A Parent’s Guide to Scholarships and Bursaries for UK Private Schools
Many parents may want to send their child to a private school but are worried about the cost. Fortunately, there is now greater access to scholarships and bursaries for UK private schools. According to a 2019 survey by the Independent Schools Council, 34% of students at private schools receive help with their fees.
However, it can be difficult for parents to navigate the process given that scholarships and bursaries can vary so much from school to school. This guide aims to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about scholarships and bursaries. Our goal is to support parents to feel confident about evaluating their options and making a successful application.
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What are the differences in scholarships and bursaries for UK private schools?
Scholarships are tuition fee reductions awarded to students based on their ability and performance. Talented students can receive scholarships in many areas. The most common ones tend to be for academics, art, music, dance, sport, choir or drama.
On the other hand, bursaries are awarded based on financial circumstances and offer either a partial or whole tuition fee discount. Families typically receive bursaries following an assessment of their income, assets and outgoings.
How do I know what scholarships and bursaries are on offer?
Suppose you already have a school in mind. In that case, it is best to contact the school directly as the number of scholarships and bursaries can change yearly.
However, if you have not yet chosen a school, a great place to start your research is the ISC website. The site has a beneficial search tool which allows you to refine schools by different types of scholarships and bursaries. The London Fee Assistance Consortium is also incredibly useful for those looking to send their child to a London school.
The Educational Trusts Forum also offers a comprehensive list of trusts offering financial help based on income, occupation, birthplace, or even your religion. For example, some trusts provide grants if you are Scottish, a member of the armed forces, a single parent, or Catholic.
How do I apply for a scholarship or bursary?
Again, this will vary slightly from school to school. So it is important to contact a school directly to find out about individual application deadlines and procedures.
Some schools offer academic scholarships based on entrance exam performance, while other schools require candidates to sit a separate scholarship paper. You can see some examples of scholarship papers, and an overview of the scholarship process, here.
Some scholarships – for example, for music, art and drama – will involve a specific audition, whilst other scholarships may be more complicated. For instance, Mill Hill School, renowned for its sport, offers numerous sports scholarships, and prospective applicants must attend a ‘sports trial day’ where they have to undergo various trials and tasks.
Some schools do their own means testing, and calculations for bursaries, whilst others outsource to third-party organisations. Most schools ask that you register your child for consideration for a bursary by filling out an application form (with a preliminary financial assessment) before the entrance tests.
For more information about common entrance exams, read: Top 30 UK Independent Schools in 2021
How do I know if my family is eligible for private school scholarships and bursaries in the UK?
Each school sets its eligibility criteria, and some are much more rigid than others. For example, schools such as Westminster do not have an “exact financial criteria for bursaries.” Others have strict benchmarks: King Edward’s School in Birmingham has an income limit of £72,000 and an asset limit of £500,000.
At some schools, the family income threshold for bursaries can be surprisingly high (on a sliding scale of up to £90,000, and in the case of St Paul’s Boys School, up to £ 120’000). So it is well worth investigating either by searching the school’s website or calling the Admissions Office.
Parents should remember, though, that the process is rigorous. Families may have to provide 12 months of bank statements for all their accounts, including ISAs and other savings, plus evidence of income through P60s and payslips. Schools may also look at your mortgage, car, previous holidays and family situation (for example, if you have relatives who can help). Therefore, families need to be prepared to be completely transparent.
How much of a discount do UK private school bursaries and scholarships offer?
There has been a general trend over recent years with schools shifting away from scholarships and offering more bursaries. Private schools are under increasing pressure to improve access and diversity whilst justifying their charitable status.
Scholarships generally attract a pretty modest reduction in school fees, with most offering between a 10-20% discount, although a few offer up to 40 or 50%. Even a King’s Scholarship from Eton, one of the most academically prestigious awards available, is only worth 10% of the fees.
Bursaries tend to offer a much more substantial reduction, with some up to 100%. At Christ’s Hospital School in Sussex, over a third of students are on free places or paying less than 10% of the fees.
Some bursaries are known as ‘transformative bursaries’ in that they offer more than just free tuition. St Paul’s Boys School offers bursaries covering the costs of textbooks, tests, private music tuition, bus fare, school uniform and sports kit, iPads, lunches and educational trips.
How do I know if I should put my child forward for a scholarship?
A child will not receive a scholarship unless they apply for one. Parents also need to be honest with themselves about their child’s ability in a particular area. Suppose a child is applying to a school like Dulwich College, where there is no separate academic scholarship paper. In that case, they will likely need to score 75-85% in all entrance papers to for an academic scholarship.
However, in many respects, these schools offer the most straightforward parents’ decision. All pupils are automatically considered for academic scholarships. Therefore, students do not have to worry about revising and preparing for a separate paper and can focus on the entrance exams they are sitting.
For schools such as St Edward’s in Oxford which does have separate scholarship papers, it is worth trying a few practice exams (such as this 2017 Maths paper) to see how a student copes with the challenge under pressure. If they struggle, it is best to focus on passing the entrance exam first, as they can often apply again for an academic scholarship later.
Read more: When Should you Send Your Child to UK Private School?
Are there any other resources which can help me with scholarships and bursaries?
If you are still unsure about anything, you could check out this page from The Good Schools Guide. It offers an honest appraisal on some of the factors to consider; this article from The Telegraph includes some more frequently asked questions in-depth analysis from The Financial Times. However, when it comes to scholarships and bursaries for UK private schools, it is crucial to start with the school’s website, often a goldmine of information.
About the author
Kristina is an Oxford English graduate and qualified English teacher. She trained through the Teach First programme before working at one of the top independent schools in London. She is now a private tutor and freelance writer.
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