Art Scholarships

Expectations & Pathways of Art and Design Scholars

Stonyhurst Art and Design Scholars are expected to demonstrate full participation in the artistic and cultural life of the College.

Art and Design scholarships are awarded at 11+, 13+ and 16+ entry level points.

The maximum fee remission offered to Art and Design Scholars is 5%.

Guided by our Head of Art and Design, our Art Scholars will embark on a journey of personal growth through a specialised Art and Design pathway. To support their artistic growth, all Art Scholars will benefit from fee remissions for essential school trips to galleries, both locally and internationally. These visits offer valuable opportunities for our pupils to engage with galleries and museums, allowing them to study the work of significant artists and designers throughout history. Such experiences are fundamental in helping our young Scholars develop their identities as artists.

In addition, our Art Scholars will have the chance to explore a variety of disciplines within Art and Design through our diverse after-school clubs. They will also participate in a series of ongoing workshops led by visiting professional artists and craftworkers. This provides them with the opportunity to enhance their artistic skills, broaden their knowledge, and build a compelling portfolio that showcases their personal body of work.

Expectations of Art & Design Scholars
The Practical Assessment

Expectations of Art & Design Scholars

Pupils who are successful in gaining a scholarship, will be required to actively participate in art competitions, after-school art sessions, and various initiatives
within the Art department.

All Art Scholars will be expected to undertake independent projects which will sharpen their skills and cultivate their creativity, both in school and beyond. Furthermore, they are expected to act as ambassadors for the Art and Design department by promoting and supporting art displays, competitions, and events throughout the school community.

At the 13+ level, Art Scholars will be expected to opt for one of the Art & Design GCSE courses, while those at 16+ are expected to pursue one of the Art & Design courses offered at A level or IB Visual Arts. Those pupils engaged in GCSE, A level, or IB Visual Arts will be required to contribute to the College’s Art activities by actively participating in art events, collaborating with visiting artists, and producing works for exhibitions. Notably, they will showcase their artwork at our Great Academies Exhibition and attend gallery events.

The Practical Assessment

For 11+, 13+, and 16+ Entry
Observational drawing is a fundamental aspect of artwork that draws reference or inspiration from objects or images. It is a major component of the assessment for Art GCSE and A Level. The goal of observational drawing is to capture the essence of the subject as accurately and realistically as possible. This is achieved through careful examination of shapes, proportions, and tonal values to create a lifelike depiction. This skill is developed through practise and is essential for building a strong foundation in Art and Design.

With this in mind, candidates will be required to participate in a practical assessment. During this assessment, candidates will have one hour to create an observational drawing. Detailed instructions will be provided on the day of the assessment. All necessary materials and reference images will be supplied by the Art and Design department.

In this assessment, candidates will be tested on:
· The ability to draw in proportion
· The ability to capture objects or images realistically
· The ability to control the media used

Additionally, for the Scholarship Assessment Day, each candidate must bring either a digital portfolio or a physical portfolio that includes the work submitted in the original application. Applicants will present their portfolio to a panel of judges and will have the opportunity to discuss their work in more detail.

Supporting your professional career aspirations

Graphic Designer
Animator
Photographer
Art Director
Artist
Gallery Manager
Architect

Art Teacher
Interior Designer
Museum Curator
Art Dealer
Fashion Designer
Ceramicist
Art Therapist

The application process

Candidates are required to submit a digital portfolio consisting of ten slides which showcase their personal work as an artist. This work should be recent and can include projects from school as well as pieces created outside of school. Some of the artworks should reflect projects the candidate have undertaken in their own time. The digital portfolio should be sent via WeTransfer, or similar, to admissions@stonyhurst.ac.uk.

When creating your digital portfolio, consider the following areas: 

Creative Presentation

Diverse Artwork

Range of Media

3D Work

Annotations

All artworks submitted in the digital portfolio should be accompanied with brief annotations that explain your work. Consider addressing questions like: Why did you select this particular piece? What or who inspired you? What challenges did you face during its creation, and how did you overcome them? Do you believe this piece is successful? If so, why? Is there anything you would change about it? Feel free to add any additional information you think would provide a deeper understanding of your work.

Successful candidates will be invited to the assessment interview, to discuss their portfolio, inspirations, and aspirations in more detail.

After reviewing each application, selected candidates will be invited to participate in a practical assessment, together with presenting their portfolio of work to a panel of judges.

The Practical Assessment

11+, 13+ and 16+ entry

11+, 13+ and 16+ entry

11+ Entry

Observation drawing is a fundamental aspect of artwork that draws reference or inspiration from objects or images. It is a major component of the assessment for Art GCSE and A Level. The goal of observational drawing is to capture the essence of the subject as accurately and realistically as possible. This is achieved through careful examination of shapes, proportions, and tonal values to create a lifelike depiction. This skill is developed through practice and is essential for building a strong foundation in Art and Design.

In this assessment, you will be tested on:

· Your ability to draw in proportion

· Your ability to capture objects or images realistically

· Your ability to control the media you use

Additionally, for the Scholarship Assessment Day, each applicant must bring either a digital portfolio or a physical portfolio that includes the work submitted in their original application. Applicants will present their portfolio to a panel of judges and will have the opportunity to discuss their work in more detail.

Important dates for 2026/27 applications

Application deadline (all scholarships)	Sunday 12th October 2025
Scholarship Week (11+, 13+ & 16+ across all disciplines)	W.C 10th November 2025

Apply here for a Stonyhurst Scholarship for 2026/27

Apply here for a Stonyhurst Scholarship for 2026/27

Interested in Stonyhurst Scholarships?

Preferred Scholarship

Where do you want to go next?

Art Scholarships

Expectations & Pathways of Art and Design Scholars

Interested in Stonyhurst Scholarships?

Thank you!

Thank you!