Looking for a scholarship for your child? Get them to learn the tuba
How can you get your child into one of Adelaide’s most sought-after private and public schools? Start with our guide to some of the scholarships on offer, emerging trends and the more unusual skills needed.
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With growing commentary around the high number of private school AFL draft picks, it’s news of gun young footballers poached by rival schools that most often headlines parent conversation on the sidelines of kids’ sport when the topic turns to scholarships.
But in reality, the opportunities being offered to young South Australians are far more diverse and varied, extending beyond sporting superstars and child geniuses and you just might be better off encouraging your tiny tot to pick up a tuba rather than a cricket bat.
The Sunday Mail has reviewed at some of the scholarships on offer, emerging trends and the more unusual skills that can secure your child a spot in one of Adelaide’s most sought-after schools, both private and public.
>>> SCROLL DOWN TO READ TIPS ON WHAT YOUR CHILD CAN DO AND A LIST OF THE QUIRKY SCHOLARSHIPS ON OFFER
WHAT’S ON OFFER
Academic, music, performing arts and “general excellence” scholarships are the most common in SA schools, generally offering a recipient discounts on tuition fees of between 25 and 100 per cent.
But there are many others, too, including for talented choral singers, chess players, poets and even a church organist.
Some are worth tens of thousands a year, others are offered as a one-off grant and some have a rich tradition dating back almost 150 years.
Some are funded by individuals, others by foundations and charities and some by schools themselves.
Music scholarships can be particularly lucrative.
A school music industry insider says this is because almost all major schools in SA have orchestras and bands and finding young players for certain instruments, particularly in the woodwind section such as the oboe and bassoon, can be difficult – tuba, trombone and French horn players are also often in demand.
Director of development at Gawler’s Trinity College, Kay Fyfe, agrees many arts-based scholarships are worth pursing.
“Most schools will offer performing arts and music scholarships as a way of filling vacancies in the school orchestra or band and ensuring drama programs, choirs and dance troupes will be strong,” she said.
“(These types of scholarships tend to have more flexibility as) students generally audition and a panel decide which skill is best suited to the college arts at that time.”
It’s something, 18-year-old Isabella Villani has experienced first-hand, benefiting when an opening for an organist at St Peter’s Girls’ School created a scholarship opportunity for her three years ago.
Isabella, who has just finished Year 12, says the scholarship provided her much more than reduced tuition fees.
“It has kind of pushed me outside my comfort zone a bit – it is a bit of a strange instrument some might say, but it is really cool … I get to be challenged, supported by my peers who are singing along while I play, which I find is really quite special,” she said.
Contrary to popular belief, sport-specific awards rarely feature on school scholarship lists.
“In South Australia it is agreed through the private school sector not to have specific sports scholarships, for example a tennis scholarship, as this would permit schools to talent stack their teams for inter-school competitions,” one principal explains.
“However, many schools will offer all-rounder (or general excellence) scholarships for a student with talents across a few areas – so they might have good academic grades, display strong community spirit as well as being a state tennis player.”
Increasingly, STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), digital technology and entrepreneurial-type awards are being devised and offered.
Golden Grove’s Pedare Christian College has introduced a new “launch scholarship” for students with “a passion for digital technology”.
“We are looking for creative thinkers, bold risk-takers, collaborators and challengers,” a college spokesperson said.
Helen Karapandzic, director of community relations at Highgate’s Concordia College, says the type and breadth of scholarships on offer, in addition to traditional scholarships, is evolving and changing.
“(For example at our school), the Otto Technology Scholarship is now offered for a Year 11 or 12 student who displays outstanding characteristics in a technology-related subject – design technology, media studies, information technology or food and hospitality,” she said.
The school also has scholarship programs available to indigenous students from reception through to Year 12 with other schools.
“Scholarships are a wonderful way of attracting diverse and talented young people into our community who serve to encourage and inspire their peers,” Ms Karapandzic said.
Scotch College principal John Newton agrees schools benefit from having a broader cohort of students with scholarship kids adding to “the diversity and richness of the place”.
