Great Ballard, is delighted to announce the launch of a new set of scholarships named after the late Brian Jay. The Jay family have been proprietors of the school since the 1990s and Brian sadly passed away last Summer. The 'Brian Jay Awards', which will now be offered annually, serve as a legacy to Brian’s passion for the school, for education and for making a difference in children’s lives.

Brian Jay Awards are offered to 11+ and 13+ candidates from local schools who demonstrate passion, flair and all-round achievement and potential both within the classroom and beyond. Matthew King, Head, explained how delighted he is to be offering these inaugural awards: “I never met Brian but I see his influence everywhere at Great Ballard. I think he would have been proud of the school as it takes its first steps towards becoming a GCSE school and of the amazing students who have won the awards that bear his name.” For the first time the awards enabled service and leadership to be recognised alongside the more traditional academic, sporting and creative strengths. “The children who will make the biggest difference later in life will not always be those with the top test results or the strongest young athletes. Society is glued together by givers, doers and those with real empathy and we want to nurture in every child the confidence to lead.”

The Jay family continue to be closely involved in the school and have recently invested in new buildings and campus development. Brian’s sonChris commented: “Dad would be very proud to have his name associated with an award that supported the next generation of students. We are really pleased to be able to support these awards and hope many more local students from all walks of life will apply. If it means too that a Great Ballard education can be more accessible for local families then all the better. Inclusivity was what led my grandfather to purchase the school in the first place and it remains a guiding principle today.”

Applications for 13+ scholarships in all areas, including the Brian Jay Award, may still be applied for by those seeking September 2021 entry into Year 9.