Scholarships and Bursaries in Schools Explained

Many parents considering a private education for their child are looking at whether they can reduce the school fees, particularly now with such fees being subject to VAT.

The two main options are bursaries, which are means-tested and available for a child who would meet the entry criteria but whose family doesn’t have the financial means; and scholarships, which are awarded to pupils who excel in a particular field such as music, sport, the arts, or academically. Particularly gifted children from low-income families may qualify for both. Some specialist bursary schemes include those for children of NHS workers, or those that have lost the support of a parent through death or mental/physical illness. Another route, though less common, is a charitable grant-making trust, which can help in cases of genuine need.

Many independent schools offer financial assistance in the form of bursaries and scholarships. Indeed, one-third of pupils educated in the private sector receive some form of fee assistance. The total value of means-tested bursaries and scholarships provided by schools currently stands at £464m per year, according to the Independent Schools Council, which “demonstrates schools’ commitment to helping children of all backgrounds thrive during their time in education.”

Bursaries may cover the entire fee and extras such as uniform or just a percentage off the fee. At King’s College Wimbledon, its bursary programme provides financial help of over £1.5m each year to pupils in the senior school who are in need of support. KCS says: “ This enables young people of exceptional talent and promise to benefit from a world-class education regardless of their background or their family’s financial circumstances.“

Rani Deshpande, from Clapham and Streatham High says: “We offer bursaries so that a Streatham and Clapham High School education is accessible to the best and the brightest girls, including those who are not able to pay full fees. Our bursary programme reflects our school’s commitment to nurturing talent and opening doors to transformative educational opportunities.”

Within The Girls’ Day School Trust, a group of 26 girls’ schools, some 10% of pupils in its independent senior schools receive financial support. It aims to award higher-value bursaries to pupils from families with a total income and resources of less than £44,000 per year (or £49,500 for London Schools), and would not be able to award a bursary to a family whose annual income and resources is greater than £102,000.

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While some schools make it clear, others may require more research and it’s not always easy to find out about what is available, as Wimbledon-based Education Specialist Mel Ingle notes. “The criteria can be vague. However a general ball-park figure for a bursary is that if you earn more than £6585k a year between you and your partner as a couple, then you won’t be eligible.”

It is not a hard and fast rule, and it can vary hugely. Ask the school directly. The most important thing is you have to be honest. “A lot of schools now use external companies to look into people’s expenses and every single aspect of life is analysed. Do both parents work full time? Does the family own two cars? Could the grandparents be helping with school fees? Often a lot of the time, families find they don’t have enough cash to pay for school fees, but then aren’t eligible for a bursary either.” A bursary award is usually reassessed each year, and can go up or down depending on your circumstances.

Scholarships are offered to pupils who show particular talent and are not means-tested. The amount of money deducted from fees for scholarships varies and is up to the discretion of the school.

If it’s not clear what a school offers, the Good Schools Guide advises: “Don’t be afraid to approach any school about the possibility of a bursary or scholarship. You can talk to them about money completely independently from your child’s actual application. Call or email the bursary and ask for a confidential chat.”

But manage your expectations. Mel Ingle adds: “I have lots of people that come to me looking for help to find a scholarship, and think it will give a significant chunk off the fees. But the reality is that scholarships end up being on average around a 10% reduction in fees and in a post VAT world, scholarships are often seen as a badge of honour, rather than a significant financial help.”

Sometimes scholarships aren’t necessarily given out in terms of cash, but for example if someone has won a music scholarship, then they are given extra lessons with a peripatetic teacher.

So, how do you get a scholarship? Says Rani Deshpande: “At Streatham and Clapham High School, both academic and specialist scholarships in areas like Art, Drama, Music and Sport are available for 11+ and 16+ entry. Successful candidates must demonstrate enthusiasm, a commitment to their discipline and serve as a role model within the school community. Scholarships range from 5% to 30% of fees with higher value awards generally reserved for students who may have a combination of an academic and specialist scholarship.”

At the start of this year, all education and boarding services provided by a private school were made subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20%. But a lot of schools haven’t passed on this fee increase in its entirety to pupils. However by taking the hit of some of the extra costs, many of the schools now have a smaller pot of cash to give out in terms of scholarships and bursaries, and it’s a fine balancing act.

This means that competition for scholarships is particularly high and preparation at prep-school level is crucial. Juvy Toghill from Aberdour School in Tadworth says they are proud of the number of scholarships their pupils have achieved and explains how they go about achieving these results: “Every year, 100% of Aberdour pupils are successfully accepted into local, regional and national senior schools at 11+. This year, of the 48 children who sat entrance exams for independent senior schools, we had a staggering 123 offers from 21 senior schools, and they were awarded 45 scholarships between them. We take time to get to know each child, discover their hobbies, their potential and their brilliance. Having built up positive relationships with senior schools, we can ensure the right senior school for every child.”

Whilst preparation is key, those looking for scholarships also have to be prepared to be flexible with their school choice. Schools may vary from year to year in terms of what scholarships they give out – they may, for example, want to balance certain departments of the school.

So whilst scholarships and bursaries are still there for the taking, the added financial pressures on both schools and families mean pupils are having to go the extra mile to be awarded funding.