Education: How a scholarship can be life-changing

When thinking about school scholarships, the focus can often be on the financial benefits they would bring to a family.

Taking away the monetary burden of private school fees can open up a family’s choice of education for their child.

But scholarships offer more than just financial relief – they can also nurture students by embracing their talents and helping them reach their full potential.

Scholarships can help students pursue their interests and strengths in a particular field such as music, sport or the arts, and do so within a supportive environment.

Most independent private schools and some Catholic schools offer students full-fee or partial-fee scholarships which students can apply for, usually via a test and interview.

Scholarships are varied and can include academic, sport, arts and music (or a combination), as well as Indigenous scholarships. They are usually offered for entry into years 5, 7 and 9, although there are exceptions.

Ross Featherston, the headmaster of boys’ school Brighton Grammar, says “a scholarship can be life-changing for a family of a deserving and talented student who may not otherwise be in the financial position to attend the school”.

“Our school offers outstanding facilities and opportunities for boys to develop their talents. Whether these be in leadership programs, music, drama or sporting activities, the focus is on providing students with a range of activities to give and achieve their best within the context of a robust pastoral program.”

Brighton Grammar offers a range of scholarships including means-tested, academic, general excellence, instrumental/choir music and Indigenous.

“Scholarships enable opportunities to recognise high-achieving students and create pathways for boys who may not otherwise have been able to attend the school.”

Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School principal Dr Deborah Priest says “many schools operate scholarships from the point of view of trying to add cream to their academic profile”.

“For me, it is more about giving opportunities to girls who have talents that are just not going to be able to be nurtured in their current place of learning, or those students who would otherwise not be able to attend an independent school.

“That’s not a disrespectful comment about their current place of learning but they may, for example, be in a co-educational setting and not had the benefit of the strong female role models that we have here or are wanting a more well-rounded education.”

Priest says it can also mean that by attending Ivanhoe, students get respite from the gender stereotyping experienced in society.

“And it gives them an opportunity to really think clearly about the things they are passionate about, interested in, and then they get to explore them here.”

Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School offers a range of scholarships for current and external students, starting from year 5, including academic, music, general excellence and VCE. Recipient families do make a personal contribution to the school fees.

“To receive a scholarship here, they certainly have to meet our criteria,” says Priest. “But, for me, I want them to blossom across a whole range of their passions when they are here, not just the area we identified when we awarded them the scholarship.”