“As a principal, I have a small allocation to reward a budding entrepreneur, public servant, orator, poet or inventor – every year, the field surprises us with rare and impressive young people,” Dr Newton said.
“The students must ensure that they have the right character and values (and) give back by setting a fine example in their chosen field – academic scholars must hand their work in on time and set the right tone in class, singers should be in (our) show and study music … you don’t get a sports’ award, then go and play for a club for example.”
COUNTRY STUDENTS
For country kids, scholarships can be invaluable, providing students with opportunities not available in many rural and regional areas.
“The opportunities I’ve been given to play a wide variety of sport – and the level of competition – is definitely something I wouldn’t have got in Whyalla,” says Year 11 student
Ashley Brougham who won an “all-round” scholarship to board at Walford Anglican School For Girls in Adelaide’s inner-south for high school and is now boarding school captain.
“I like to get involved in everything I can … (at Walford) I do tennis, hockey, cross country, swimming, water polo, footy, really everything I can do.
“School work is more competitive too, everyone around you wants to do well, so it makes you want to do well, as well.”
SA president of the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association Jill Greenfield says with the average cost of boarding and tuition combined in SA being around $45,000 per student per year, scholarships can make the difference between kids getting a city education, or not.
“Many of our ICPA families are left with limited choices for their secondary schooling … boarding school offers students opportunities they can’t always have access to, such as after
school sports, tuition, travel and extra subject choices,” she said.
It is a difference to one girl’s life, sisters and Walford old-scholars Eleanor, 36, and Claire, 34, Adams are hoping to provide.
The siblings who lost their mum through illness in 2017 wanted to do something meaningful to honour her memory, using funds left to them by her to establish the Margaret Adams scholarship in 2020.
“Mum placed a lot of importance on women getting a really good education,” Eleanor said. “What better way to honour her, then to find someone who would really benefit from an all-girls’ private education and give them an opportunity they might otherwise get?”
PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFERINGS
PUBLIC schools across South Australia are increasingly offering specialised programs tailored to students who have particular skills and talents.
Henley High’s sports academy has grown over the past 20 years to become the largest in Australia, offering specialist programs to about 80 new students each year, covering dance, music, athletics, baseball, basketball, cricket, cycling, football, golf, hockey, netball, rowing, soccer, surf-lifesaving, swimming, touch football, tennis and volleyball.
Darcie Brown, the youngest player to sign a contract for the Strikers in the WBBL, is a student, relocating from Kapunda to attend the school early this year.
Assistant principal and director of sport Chad Winstanley said students had access to athlete-support managers who liaised with teaching staff to help teens juggle their commitments.
“Students in the academy are guided by a range of industry professionals, including elite coaches, exercise physiologists, physiotherapists and sports mentors to ensure they get the most out of themselves both in the sporting world and in the classroom,” he said.
“There is no one in Australia that does what we do in offering specialist programs across so many sports. Not all of our students will make it at the elite level, but it’s about the broader picture. They can become coaches, or officials or even working within the industry.”
One of Henley High’s more unusual offerings is lifesaving – not that students Maguire Reid, 14, and Ella Andrews, 16, see anything odd about surfing between recess and lunch.
For Year 10 student Ella, the classes are a highlight of the school week.
“I can get the upper hand on my competitors by training often with others of a high calibre,” she said.
Mr Winstanley said academy students were expected to give back to the school and wider community; “It is bigger than just ‘You are the best athlete’.”
Education Minister John Gardner said that from next year five schools would, for the first time, begin offering specialist entrepreneurial programs, adding to a host of specialist programs across areas such as sport, languages and Ignite, which is for gifted and talented students.
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WHAT YOUR CHILD SHOULD DO
HAVE a go. “So many parents do not bother to apply because their child does not have straight As (but) we are not always looking for the straight A students,” says Trinity College’s Kay Fyfe.
SOMETIMES, more than one scholarship may be awarded, or the scholarship may be split which parents aren’t always aware of, Ms Fyfe says.
THE more documentation you have about your child’s schooling history – the better. This includes report cards – several years’ worth, including interim reports. Also submit awards/certificates received – even from the classroom teacher – plus those external to school life, for example from the lifesaving club.
