Each year corporate and individual awards are made from Trust funds to advance higher education. Decisions on awards are made by the College of All Saints Foundation as Trustee, acting through its Awards Committee ('the Committee') or, exceptionally, by delegation to a smaller panel.
Since funds are limited, the Foundation approves criteria for awards, which may be altered at its discretion from time to time. Broadly speaking, their goal is to raise the number and standard of qualified Religious Education and Home Economics teachers in schools and to support the development of education in these fields, whether at home or overseas.
The current criteria are summarised below. These will help applicants understand how applications are evaluated, and what kinds of application are more likely to succeed.
References here to Religious Education include Religious Studies and inter-faith studies. References to Home Economics include nutrition education and food technology.
The Trust's governing instrument requires the Foundation 'to advance education in accordance with the doctrines, rites and practices of the Church of England or of a church in communion with it'; but this does not mean the Trust is concerned only with Christians in religious schools. Church of England involvement in education since the nineteenth century has covered all subjects taught at primary and secondary level, and Church of England schools serve the whole community. The reference to the practice of other churches allows awards to be made which will advance education outside England. However the Committee must be satisfied that applicants show an understanding of the spirit in which the Church of England approaches education, and are broadly in sympathy with it.
Applicants must be over the age of 18 at the commencement date of their proposed course. There is no upper limit.
2. Place and level of studyScholarships are awarded to enable applicants to follow a course of study provided or accredited by a United Kingdom higher education institution within the meaning of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, for a degree or other award conferred by such an institution. Scholarships are not currently awarded for further education (up to the standard of GCE Advanced Level, Scottish Highers, NVQ Level 3 or equivalent).
3. Additional requirements for overseas applicantsOverseas applicants (whom the Foundation defines as those who would be liable to pay overseas student fees at United Kingdom universities) must already possess a first degree or equivalent qualification, acquired at least two years before commencement of the postgraduate course which the scholarship is intended to fund. They must also be able to produce a written offer of admission from the institution where they propose to study. This offer may be conditional on funding or on satisfying immigration requirements, but any other conditions (for example as to academic or language prerequisites) must be satisfied before application is made to the Trust.
4. Scholarship durationScholarships are available for up to three years. The continuation of scholarships granted for more than a year is conditional on such evidence of satisfactory progress as the Committee may require. Individual applications in respect of courses lasting less than a year are not normally considered.
5. Nature of expensesApplications may be made for contributions towards tuition fees, related expenses and maintenance costs. Scholarships are not granted to cover the school fees of an applicant's children.
6. NeedScholarships will not be awarded to applicants who already have sufficient funds to sustain them whilst studying; nor as an alternative to taking out a student loan or government grant available to the applicant.
7. Purpose of studyThe Committee must be satisfied that the course to be funded by the scholarship will support Religious Education or Home Economics teaching in schools, or the development of education, by serving one or more of the following purposes:
- Teacher training or professional development
In England and Wales:- to enable those lacking 'qualified teacher status' (QTS) to acquire it, or
- to enable those who already hold QTS to become better qualified teachers.
- to enable those not yet registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland or Northern Ireland to become registered, or
- to enable those already so registered to become better qualified teachers.
- Research in education in subjects with which the Trust is historically associated
- To enable an applicant to contribute by published work to education either in Home Economics, or in religious subjects.
The following are (non-exhaustive) examples of purposes for which individual scholarships are not available
- Undergraduate courses in subjects other than education, even if the applicant proposes subsequently to acquire a teaching qualification in that subject;
- Courses in social work, special needs, youth work, or welfare;
- Courses in hospitality or catering (unless specifically focussed on nutrition);
- Initial training for church ministry, or courses designed to equip the applicant to deliver such training;
- Conference fees or associated costs.
When deciding between otherwise eligible applications, regard will be had to the contribution to society likely to be made by the applicant with the Trust's support.
9. Application and timingApplications will only be considered if the Trust's application form is fully completed and submitted by the deadline published, to enable adequate consideration of all eligible applications by members of the Committee before its meeting.
If you are in any doubt as to your eligibility, you should first complete the Enquiry Form. The Trust Office will be able to provide further advice after considering your responses to the Enquiry Form.