An Aspirational Community Scholarship
ACCESS, ACHIEVEMENT, ASPIRATION
“To provide access to high-level music education for talented and committed students, whatever their background or prior opportunity.”
We’re proud to celebrate the continued success of our longstanding music scholarship programme, now in its second decade. Its core purpose is to provide access to high level music education for talented and committed students whatever their background or prior opportunity.
As the only programme of its kind in a Tower Hamlets secondary school, it gives our young people a unique chance to broaden their cultural capital and develop their artistic skills in a supportive and ambitious environment.
In each year group up to 12 scholarship places can be awarded to Year 6 students based on their natural music aptitude. The music scholarship at St. Paul’s Way is unique in London as it seeks to engage all students based on natural aptitude and love of music, rather than current ability. We welcome all musicians of any ability, and our selection process aims to discover potential and reward musical aspiration.
Our scholars regularly perform in the top 10% of the school at GCSE and A-level and go on to success in university or apprenticeship, whatever the subject.
If your child loves music, we want to hear from you.
Music scholars form an integral part of our successful and thriving music department and help to lead and inspire our other excellent young musicians.
Music scholars are expected to learn at least one orchestral instrument and become an ensemble member in both our Symphony Orchestra and school choirs in addition to supporting and participating in our extensive performance calendar throughout the year.
In addition to these core expectations many scholars also take full advantage of the outstanding workshop and partnership opportunities that we provide.
In brief, music scholars access the following benefits:
- Fully funded tuition on two instruments
- Access to Drumworks, weekly group samba drumming sessions for mental health and musicianship
- Trips to see external performances
- Priority for external workshops
- Ensemble training through attending choir & orchestra
- External performance opportunities
- Community with other year groups through attending mixed year group activities
- Joining the music scholar tutor group and benefitting from a bespoke music training programme, including aural skills, conducting and composition
For a more detailed view of the scholarship programme, please see the Music Scholarship Handbook 26-7.
To apply, please complete the online form by the closing date, Friday 9th October 2026.
Key dates:
- The Music Aptitude Tests will take place Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th October 2026.
- Auditions will take place on Friday 23rd October 2026 from 9:00am to 1:30pm.
Parent Presentation
For more information about the scholarship, please see our parent presentation from November 2025:
