This is an English translation provided for convenience. The Spanish version is the legally binding one.
A scholarship and ambassador program for students with outstanding talent, track record, initiative or potential
| Item | This round |
|---|---|
| Applications close | 1 November 2026 |
| Decision communicated | Before 15 November 2026 |
| Ages | 6 to 17 |
| Scholarships available | 8 |
Key information
Dragon Talent Scholarship is a scholarship and talent ambassador program. It identifies and supports students who can benefit from a personalized, flexible and international education and, at the same time, gives visibility to their progress through the program’s own communication activities. The scholarship only becomes final when the family expressly accepts this twofold nature and signs the participation and image-use agreement in Annex II.
| Type | Number | Share of tuition services covered |
|---|---|---|
| Main scholarship | 1 | 100% in 2026-2027 and 50% in 2027-2028, subject to renewal |
| Partial scholarships | 2 | 50% in 2026-2027 and 25% in 2027-2028, subject to renewal |
| Recognition scholarships | 5 | 10% in 2026-2027 |
Important. The scholarship covers only the stated share of tuition services. It does not include enrollment, lunch, transport, materials, books, trips, extra activities or external fees, unless the School expressly states otherwise.
1. Awarding body
Dragón, the American School of Torrelodones, owned by EL DRAGON SCHOOL, S.L. (“Dragón” or “the School”), announces Dragon Talent Scholarship 2026-2027 as a private scholarship, development and talent ambassador program. Its purpose is to support students with outstanding talent, track record, initiative or potential and to share, in a proportionate and respectful way, how they learn and progress.
The program offers these students an academic environment that can support their development without asking them to give up what they excel at. Taking part as a talent ambassador and the production of content about that progress are a substantial part of the program, within the limits and safeguards set out in these rules.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this round is to award financial support towards tuition services for the 2026-2027 school year and, for the types of scholarship that provide for it, the 2027-2028 school year. As part of the same program, recipients will take part, in a limited and planned way, in documenting and sharing their talent, their progress and their educational experience.
The program is aimed at students who can show talent, track record or potential in fields such as:
- Sport and competition.
- Performing arts, acting, music, dance or artistic production.
- Visual arts, design and creativity.
- Science, technology or research projects.
- Entrepreneurship and initiatives developed outside school.
- Academic achievement.
- Leadership, social commitment or impact projects.
- Other fields of excellence or talent that the Committee considers relevant.
Particular attention will be paid to students whose sporting, artistic or professional activity needs a flexible academic schedule. Whenever it is academically and organizationally feasible, the School may personalize their timetable, adapt certain hours and organize their pace of learning so that their education fits with the development of their talent.
3. Who can apply
Students may apply if they meet all of the following requirements:
a) Be between 6 and 17 years old on the date the application is submitted.
b) Be enrolled at a school other than Dragón at the time of applying.
c) Show significant talent, track record, achievements, dedication or potential in at least one of the fields in these rules.
d) Submit a complete application within the deadline.
e) Take part, when invited, in interviews, visits, tests or activities of the assessment process.
f) Understand that, if selected and they decide to accept the scholarship, they will take on the role of talent ambassador and must sign the specific agreement in Annex II.
Applying does not mean automatic admission. Receiving the scholarship requires passing the School’s admissions process, an available place and completing enrollment within the period communicated.
4. Types and amounts of scholarship
4.1. Main scholarship
- One scholarship covering 100% of tuition services for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Support of 50% for the 2027-2028 school year, subject to the renewal provided for in these rules.
4.2. Partial scholarships
- Two scholarships covering 50% of tuition services for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Support of 25% for the 2027-2028 school year for each recipient, subject to the renewal provided for in these rules.
4.3. Recognition scholarships
- Five scholarships covering 10% of tuition services for the 2026-2027 school year.
4.4. Common financial rules
- Scholarships are personal and non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for money.
- They cannot be combined with each other or with other discounts, unless the School expressly authorizes it.
- They apply only while the student is actually enrolled at Dragón and from the date they actually join.
- Amounts or percentages not used do not give rise to any refund, compensation or credit for the family.
- The Committee may leave any type of scholarship unawarded if it considers that no application reaches the required level.
