A LIFE-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY
AN INDEPENDENT EDUCATION COULD BE MORE AFFORDABLE THAN YOU THINK
INDEPENDENT schools in and around London are noted for their high academic standards as well as the breadth of educational opportunities they offer. What you might not know, though, is that access to these schools is not restricted to only those children whose families can afford to pay the fees.
A third of pupils attending feepaying schools last year benefited from some form of fee assistance according to the Independent Schools Council Census with the average amount of means-tested bursary now £10,200 – and some pupils attending for free with a fully-funded place.
It means that children from families on lower incomes can benefit from the small class sizes, focused teaching and learning as well as excellent pastoral support and a staggering range of co-curricular activities that independent schools can offer.
SUPPORT ON OFFER
This autumn, with parents of ten-year-olds preparing their applications to secondary schools, the London Fee Assistance Consortium is launching a campaign to highlight the financial support on offer. While each of the 37 schools in the Consortium is unique, they all offer fee assistance. These come in several forms: BURSARIES: These are means-tested so that those with significant academic and/or co-curricular potential but whose families would struggle to pay school fees can still benefit from an independent education. In some cases, this support, known as a transformational bursary, can be 100 per cent of the fees.
SCHOLARSHIPS: These are meritbased awards for those who excel academically or in sport, music, art or drama or a particular subject area. OTHER SUPPORT: Fee assistance can also be known as assisted places or sponsored awards. Schools may also provide eligible children with financial support for trips, music lessons and a range of other costs such as lunches, uniforms and sports equipment when needed.
HOW TO BENEFIT
Once you have identified which schools your child might want to attend, find out when the open days are being held. You can then see for yourself just how your child might benefit from this type of education.
When you register you are usually given an opportunity to indicate that you would like to apply for fee assistance. The application process is discreet and straightforward. Member schools will guide you through it and offer friendly advice as your application progresses.
Michael Bond, head of Brentwood School and also chair of the London Fee Assistance Consortium, says: ‘As someone who had never set foot in an independent school until I started teaching in one, I’ve always been acutely aware of the widespread belief that a private education is only for children of wealthy families, when the reality is very different.
‘Thousands of young people benefit from financial support – in many cases fully-funded places – that allows them to flourish in our schools, where they have the opportunity to become the very best version of themselves.’