The value of a private education has never been more apparent than it is now. During lockdown, private schools, such as St Bees, were fortunate enough to deliver online teaching, every day, to timetable, throughout the Summer Term. As the UK starts to adapt to ‘the new normal’, we begin to focus on the future… and, most significantly, what does this mean for the young people in the country?
There is no denying that a global pandemic such as this will impact our country for a significant number of years. Children have missed a substantial part of their education – not just academic learning, but the vital skills of mixing, socializing and importantly, interacting with peers.
As St Bees, the development of character is emphasized just as much as the development of academic ability. The belief that if you can hone a child’s character – nurture their independence, teamwork, leadership, confidence abilities, the academics will naturally follow – is key to their educational ethos.
St Bees is unique in West Cumbria, offering a small, bespoke, ‘made-to-measure’ education where every child is an individual and every child succeeds, and reaches beyond their potential.
Not ignoring the financial struggles of families over the past few months, St Bees has launched a series of scholarships to recognize the achievements of those students who have potential – be it academic, sporting, engineer, artistic, musical or just for being an exceptional ‘all-rounder’.
The aspirational scholarships can be applied for at any time throughout the year and hold an average award of 25% fee remission. However, the most coveted scholarship, of which only one is available each year, is the Full Circle Scholarship which offers a phenomenal 30% fee remission, applicable for every year the child attends St Bees. This award is set to be highly contested, with applicants assessed on the key character traits that the school focuses on most – teamwork, leadership, confidence, public speaking, creativity, personal organization and many more.
Headmaster, Roger Sinnett explains; “St Bees has a unique ability to find the potential in a child. As soon as we recognize this potential – it’s a bit like a piece of thread. We tease it out of them, so they can fully become the best individuals they can possibly be. Having small class sizes, one-to-one mentoring and a bespoke fusion curriculum means we can do this in the best way possible.”
Deputy Head, Andrew Keep reaffirms; “Following a term and summer of coronavirus impacted education, we are delighted to start afresh this year and bring something positive to the table. In offering such a wide variety of scholarships, we feel confident that St Bees shall not only grow in size, but also in becoming a true centre of quality and ambition. These scholarships recognize the talents and achievements of those who might not consider St Bees as an option – and that is exciting.”
To read more about the scholarships on offer, head to: www.stbeesschool.co.uk/join-st-bees/scholarships/
