Congratulations! If you are receiving this it is because you are part of a very special and small group of candidates who have been offered a Master’s Award or Thomas’s Scholarship. These awards are unique, much like our school and they recognise excellence, ability and potential.
Scholars are vital to our School community. Their skill and depth of knowledge adds depth and breadth to our student population. You may be wondering what being a Scholar, or a Master’s Award recipient really means? This booklet seeks to explain that in greater detail as well as outline what your school career could look like as an award recipient.
I hope that this is useful. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Director in charge of each discipline or the Admissions team.
Will le Fleming Founding Master
Art
Master’s Awards and Thomas’s Scholarships
Recipients of Art Master’s Awards are part of a small group of highly talented and motivated artists. Our scholars are ambassadors for our subject, sharing their practice and passion through active engagement with their arts practice. They typically take the lead in using the environment to share and present ideas as well as collaborating with their peers.
The group meets regularly at lunchtime to hone their creativity, populate their sketchbooks and develop their more personalised pieces. Thomas’s College Art School is on the first floor of College. We are fortunate to have three multi-function rooms, three pottery wheels and a kiln. The department is equipped with a range of materials and resources, along with an opportunity to take part in art clubs taking place during lunch and afterschool. These include Fine Art (oil-painting), a pottery club which runs twice a week, sketchbook focus club with our artist in residence and support sessions for GCSE and A Level students.
Our Art Masters generally take Art GCSE and many will go on to work towards an A Level in the subject. The Art school is a safe and welcoming space for our students. We operate an open door policy, encouraging students to use our resources, seek support and simply spend time immersed in our creative environment.
I am very excited to see where your artist journey takes you and to welcoming you to Thomas’s College.
Christina McCarthy Head of Art
Dance
Dance has been a part of Thomas’s unique curriculum since the 1970s and we are proud to support and cherish our dance programme. Dance has many holistic benefits, boosting physical health, enhancing mental well-being and providing a powerful outlet for selfexpression and cultural understanding. I am so proud of our burgeoning dance programme at Thomas’s College. This will be the first cohort of Dance Master’s Award recipients and I look forward to working closely with the group to further develop the College’s dance programme in the years ahead.
Dance Masters have the opportunity to be actively involved in the KS3 Performance Group, representing the College at competitions and festivals including the ISA Dance Competition and The Great Big Dance Off. They may also have the chance to develop leadership skills within school performances and events, including supporting other dancers and, where appropriate, contributing creative ideas and choreography.
There will also be opportunities for Dance Masters to perform in local community events and festivals, such as the Richmond May Fair and the Richmond Festival, where available.
In addition, Dance Masters will have access to gym-based training to support dance technique and conditioning, including sessions focused on PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) to develop core strength, stability and control.
Catriona McLean Director of Dance for Thomas’s London Day Schools
Drama
Master’s Awards and Thomas’s
Congratulations, Drama Master Award candidates! The standard was exceptionally high, and you have done very well to secure an offer. It’s an investment of time to create and film your performances, and I know it can be nerve-racking for young people to take on, so I will say it again: congratulations!
Drama is excellent for building confidence, leadership skills and exploring the world through the lens of others’ perspectives. This will be the second cohort of Drama Master’s Award recipients, and I look forward to working closely with the group to develop further the College’s Drama programme in the years ahead.
So what does it mean to be a Drama MA recipient? You will be involved in a variety of areas of the school, from performing in school plays, presenting in whole school assemblies, sitting performance exams, to leading school tours and delivering readings in school events, to name a few. You will be a role model to others, and as you progress through the school, you will have the opportunity to learn from and act with other scholars in all year groups. The Drama room is an inclusive, safe space and will always be open to you to rehearse and join in all of our extracurricular opportunities, including exclusive performance opportunities at The Orange Tree, Richmond Theatre, and the Globe.
Sarah Coles Head of Drama
Music
Music Master’s Award recipients will be able to access a whole host of performance opportunities. These include the Scholars’ Concert in our Steinwayequipped Recital Hall, and in whole-school events such as our Remembrance Day and Christmas services. With the support of the Director of Music, Music scholars will help shape the musical life of the school, and act as a musical ambassadors to showcase the breadth of opportunity on offer in our department. Those accepting music awards are expected to choose music as one of their GCSE options and play an active role in the department, performing in choirs, orchestra and bands depending on their discipline.
I look forward to welcoming you to the College at this exciting time as we grow, shape, define and develop this exciting and fulfilling area of College life.
John Muhlemann Director of Music
Sport
The Sports programme at the College is vibrant and significant. Our partnership and investment into Duke’s Meadows demonstrates our commitment: the facilities we have are exceptional and just a short shuttle ride away. Recipients of the Sport Master’s Awards will benefit from five key areas of tailored support.
Athletic Development
Scholars will take part in small-group training sessions up to three times per week in the school gym, led by specialist Athletic Development coaches. These sessions will educate students on effective biomechanical movement and provide bespoke training programmes tailored to each individual’s specific development needs.
Sports Psychology
Students will complete a six-module course covering key aspects of sports psychology. The programme will help scholars develop a deeper understanding of the mental side of performance, training, and resilience, equipping them with strategies to overcome setbacks and maximise potential. This course will be delivered by teachers and subject specialists.
Sports Nutrition
Scholars will gain a strong foundation in sports nutrition, including how to fuel for training and competition, effective refueling strategies, and the importance of hydration. The programme will educate students on the vital role nutrition plays in performance, health, and long-term athletic development.
Trips, Visits and Insight Talks
We will expose scholars to the elite sporting environment through visits to performance centres and inspirational insight talks from current elite performers. These opportunities are designed to give students a first-hand understanding of what it takes to perform at the highest level. Previous experiences have included meeting the England Rugby team during training and visiting St George’s Park to use their sports science laboratories and gain deeper insight into personal performance.
Exit Pathways
Whatever the next chapter after Thomas’s College, we are committed to supporting scholars towards a clear and purposeful exit pathway. Whether this is university sport, a professional contract, or a scholarship to a US college, we will ensure each student has a defined next step to continue their sporting journey beyond Thomas’s College.
Jamie Harrison Director of Sport
Master’s Awards and Thomas’s Scholarships
Thomas’s Scholarships
Thomas’s Scholarships are awarded to those who excel in our selection assessments: to win one is testament to exceptional ability and commitment. Congratulations Thomas’s Scholars! Those who accept a Thomas’s Scholarship to arrive in 2026 or for deferred entry into Year 9 2028 will be the inaugural Thomas’s Scholarship recipients. Our plan is to engage, support, stretch and challenge every Scholar to make the most of their talents and achieve everything of which they are capable throughout their secondary school journey. The programme they will access will develop over time and is likely to include access to workshops and mentoring opportunities, leadership roles and networking events. We envisage that our Thomas’s Scholars will align with the Founding Scholars from our inaugural cohort in many areas of school life, helping to shape and mould the College today and far into the future.
