16+ Sports Scholarship
Process | Expectations | Dates
Assessment Process
Candidates for 16+ Sports Scholarships should be of county or national level in at least one of the sports listed below. Upon application, candidates will be required to provide references from their current and/or previous school and from club or representative coaches as appropriate. Candidates are also encouraged to make contact with the Sports Department at Ardingly to help us build a good picture of their abilities.
Major Sports Boys: Football, Hockey, Cricket, Swimming Girls: Football, Hockey, Netball, Cricket, Swimming
Other sports may be considered as part of the candidate’s overall sporting contribution to the College. However, the above major sports are given priority. Assessment will vary according to the candidate’s sports, but will include training specific to the candidate’s lead sport to assess core skills and potential.
The candidate’s Athletic ability will be assessed by our Strength & Conditioning Coach, using a battery of tests that encourage agility, speed, co-ordination, power, balance, and stamina.
Candidates will be invited to attend Ardingly College for a Sports assessment and interview with the Director of Sport. This will take place during the normal school day, a date and time will be arranged through the Registry once a Scholarship application has been received.
Expectations of Sports Scholars
Sports Scholars are expected to make an active and high quality contribution to the sporting life of the College, both in the development of their talents and their attitude and behaviour as leading sportsmen and women. Sports Scholars are expected to represent the College in school fixtures for which they have been selected. The Director of Sport meets with Sports Scholars regularly to support their development and ensure that the above expectations are being met.
Introducing the George Brann 16+ Sports Scholarship
The George Brann Sports Scholarship is the most significant sporting award on offer at Ardingly and recipients can be awarded up to a 25% remission in tuition fees.
Consideration will also be given to applicants who are also talented in other sports, but candidates must demonstrate at least first team level of ability in one of the four flagship sports listed.
The number and level of George Brann Sports Scholarships awarded each year are at the discretion of the Head of College, based on the assessments undertaken by the Director of Sport. All candidates must also meet the usual academic standards for entering the Sixth Form at Ardingly College.
George Brann Scholars are expected to make a significant contribution to the sporting life of the College throughout their Sixth Form studies. The College will provide the George Brann Scholars with a bespoke Performance Pathway programme, structured around the four pillars of performance: physical, psychological, tactical and technical. In return, George Brann Scholars are expected to represent the College in all school f ixtures for which they are selected, fully commit to their Performance Pathway programme, demonstrate leadership and act as a role model for younger pupils at Ardingly.
George Brann, who was at Ardingly from 1876 until 1887 (as both a pupil and latterly as a teacher) was an outstanding sportsman of the Victorian era. Brann played football for England several times and was a notable batsmen, playing 291 first class cricket matches for Sussex. He was the second cricketer in history to score two separate centuries in a single game of cricket. Brann is also responsible for an Ardingly legend; he is reputed to have hit a cricket ball over the roof of the Chapel and a distance of at least 250 metres. The spot where his cricket ball hit the terrace wall is commemorated with an anchor today.
The number of Scholarships awarded is at the discretion of the Head of College.
The College provides excellent opportunities for boys and girls of sporting ability to compete at regional and national school level. A balanced provision of sports coaching and support is made for boys and girls, and both genders are given equal consideration in the Scholarship assessments.