5. Assessment criteria
Applications are scored out of a maximum of 100 points. The full rubric is in Annex I. Academic records are relevant, but they do not decide the award on their own.
| Criterion | Maximum | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Talent, level reached and evidence | 35 | Achievements, level, track record, quality of the evidence and future prospects. |
| Track record and projects outside school | 20 | Continuity, initiative, responsibilities, impact and distinctiveness. |
| Motivation, discipline, autonomy and perseverance | 15 | Commitment, organization, responsibility and resilience. |
| Academic development and ability to learn | 15 | Performance, progress, curiosity, reasoning and critical thinking. |
| Creativity, initiative and potential | 10 | Ideas, problem solving, the ability to create and to make the most of opportunities. |
| Fit with Dragón’s educational model | 5 | Ability to benefit from an active, personalized and responsible model. |
The score is a tool for assessment and record-keeping. It is not an automatic ranking. The Committee will make an overall assessment of the shortlisted applications and decide which type of scholarship, if any, each one receives.
6. Assessment of sporting profiles
When an application is based mainly on sporting achievement, the Committee will pay particular attention to:
- Level of competition, participation in official events, rankings, results and awards.
- Membership of clubs, federations, national or regional teams or development programs.
- Amount and frequency of training, discipline and continuity.
- Sporting prospects supported by objective evidence or qualified reports.
- A real need for academic flexibility for training, training camps and competitions.
The School may ask for reports from the club, coach, federation or other body to verify the track record claimed.
7. Documents and evidence
Applications are submitted through the form provided by Dragón. Depending on the profile, they may include or require:
- Academic records or reports.
- A portfolio of work, pieces, projects or productions.
- Photos or videos of activities, training, performances or projects.
- Awards, recognition, an artistic, sporting or professional CV.
- Sporting results and certificates from clubs or federations.
- Letters of recommendation and reports from coaches, teachers or professionals.
- A letter or video from the candidate explaining their motivation.
- Any other evidence that helps assess their talent and track record properly.
Dragón may verify the information and ask for further documents. Submitting false, manipulated or substantially inaccurate information may lead to exclusion or, if the scholarship has already been awarded, to its withdrawal.
8. Procedure and timeline
| Stage | Step | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applications received | Until 1 November 2026, unless the School announces an extension. |
| 2 | Review of documents | The application and evidence are reviewed against the rubric. |
| 3 | Shortlisting | The candidates who go on to the next stage are selected. |
| 4 | Interview and visit | A meeting with the candidate and their family; it may include an activity, a test or a portfolio presentation. |
| 5 | Final assessment | Overall assessment and, where appropriate, the type of scholarship awarded. |
| 6 | Decision | Communicated before 15 November 2026, barring exceptional circumstances. |
9. Scholarship Committee
Applications are assessed by the Dragon Talent Scholarship Committee, whose members are appointed by the School’s leadership. It may include members of the leadership team, academic leads and, where appropriate, professionals with experience in the candidate’s field.
As well as the score, the Committee may consider the consistency of the evidence, the student’s potential, the interview, their ability to benefit from the model, their organizational needs and the resources available to support them properly. The Committee’s decisions are final within the award procedure.
10. Decision and acceptance
The decision will be communicated individually to the families selected. The award is personal and must be expressly accepted within the period stated. Acceptance is formalized only by signing Annex II, which is the agreement to take part in Dragon Talent Scholarship and contains, prominently and specifically, the permission to capture and use images needed for the talent ambassador role.
If the scholarship is not fully accepted within the period, or enrollment is not completed, the School may cancel the award and offer it to another shortlisted candidate.
11. Formalization and use
The scholarship takes effect only upon final admission, an available place, enrollment, acceptance of the School’s rules, valid signature of the agreement in Annex II and payment of all items not covered. Applying, being shortlisted or being told of an award does not, on its own, authorize any use of the candidate’s image.
In the event of voluntary withdrawal, transfer, expulsion under the School’s rules or dropping out, the scholarship ends on the effective date of leaving and gives rise to no compensation for the part not used.
12. Recipient’s commitments
The student and their family undertake to:
- Keep a responsible and committed attitude to learning and to school life.
- Take an active part in the life of the School and in follow-up meetings.
- Keep up a reasonable and continuous dedication to the field for which the scholarship was awarded.
- Report relevant changes in their sporting, artistic, professional or academic activity.
