Bursaries & Scholarships
Opening doors, supporting potential, and recognising excellence.
As a charity, IALM exists for the public benefit — and few things matter more to us than ensuring that opportunity in learning is shaped by potential, not by circumstance. Our bursary and scholarship schemes are how we put that belief into practice: removing barriers for those who face them, supporting talented people to reach further, and celebrating exceptional achievement in our field.
Each of our schemes carries the name of an individual whose values and legacy it reflects, and each is built around a single guiding principle. Click a card to find out more.
The Amanda Poulter Access Bursary
Helping those who would otherwise be unable to afford it to take part in the life of the Institute, by supporting membership and participation costs.
Find out more ↓ OpportunityThe John Lord Scholarship
Supporting individuals of real promise who face financial hardship to access coaching, mentoring and developmental opportunities that can transform their prospects.
Find out more ↓ ExcellenceThe Stockton Scholarship for Excellence
Recognising and supporting exceptional talent, achievement and potential in fields aligned with learning, cognition and human development.
Find out more ↓Together, these schemes reflect what we stand for: a commitment to inclusion, to the development of potential, and to the highest standards of achievement. In the sections that follow, we describe each scheme, the person whose name it bears, and how to apply.
The Amanda Poulter Access Bursary
Removing financial barriers, so that opportunity is open to all.
Amanda Poulter
The Amanda Poulter Access Bursary exists to widen participation and remove the financial barriers that can stand between talented, committed people and the opportunities the Institute offers. Guided by the principle of Access, the bursary ensures that cost is never the reason someone is unable to join our community or take part in our work.
For many, the value of membership is clear — but the cost, however modest, can still be out of reach. This bursary is our response: a means of opening the door to those who would otherwise be excluded, and of living out our belief that opportunity in learning should be shaped by potential, not by circumstance.
What the bursary provides
The Amanda Poulter Access Bursary offers support towards the cost of:
- Membership subscriptions
- Membership upgrades to a higher grade
- Entry-level participation costs
- Access to the Institute's learning community and professional networks
Who it is for
The bursary is intended for individuals who wish to join or participate in the life of the Institute but who face genuine financial barriers to doing so. It is open to those for whom the cost of membership or participation would otherwise be prohibitive.
About Amanda Poulter
This bursary bears the name of Amanda Poulter, whose own life reflected the values it embodies: resilience in the face of hardship, compassion for others, and a commitment to supporting those facing barriers of their own. In naming the scheme in her memory, the Institute honours that legacy — and carries it forward through every person the bursary is able to help.
How to apply
Applications for the Amanda Poulter Access Bursary can be made through the Institute. We aim to keep the process simple, supportive and confidential.
Full details of how to apply can be obtained by emailing us at [email protected] or via the Contact Us page.
The John Lord Scholarship
Supporting promise, and transforming prospects.
John E. Lord
The John Lord Scholarship exists to support individuals of real promise who face financial hardship — helping them access the kind of developmental opportunities that can change the course of a life. Guided by the principle of Opportunity, it reaches beyond removing barriers to actively investing in potential, and in the personal advancement of those who might otherwise be held back by circumstance.
Where the Institute's bursary support opens the door to participation, this scholarship goes a step further: it provides meaningful developmental support to individuals with the talent and determination to make the most of it. It is an investment in people, and in what they may go on to achieve.
What the scholarship provides
The John Lord Scholarship offers support to access:
- Advanced learning coaching programmes
- Mentoring and personal development
- University and college progression coaching
Who it is for
The scholarship is intended for individuals of exceptional promise who face genuine financial barriers to accessing the coaching, mentoring and developmental opportunities that could transform their prospects. It is aimed at those with both the potential and the determination to benefit, but for whom cost would otherwise stand in the way.
About John Lord
This scholarship bears the name of John Lord, whose life reflected the spirit it carries forward: compassion, determination, and a deep commitment to helping others advance. Motivated by a generous belief in the potential of those around him, he sought to open doors and lift others up. In naming the scholarship in his memory, the Institute honours that legacy — and continues his work through every individual it is able to support.
How to apply
Applications for the John Lord Scholarship can be made through the Institute. We aim to keep the process supportive, dignified and confidential, with awards made on the basis of both potential and financial need.
Full details of how to apply can be obtained by emailing us at [email protected] or via the Contact Us page.
The Stockton Scholarship for Excellence
Recognising and championing exceptional talent.
Dr. Howard Stockton (Doc Stock)
The Stockton Scholarship for Excellence is the Institute's flagship award, established to recognise and support exceptional talent, achievement and potential in fields aligned with learning, cognition and human development. Guided by the principle of Excellence, it celebrates those who demonstrate something rare — the promise, originality or accomplishment that marks them out.
Unlike our bursary and hardship schemes, which are founded on access and need, the Stockton Scholarship is awarded on merit. It exists to identify remarkable individuals and to invest in their development — recognising not only what they have already achieved, but what they may yet go on to accomplish.
What the scholarship recognises
The Stockton Scholarship for Excellence may recognise exceptional talent, achievement or potential across a wide range of areas, including:
- Academic excellence and intellectual potential
- Educational innovation and outstanding metacognitive thinking
- Research, creativity and original thought
- Leadership and contribution
- Wider exceptional achievement in fields aligned with learning, cognition, creativity and human development
Who it is for
The scholarship is intended for individuals who demonstrate exceptional talent, innovation, excellence or outstanding potential. As our most prestigious award, it sets a high bar — seeking out those whose ability and promise are genuinely distinctive.
About Dr Howard Stockton (“Doc Stock”)
This scholarship bears the name of Dr Howard Stockton — known affectionately as “Doc Stock” — whose life reflected the excellence it celebrates. A pioneering and intellectually gifted figure with a deep understanding of child psychology and learning, he combined genuine distinction in his field with a warmth that endeared him to the young people he worked with. In naming our flagship scholarship in his memory, the Institute honours both his brilliance and his humanity — and seeks to recognise in others the qualities he embodied.
How to apply
The Stockton Scholarship for Excellence is awarded through a competitive process, on the basis of demonstrated excellence and exceptional potential. Applications and nominations are considered each intake.
For further details of how to apply or nominate, the selection process and any deadlines, please email us at [email protected] or via the Contact Us page.
Questions about our bursaries and scholarships?
Our team is always happy to talk through eligibility, the application process, or how you might support these schemes.
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