BURSARIES AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Bursaries and scholarships Looking for financial assistance in the face of increased school fees? Help is out there
ith private school fees rising by up to 20% from the start of 2025 now that VAT is being
charged, many families are turning to their children’s school for help with the costs. Financial assistance is out there, and it’s more common than you might think. One third of pupils at independent schools receive some form of help with the fees, saving their families a staggering £464 million a year. Financial assistance comes in two main forms, scholarships and bursaries. Scholarships reward talent and are awarded to pupils gifted in a particular area or subject, mostly at senior school level in years 7, 9 or in the sixth form. They often involve a competitive assessment, and are not means tested. While rewarding pupils who excel in sport, music or academic study is clearly great for the pupils, it’s also good for the schools, which are understandably keen to attract these talented youngsters. Given the tangible benefits they bring, scholarship students add lustre to their school’s reputation by achieving great things during – and after – their time there. From triumphing on the sports pitch to securing places at elite universities, you can’t blame schools for looking to lure in the best students. Scholarships Scholarships often used to come with a hefty reduction in fees – up to 50% wasn’t uncommon. In the past few
“Scholarship students add lustre to their school’s reputation by achieving great things during – and after – their time there”
14 SPRING/SUMMER 2025
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