County standard |
| Basketball/netball | Standout club player/County standard |
| Golf | Below 18 official handicap |
| Assessment | |
| Once academically assessed, selected candidates will be invited to St Edmund’s College for a sports assessment. The sports assessment day includes: | |
| 1. | Generic ball handling and spatial awareness skills |
| 2. | Fitness testing |
| 3. | Main sport sessions in cricket, football, hockey, netball and rugby (contact/non-contact as appropriate) |
| 4. | Specific sports testing |
| 5. | Interview or presentation to Director of Sport and other members of the PE department |
Sport scholar expectations
- Be an ambassador for St Edmund’s College sport by showing a commitment to all sports.
- Lead by example in all PE and Games sessions by wearing the correct kit, being on time and consistently applying all their efforts.
- Volunteer time at two sporting fixtures throughout the school year, for example timekeeping at an athletic event or helping with a Prep School coaching session or event.
- Attend any/all of the S&C sessions at least twice a week.
- Represent the College in sporting fixtures alongside their external sporting commitments.
- Attend pre-season training, fitness profiling/testing workshops throughout the year.
- Significantly contribute to their sport through extra-curricular activities.
- Be coachable and willing to quickly implement given feedback.
- Have an excellent attitude towards learning in PE and Sport lessons.
- Demonstrate ambition and drive towards achieving a personal or team goal.
- Be able to make good decisions when under pressure.
- Be physically resilient and robust.
- Have positive emotional intelligence and are able to bounce back from setbacks.
- Be willing to take the lead by example to their peers.
- Have good communication skills.
- Have met the academic requirements of the school.
A scholarship will normally be held for the duration of a student’s career at St Edmund’s College, subject to meeting the standards expected of scholars. A annual report is sent to individual athletes annually, alongside a review with the Director of Sport and Headmaster. Continuation as a scholar depends on attitude, conduct, participation and progress.
If an athlete is deemed not to be meeting scholar expectations their S&C one-to-one session may be removed. If there is no improvement following further discussion, the renewed setting of expectations and a final discussion with parents, a decision may be taken to remove the scholarship.