At The Blue Coat School Birmingham, we offer several scholarships to children entering Year 3 each year, to award exceptional academic and musical excellence. We have also introduced a brand new Year 4 Wind Music Scholarship for 2025-26.
A unique opportunity for young musicians at The Blue Coat School
The Blue Coat School is delighted to offer a Wind Music Scholarship for entry into Year 4 (2025–26), providing up to 25% remission on school fees for an exceptional young wind musician.
Music is the heartbeat of The Blue Coat School. This new scholarship offers a talented brass or woodwind player the chance to play a key role in our vibrant musical community — joining ensembles such as the School Orchestra, Chamber Music Group, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Band, Brass Ensemble or Flute Group, depending on their instrument.
Our Music Scholars enjoy a wealth of performance opportunities throughout the year, both within school and at external events, in front of audiences large and small. Each year, scholars also compete in our prestigious ‘Young Musician of the Year’ competition, adjudicated this academic year by Philip Dukes – one of the world’s leading viola players.
This scholarship is a wonderful opportunity for a young musician to flourish in a school with a strong and dynamic musical tradition.
Eligibility Criteria: Applicants should hold a minimum of Grade 2 on a brass or woodwind instrument and must also meet the required standard in the academic entrance assessment.
Application Deadline: Monday 24 November 2025
Assessment Day: Friday 28 November 2025
Academic scholarships are awarded based on the 7+ exam results, for both internal and external pupils.
There is no application process. Scholarships will be automatically offered based on these results. Pupils hold their scholar status through their Prep years, until they leave in Year 6.
We offer four Year 3 Music awards to both current and external pupils which are either worth up to 25% of the fees or cover the cost of individual Music lessons for one instrument.
Firstly, scholarships can only be awarded if the child has also met the academic entry requirements of the 7+ Entrance Test.
Children who would like to apply are expected to be working at Grade 3 level or equivalent (either to have already taken the Grade 3 exam, be working towards doing so, or be the equivalent standard if they do not take formal music exams). They must have been learning their instrument for a minimum of 12 months.
The Music Scholarship assessment will comprise of a performance of one piece on the candidate’s first instrument or the performance of two shorter pieces on two instruments.Â
Following this, the Director of Music will hold a sight-reading test of an appropriate standard on the candidate’s first instrument, a series of short aural tests and a discussion of the candidate’s musical interests and experience to date.
A written report will also be required from the candidate’s music teacher. The content of written instrumental reports remains confidential to the School and will be requested directly by the School from the teacher.
To express your interest in a Music Scholarship for September 2025 entry, please ensure you have completed an application form for the 7+ Entry Test by Friday 23 January 2026Â and you will be sent a Music Scholarship application form following receipt of that.Â