- Provide truthful information about how their talent and related activities are developing.
- Act as a talent ambassador and take part, in reasonable terms compatible with their age, studies and activity, in the documentation and communication activities described in section 15.
The scholarship does not require specific results in competitions, awards or recognition, but it does require commitment, good faith and reasonable continuity.
13. Individual academic plan
When the student’s activity requires it, Dragón may set up an individual academic plan so that their schoolwork fits with training, competitions, filming, performances, exhibitions, training camps or other activities linked to their talent. It may include:
- An adapted timetable and personalized organization of work.
- Absences planned in advance.
- Specific academic follow-up and coordination with their mentor.
- Reasonable rescheduling of certain assignments or activities.
- Coordination between the family, the student and the teaching team.
Academic flexibility does not remove the learning objectives, nor does it guarantee that every adaptation requested can be made.
14. Follow-up, renewal and withdrawal
Scholarships that continue into 2027-2028 will be reviewed in April 2027. The Committee will consider academic progress, commitment, behavior, participation, the development of the student’s talent, the teaching team’s assessment and whether the circumstances that justified the award still apply.
Renewal is not automatic. The Committee may confirm it, make it conditional on follow-up objectives or refuse it. It may also suspend or withdraw a scholarship for serious or repeated breach of these rules, false documents, non-payment of items not covered, serious breach of the rules of conduct or a substantial loss of the circumstances that led to the award. Before deciding, the School may hear the family and gather the necessary reports.
15. Talent ambassador and image permission
15.1. Nature of the program
Dragon Talent Scholarship has a twofold, inseparable purpose: to support the recipient’s schooling and development, and to communicate publicly, in a proportionate way, their progress as a talented student. The ambassador role is not an incidental use of their image but a defined part of the program, which the family knows about before deciding whether to accept the award.
Notice of an award is an offer that the family is free to accept or decline. The scholarship is formalized only by signing Annex II. That document sets out separately the financial and academic acceptance, the ambassador commitments and the express permission regarding the student’s image. Permission will never be inferred from silence, inaction, pre-ticked boxes or the mere submission of an application.
15.2. Formalization and capacity to authorize
Permission will be given in writing by the person or persons entitled to do so according to the child’s age, maturity, parental responsibility and other circumstances. Dragón will also seek the student’s agreement when they are fourteen or older, or when their maturity makes it advisable for them to take part in the decision. If there is any doubt about capacity, disagreement between those with parental responsibility or any objection from the child, the School will not share their image until the situation has been validly resolved.
15.3. Uses covered
By means of the specific signature in Annex II, EL DRAGON SCHOOL, S.L. is authorized to:
- Take photos, video and audio of the student while they train, perform, create, rehearse, compete, present projects, work on their portfolio or take part in activities related to the talent for which they received the scholarship, and during school activities linked to the program.
- Reproduce, select, edit, crop, subtitle and technically adapt that material, without changing its meaning or using it in any way that could harm the child’s dignity, reputation or best interests.
- Publish it on the website, blog, official social media profiles, newsletters, presentations, brochures, posters, press releases, reports and informational or advertising campaigns of Dragón and Dragon Talent Scholarship, in print and digital formats.
- Keep the material for the period stated in Annex II and share it without territorial limits, given the reach of the internet.
15.4. Participation plan and proportionality
Ordinary participation will consist of at most two planned sessions per school year and occasional photos or video taken during activities the student already takes part in. Any extraordinary campaign, specific advertising appearance, personal testimonial or use beyond this framework will require additional permission. Sessions will be agreed with the family, will be appropriate for the child’s age and must not interfere disproportionately with their studies, training, performances or rest.
15.5. Limits and safeguards
- The permission is non-exclusive and forms part of the agreement to take part in the program; it does not give rise to any payment beyond the scholarship accepted.
- It does not allow the images to be sold or passed to third parties for purposes unrelated to the School or the program.
- It does not cover uses that damage the child’s honor, privacy, reputation or best interests.
- The School will avoid publishing unnecessary information and will not identify the student by their full surnames or reveal sensitive information without specific additional permission.
- Images will not be used in which the child appears in private, humiliating or risky situations, or in situations unrelated to showing their talent and educational experience.
- The material may not be used to promote third-party products or services or be exploited commercially on its own.
