Grant for Warwickshire students studying Chemistry degree course

To all Secondary Schools with Sixth Forms and FE Colleges

The Watson Scholarship for Chemistry 2018/19

Each year Warwickshire County Council offers students studying a Chemistry degree course an opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £200 to help towards the cost of their studies.

The grant is paid for by the Watson Scholarship, established in 1918 when Councillor J.A. Watson placed money in trust with the Education Committee. He specified that the income from the trust was to fund a scholarship or scholarships in Chemistry tenable at a university or similar institution.

To be eligible for consideration to receive the grant students must have the following:

• a home address within the administrative county of Warwickshire
• a Grade A Pass in A Level Chemistry
• a confirmed place on a first-degree course in Chemistry or one in which Chemistry forms a major part

The value of the scholarship is determined by the interest available from the Trust fund and the number of applicants. The maximum award payable to each student is set at £200. A single payment is made in the second term/semester of the first year of the course, after the university has confirmed the satisfactory progress of the student. If a student is successful in qualifying for the award, another letter will be sent requesting their bank details so that the payment can be made directly into their account via BACS.

If you know of any students who may qualify for this scholarship please could we ask you to inform them by forwarding a link to this page. You are also welcome to print and send copies of the application form below to any students who you think may qualify for the award.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 17th January 2019.

Prince Edward sees Skills for Employment in action

A Skills for Employment project at Campion School in Leamington Spa came under the approving eye of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, when he visited as part of his role in support of the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.

Year 10 pupils on the programme at the school spoke very enthusiastically to the royal visitor about the experiences and life skills they are gaining.

The prince then visited a workshop where a group of 15 Year Nine boys and girls were laying bricks and skimming plasterboard as part of a £40,000 project funded by Warwickshire County Council's Skills for Employment programme.

Delivered in partnership with Deeley Construction, the project provides hands-on experience of various skills required in the construction industry, including carpentry and drawing up plans. The prince spoke to the council's Skills for Employment manager Glenn Robinson and was very interested to hear that the project was one of 40 funded by the council in the last three years as part of its aim to ensure that every school-leaving pupil moves on to a positive destination in education, training or employment.

"The Skills for Employment project at Campion School is proving a great success thanks to the commitment of the school, the support of Deeley Construction and, of course, the excellent efforts of the boys and girls themselves," said Mr Robinson.

"It was fantastic that the prince paid a visit. He is a great advocate and supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme and it was clear that he really engaged with, and was impressed by, what is going on at Campion."

The prince's visit started at the Real Tennis Club in Leamington Spa where he played a game as part of his year-long tour of all Real Tennis venues to inspire young people to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

The grant which funded this particular project is no longer available however for more information on the Skills for Employment programme and other funding opportunities please contact glennrobinson@warwickshire.gov.uk.