Gap Year
Just over 30% of our pupils take a year out between leaving school and entering Higher Education.
Whilst recognising that such a year may not be of benefit to everyone, we take the view that a constructive well-planned Gap Year can provide a wealth of experience and responsibility which can be of tremendous importance for the future.
The Futures Department has an extensive supply of resource material to enable students to organise a Gap Year - some of it is commercially available, and some is generated within the School, making use of the experiences of our former pupils. Various Scholarship schemes are advertised to help fund people in their Gap Year. All of these require the students to invest time and effort in planning their year out.
Old Salopians have undertaken various exciting and challenging ventures including sponsored cycle rides across the USA and through Vietnam, teaching in Argentina and travelling in South America, teaching in South Africa and researching Boer War sites, teaching Tibetan refugees in India, sailing across the Atlantic and trekking in Nepal, teaching in rural Africa, and even researching racecourses across the world.
The School invites Gap Year providers to the Higher Education and Gap Year Fair in order to showcase a range of options available to students. This takes place in the Lent term with Pupils of all ages welcome to attend.
Travel Scholarships
Each year, a number of scholarships are awarded - usually between six and fifteen - under the Miles Clark Travel Scholarship to Salopians who wish to attempt a challenging project in their Gap Year. The fund was established in memory of Miles Clark (Severn Hill 1974-78), who was a distinguished scientific explorer, writer, and photographer and aims to enable pupils "leaving the Sixth Form of Shrewsbury School to undertake an expedition abroad involving adventure, personal challenge and research."
We are delighted to be associated, through venerable Old Salopians, with The Transglobe Expedition Trust. The Trust's aim is to establish, develop and maintain a trust fund from the income of which periodic grants will be made to humanitarian, scientific or educational projects which, in the opinion of the trustees, reflect the spirit, dedication and inspirational values of the Transglobe Expedition and which would enable those benefiting from such grants to achieve worthwhile ambitions and inspire others to do likewise.