WRITE a letter of support or reasons why the scholarship is important to your family – this is a very valuable insight for the school about the child and their family life, Ms Fyfe suggests.
WHILE Scotch College’s Dr Newton urges against choosing a school because of the scholarships on offer, saying the first priority for parents should be finding a school that is a good fit for their child.
“A school has to be right on all levels, don’t drag your children to a dozen schools in search of that extra five per cent (discount),” he said.
AND Walford recipient Ashley Brougham says her tip to anyone interviewing for a scholarship position is “be honest, be yourself”.
SCHOLARSHIP SNAPSHOT
St Peter’s College (Year 12, 2019 $26,790)
ST Peter’s College says it is committed to helping boys realise their full potential, “regardless of circumstance”.
“One of the School’s key priorities is to provide scholarships to promising, capable and compassionate students for whom a Saints education would otherwise be out of reach – (our) scholarships are mean-tested,” a spokesperson said.
“A range of scholarships are offered each year with a focus on different areas including music, academics, co-curricular and service. ”
THE RHC Rischbieth Scholarship for Boarding, is one example:Dr Richard Rischbieth attended St Peter’s College from 1935 to 1944 and many generations of the Rischbieth family have since benefited from a Saints education.
In gratitude of the role the School has played in the lives of generations of their family, Richard and his wife Judy established the RHC Rischbieth Scholarship in 2000.
The Rischbieth Scholarship offers 100 per cent remission of tuition and boarding fees for an outstanding student from a regional area, including Kangaroo Island, and who
would be unable to attend St Peter’s College without significant financial support.
Seymour College scholarships (Year 12, 2019 $26,390)
AUSTRALIAN Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) Scholarship: Seymour College has formed a partnership with the AIEF to assist Indigenous boarding students, entering Years 8 to 11 in 2020, to attend the College.
Pembroke: (Year 12, 2019 $26,673)
MUSIC scholarships are offered in string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, piano and guitar and range from 25 and 75 per cent of tuition fees while choral scholarships may be offered to outstanding choral singers.
THE Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) offers scholarships and leadership opportunities to young Indigenous Australians with a focus on indigenous youth from remote or regional communities. Working in partnership with Pembroke School, the IYLP is run by The Smith Family, with funding support through the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Scholarships are available for boarders entering Years 7 to 11.
St Peter’s Girls (Year 12, 2019 $26,700)
EACH year a select number of Principal’s All-Rounder Scholarships may be awarded to external students only entering Years 7 – 11. These scholarships are awarded to prospective students who have proven all-round ability … the continuation of the scholarship is subject to the recipient making good academic progress, contributing to the life of the School and displaying conduct of a high standard and an annual review.
OLD Scholars’ Association Scholarship: Each year an Old Scholars’ Association Scholarship may be awarded to an external student entering Years 5 to 8 … the applicant must have a connection to the school through a family member having attended St Peter’s Girls in the past. The Old Scholars’ Association Scholarship will provide for a 30 per cent reduction on tuition fees for the life of the scholarship.
Prince Alfred College (Year 12 2019 $26,820)
BOER Scholarship: This scholarship was established through a bequest from Eva Boer in memory of her brother, Max Boer (1933-38).
THE Brett Gooden Space Science Scholarship aims to support a student who hopes to achieve a career in a space science or in the aerospace industry.
THE Colin Hassell Scholarship recognises the contribution to the architectural profession and to the College of the late Colin Hassell AO (1919-28).
THE Ken Lord Family Boarding Scholarship, made possible through the generosity of Ken Lord (old scholar, 1940-44) and his family.
THE Margaret Jolly Scholarship: Endowed trough a bequest from the daughter of SA’s first Rhodes Scholar, Norman Jolly (1893-98).
THE Murray Evens Scholarship, endowed by Murray Evens (who attended PAC from 1939 to 40).
THE Richard Thorne Scholarship recognises the significant contribution to the game of chess in SA and at PAC by Richard Thorne.
SIR Thomas Elder Scholarship, established in 1897 through a bequest from the philanthropist Sir Thomas Elder GCMG.