Scholarships and Bursaries

Overall nearly 20% of students at GDST Senior Schools receive a bursary or scholarship. We aim to be an access enabler: seeking out talented girls who can benefit from a Norwich High School for Girls education. Many of our bursaries and scholarships for Senior and Sixth Form students are funded through charitable partnerships as well as donations and legacies from our alumnae, their parents, and other friends of Norwich High School for Girls and the GDST.

Senior School and Sixth Form scholarships are awarded in recognition of talent or aptitude within a particular area. These are highly prestigious awards which students take great pride in. Scholarships are typically worth 5-10% of fees, and are more about the honour of the award than the amount given. Scholars are expected to show a deep commitment to the school in the discipline for which they have been awarded a scholarship i.e. academic ability or special talent in art, textiles, drama, music or sport. Please see below for a list of which scholarships are available to which year groups.

Not means tested

5-10% Fee remission

Summary of awards available

Senior scholarship awards run inclusive to Year 7-11, there will be an annual review to validate a scholarship continuing into the following year. 

Application process

Complete the online application where you will be prompted to select if you would like to apply for a Scholarship – choose the scholarship your daughter would like to apply for and you will be contacted by the Registrar with further details.

Deadline for Scholarship applications for September 2027 entry: 

Senior School Scholarships

Art & Design, Drama, Music or Sport Stage One – Monday 30th November 2026
Academic – Thursday 31st December 2026 (all girls are considered for this award from the entrance assessment)

Sixth Form Scholarships

Art, Textiles, Music, Drama or Sport Stage One – Saturday 31st October 2026
Academic – Wednesday 4th November 2026

Senior School (11+ and 13+) Scholarship assessments:

Dates to be confirmed on application. Stage 2 assessments usually take place in mid January 2027.

Sixth Form Scholarship assessments:

All Sixth Form scholarship assessments take place in mid November 2026. Dates to be confirmed.

If your daughter would benefit from a Norwich High School for Girls education but your family is not in a position to cover the full fees, you may be eligible for a GDST bursary. A bursary is a reduction in fees based on an assessment of the merit of a student and the financial circumstances of the family. This is a means-tested award and may be given in addition to a scholarship.

You can apply for a bursary for Year 7 or 12 entry. Existing students may be able to apply for financial assistance should their family circumstances change.

To assess who is eligible for a GDST bursary, a range of objective criteria are considered including the income and capital resources of the family. For example: If your family’s assessable income and resources are below £102,000 per annum, you may be eligible for some support. If your family’s assessable income is less than £44,000 per annum you may be offered a full bursary. We aim as far as we can to focus our support on girls for whom the chance of a Norwich High School for Girls education would be a transformative, life-changing prospect through our independent school bursary.

Means tested

30-100% Fee remission

Application process

Complete the online application form to register your daughter, indicating that you would like to apply for a bursary. The Registrar will then contact you with details of how to access your online bursary application. Please note: the deadline for your bursary application is 30th November for all years and 5th November for Sixth Form applications the previous year.

Our Trust Office will then email you with details to enable you to access the online “Declaration of Income and Assets” form which you should complete and submit before the closing date advised.

You will need to provide proof of your income and assets; for example P60s, payslips, HMRC self-assessment forms, mortgage statements, council tax bills or recent benefit statements. Original documents are required in the first year of application.

Independent School Bursary applications are processed centrally by the GDST and you should send the declaration and supporting documents, in advance of the entrance examination date (January), to GDST Bursary Department, 21 Palmer Street, London, SW1H 0AD.

Deadline for applications: 

Senior School Bursaries: Applications to be received by Monday 30th November 2026.

Sixth Form Bursaries: Applications to be received by Wednesday 4th November 2026.