Sport Scholarships
A maximum of five Sport scholarships may be awarded at 11+ and five at 13+
What are we looking for in a Sport Scholar?
Our Sport Scholars excel in a broad range of sports and compete at high levels. Those in the younger year groups will have a broad range of sporting skills.
What do we offer?
- Sports-related enrichment talks
- nutritionists, psychologists, Olympians
- regular performance lab talks
- An annual scholars’ sports trip/ talks
- Mentoring by specialist sports staff
What do we expect from our Sport Scholars?
- Compete for the School in all sports in which they are selected
- Attend Sport Scholars’ briefings
- Maintain academic standards as a scholar athlete
- Act as an ambassador for Sport at Headington Rye Oxford
- Act as a role model on and off the sports pitch
Selection and assessment procedure
We expect potential scholars at 11+ and 13+ to:
- have a strong evidence-based written recommendation from an external coach or Head of Sport/PE to support their application (an email address of the referee will need to be provided on the application form. Please inform the referee that we will be contacting them for a direct reference).
- perform at a high level (school and club A teams) in a range of sports and sporting disciplines and have the potential for county, regional and national representation.
- demonstrate a high level of proficiency and/or excel in one or more sports in which Headington Rye Oxford regularly competes (Athletics, Cricket, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rowing, Swimming, Tennis)*. Compete at County, Regional or National level. The assessment will be as below.
Applications and assessment
Potential Sport Scholars will be invited to take part in a day of assessment activities. These will take place as follows:
- 11+ (Year 7 entry) week commencing Monday 26th January 2026
- 13+ (Year 9 entry) week commencing Monday 10th November 2025
- Applicants will be required to choose two of the following three sports to be assessed in: Hockey, Netball and Football.
- Applicants will need to choose one of the following additional sports to be assessed in: Athletics, Cricket, Rowing, Swimming, Tennis.
- Other sports will be considered but not assessed. An email will need to be provided for the referee for any other sports.
- Applicants will all be required to do a skills and physiological assessment.
*At all entry points candidates competing at national or international level in any sport will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be interviewed.
The assessment day will consist of:
- assessments in the chosen sports
- an interview with the Performance Director, Director of Sport and Heads of Sport
- a skills and physiological assessment consisting of mobility, reaction times, catching and throwing, agility and running
Overseas applicants will need to attend the assessment day in order to be considered for a Sport Scholarship, unless they have represented their country in a sport and can demonstrate evidence of this. They will also need to do an online interview with the Performance Director and Director of Sport.
Application deadlines
External students must register their interest in a Sport Scholarship by noon on the day of the deadline (see below), using the appropriate form sent by the Admissions team in the Autumn Term.
Existing students must complete the appropriate form sent to them by the Headmistress in the Autumn Term.
- 11+ (Year 7 entry) Noon on Monday 5th January 2026
- 13+ (Year 9 entry) Noon on Friday 15th October 2025
