VSA Terms and Conditions

Purpose of the bursary

The purpose of the bursary is to provide some financial assistance to a pupil  in the lower or upper sixth, or a recently departed pupil in undertaking a worthwhile journey or project. It is also intended that the process of applying for, and the duties of the winner of the award, should promote skills that will be of use to the recipient outside the school.

Purpose of journey or project

The thinking behind the bursary is that it should assist an Old Boy in a gap year project. It is not intended to set down a list of onerous criteria or to be overly prescriptive as to what constitutes a “worthwhile project”. But it is expected that the successful applicant will be doing something both beneficial to themselves personally and to the wider community. It is hoped that this will perhaps involve travel outside the United Kingdom and/or possibly working with those who do not and have the opportunities available to a Worth pupil.

Conditions for making the award

It will be a condition of the making of the award that the recipient write an article for The Blue Paper while they are carrying out their project and return to the school and provide a report of their activities once they have completed their project. The Society feels that it is very important that the winners of the award should be involved in promoting the benefits of their activities to those who might follow in their footsteps and this will be an important factor in making the award. In particular it is hoped that all winners of the award will be members of the selection panel in a subsequent year. Candidates will be expected to prepare a budget for their trip as part of their application.

Making of the award

Applicants for the award are asked to prepare a presentation on paper outlining what they are intending to do and how it will be of value to themselves and to the wider community. This written application should be sent to the WOBS Secretary, Olivia Henley at wobs@wobsnet.org.uk. Depending on the number of applicants all, or a selected short list of applicants, will be asked to make their presentation to the awards committee. While lengthy presentations should be avoided (not least because in the real world people will only read executive summaries) applicants should make sure that they do themselves, and their, projects justice.

Awards committee

The committee will consist of a representative of the academic staff of the school, two members of the Worth Old Boys Society committee, and a former winner of the award (if available).

Timing

The applications for those wishing to apply the award should be submitted by the end of the Lent half-term. The selection process will be completed by the end of the Lent term.

Factors in making the award

• Development of the individual
• Benefit to other members of the community
• Proposals for providing feedback to the school
• Promotion of Worth school and the Worth of Old Boys Society
• Financial need
• The extent to which the candidate has used their initiative in making their application