The child’s best interests will always come first. Even with permission, Dragón may decide not to take or publish content when it considers that sharing it would not be prudent or appropriate.
15.6. Withdrawal and its effects
Permission regarding the student’s image may be withdrawn at any time in writing. Withdrawal prevents any new photos, recordings or uses from the moment it is received. Dragón will stop publishing new content and will, within a reasonable time, remove content from the digital channels it controls, although it cannot recover printed copies already distributed, third-party publications or copies outside its control. Withdrawal does not make uses validly made beforehand unlawful.
Since public representation is an essential part of the program, withdrawal will open a review of the agreement for the future. The School and the family will try to adapt participation through non-identifiable material or other arrangements compatible with the child’s interests. If the purpose of the program becomes objectively impossible, the Committee may make a reasoned decision on continuation for later periods, without requiring repayment for periods already used and without affecting the student’s ordinary schooling, which will remain subject to the general education contract.
16. Data protection
EL DRAGON SCHOOL, S.L. will process the data provided to handle applications, assess participants, process admission and, where appropriate, administer, follow up and communicate the program. Handling the application and the scholarship is based on pre-contractual steps and the performance of the agreement. Identifiable capture, reproduction and sharing of image and voice will also be based on the express permission regarding the student’s image and on the legal basis that applies under data protection law. Information about children will be treated with particular confidentiality.
Detailed information on the controller, purposes, legal bases, recipients, retention periods and how to exercise rights will be given in the application form and in Annex II. Families may exercise their rights through the privacy channels provided by the School.
17. Changes, suspension or no award
Dragón may change dates or organizational aspects when there are justified reasons, informing participants of relevant changes and respecting applications already submitted. It may also suspend the procedure or declare the round wholly or partly unawarded if there are no suitable applications or if organizational, financial or force majeure reasons prevent it from going ahead.
18. Acceptance and interpretation
Submitting an application means that the applicant has read and accepts these rules for the purposes of the selection process, but it does not authorize any promotional use of the candidate’s image. Taking part gives no right to the scholarship until there is an express decision, completed enrollment and a valid signature of the acceptance and ambassador agreement in Annex II.
The Committee is responsible for interpreting these rules, resolving questions and taking the decisions needed to apply them, in line with the principles of the program, the information available and the student’s educational interests.
Annex I. Assessment rubric
The rubric guides the assessment and makes it possible to document the decision. The Committee may give any intermediate score within each band when the evidence justifies it.
| Criterion | Points | Guideline descriptors |
|---|---|---|
| Talent, level and evidence | 0-35 | 0-8: signs of talent without enough evidence. 9-17: proven talent at an early or local stage. 18-27: solid track record, relevant achievements and consistent evidence. 28-35: exceptional level, wide recognition or extraordinary prospects. |
| Projects and track record outside school | 0-20 | 0-4: occasional participation. 5-9: continuous activity with limited initiative. 10-15: own projects, responsibilities or verifiable impact. 16-20: distinctive track record, sustained leadership or outstanding impact. |
| Motivation, discipline, autonomy and perseverance | 0-15 | 0-3: little evidence of commitment. 4-7: positive attitude with irregular continuity. 8-11: clear perseverance, organization and responsibility. 12-15: outstanding discipline, proven autonomy and resilience. |
| Academic development and learning | 0-15 | 0-3: significant difficulties with no proven progress. 4-7: adequate performance or early improvement. 8-11: good performance, progress and curiosity. 12-15: outstanding performance or progress and a great ability to learn. |
| Creativity, initiative and potential | 0-10 | 0-2: little evidence. 3-5: occasional creativity or initiative. 6-8: own ideas, problem solving and clear potential. 9-10: exceptional originality, initiative and capacity to develop. |
| Fit with Dragón’s model | 0-5 | 0-1: limited fit. 2-3: sufficient fit with support. 4: good fit. 5: excellent fit and a clear ability to make the most of the model. |
Annex II. Acceptance and ambassador agreement
This annex formalizes voluntary participation in Dragon Talent Scholarship as a scholarship and talent ambassador program. It has three separate parts: acceptance of the scholarship, the talent ambassador commitments and express permission regarding the student’s image. All of them must be completed and signed by the persons legally entitled to do so for the award to take effect.