Some things are worth the effort
School fees might seem daunting but help is available. Sarah Devine looks at how Scotland’s independent schools are offering £49m a year in fee assistance
School fees are always a consideration when you first look at the idea of an independent education for your child. It may seem costly, but its total curriculum and all-round teaching make it a valuable investment.
With average annual fees of £13,700 per pupil, approaching the cost may be daunting at first but financial planning can ease the process.
Access to the sector has been significantly improved over the past decade thanks to the review into schools’ charitable status by the Scottish charity regulator, OSCR.
“The changes schools have made since 2006 to merit that relief amount to more than £200 million alone in means-tested fee assistance to Scottish pupils, alongside very extensive facilities, resources and staff provision for communities, public bodies, and state schools,” says John Edward, director of the Scottish Council for Independent Schools (SCIS).
SCIS has 72 member schools which currently provide £49m a year in fee assistance and, in spite of concerns having been voiced over the potential cost of the Scottish Government’s move to scrap business rates relief for independent schools, financial support from the schools themselves looks set to continue.
The best way to start planning for the costs is by looking at what financial assistance – such as bursaries and discounts from the schools – is on offer.
“We offer means-tested bursaries and we will continue to do that,” says William Goldsmith, headmaster of St Leonards Junior School in St Andrews.
“We would encourage parents to have a discussion with us and to then, of course, look at the possibility of bursaries.
“We have a real commitment to our bursaries and to continuing those.”
The outlook is similar at St Margaret’s School for Girls in Aberdeen.
“We offer means-tested bursaries, rather than scholarships, and entry at all levels is conditional on assessment,” says Anna Tomlinson, the headmistress.
The school offers bursaries of up to 100 per cent for girls entering 6 and 7 Junior as well as I Senior.
“We offer many and varied extracurricular activities outwith lesson time and for most of these opportunities there is no additional charge.
“School lunches are available but are optional and pupils are welcome to bring their own packed lunches,” says Tomlinson.
It is usually expected that school fees cover tuition, accommodation and most co-curricular activities.
Extras are usually kept to a minimum, but the likes of additional music lessons, afterschool clubs and areas where an additional instructor is required may incur a charge.
At Strathallan School at Forgandenny, the fees cover almost everything if a child is boarding.
“They cover most learning support, but those who wish to have more than what the school provides such as additional tuition and music lessons, then there might be an additional charge for that.
“There are no additional charges for things like school trips, unless they are non-curricular trips.
“Weekend outings and transportation is included if you are boarding, as is all tuition and meals.
“We offer up to 100 per cent [assistance] and it’s means-tested.
“If you get a scholarship, that is a fixed initial amount and it goes up to 20 per cent off fees then everything else is means-tested to make it fair.”
Similarly, Clifton Hall School in Midlothian strives to remain as accessible as possible.
“Financial assistance is meanstested and it has nothing to do with the individual child,” says Rod Grant, the school’s headmaster.
“It is graded on the basis of the greatest need so some get 100 per cent fee assistance right down to those who get 20 per cent.”
Parents may choose an independent school for the last year of their child’s secondary education, while others choose allthrough education.
Even in the early stages of a child’s learning, schools offer financial assistance.
“Our fees are very competitive and we provide lots of extras,” says Maureen Crandles, director of Early Days Nurseries.
We have a real commitment to our bursaries and to continuing those
“We do the pantomime every year and we subsidise every trip to the zoo or Deep Sea World and we have really high quality transport that is at our cost.
“As a partnership nursery with the City of Edinburgh Council, parents of pre-school children are entitled to a partnership grant towards nursery fees and can apply through the council.”
At Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, the school may also assist parents with applications to external trust funds for support such as the Joint Educational Trust, which is part of Royal National Children’s Foundation.
“We are fully committed to pupils coming to Merchiston who otherwise wouldn’t be able to come here because of our fees,” says Andrew Hunter, the school’s headmaster.
“We also have huge links with the community, which we call ‘koinonia’ and we have always believed in being accessible to as many people as possible within our budget.”