Admissions > Scholarships & Bursaries

Scholarships & Bursaries

Scholarship and bursary financial support

As a school, we deliver outstanding education for children who benefit from learning differently, with one of the broadest curriculums in the independent sector, lots of sport and co-curricular activities, small class sizes, and close pastoral care.

As a charity, we commit to enabling access for pupils who will most suit our unique approach, through both scholarships that recognise pupils' abilities, and through annually reviewed, means-tested bursaries that help wider access to Milton Abbey School.

We award around £1 million of scholarships and bursaries each year. Scholarships range from 10% to 95% for both day and boarding pupils, with all fee awards over 30% being subject to means-testing of family income.

For your child to be considered for a scholarship and to find out more, please contact the Admissions Team via admissions@miltonabbey.co.uk and request an application form, which can be considered alongside their school registration form.

We do scholarships differently

We make awards in three areas, for young people who want to contribute to school life as:

  • Academic Scholars who show passion and determination in specific subjects - including Performing Arts, Music and Drama - or across the curriculum.
  • Sport Scholars who exhibit exceptional skill, leadership and commitment in one or more team sports including Rugby, Football, Cricket, Netball or Hockey. With sport every day there is no better school for children who excel in sport.
  • Dorset Scholars who live locally in the county and will contribute as an all-rounder to the life of the school, while benefitting from our educational approach.

As a school that recognises pupils' individual achievements and is designed to offer high challenge and opportunity, but with lower levels of pressure than other schools, our assessment process is about getting to know your child and their strengths, not pitting them against others. This means:

  • We don’t do competitive, pressurised academic assessment days.
  • We don’t do verbal and non-verbal reasoning computerised tests.
  • We don’t do ‘everyone must play for England!’ when assessing sport performance.