Bursaries and Fees

One of the Whitgift Foundation’s most important objectives is to make education available to children who come from homes with modest financial backgrounds.

Scholarships

Boys and girls can gain a scholarship by demonstrating strong academic ability or a particular talent in sport or music. Each school has its own arrangements for awarding scholarships which can be of a value up to 50% of the school fees.

Bursaries

The Foundation provides in excess of £4million of funding for Bursaries (discounted fees) annually. Currently 43% of pupils receive financial assistance. Bursary awards may be offered to the parents of pupils at Trinity and Whitgift schools and in the senior school of Old Place of John Whitgift School when income falls below a given level.

Funds are in great demand and offered following success in the entrance examination. A pupil remains in receipt of the bursary place throughout their time at the school subject to annual reassessment and satisfactory academic achievement and results.

Frequently asked questions

Can my child achieve a Scholarship and a Bursary?

Yes. Both are applied to the fees due; the Scholarship is deducted followed by any Bursary amount awarded, subject to certain minimum or maximum contributions.

How do I apply for a Bursary?

Before your child sits the entrance examination you may request the relevant information and forms from the school. These are also available at the school’s Open Day. On completion, forms should be sent to the Foundation office for assessment. Forms should not be returned to the schools. A bursary award will eb offered at the same time as a place is offered by the school.

What happens if my income falls suddenly?

Please write immediately to the Clerk to the Foundation explaining the situation and giving as much information as possible about your financial circumstances as possible. If you have been made redundant, for example, you will need to provide your redundancy notice and entitlement. Even if a bursary is not awarded, you may be able to reach agreement for payment over an extended period.

What happens in the case of divorce?

Provided that the divorce has been settled before the child sits the entrance examination, the parental contribution will normally be assessed on the relevant income of the parent who has custody of the child, plus the income of his/her partner/spouse. Maintenance is included in relevant income and the Foundation reserves the right to ask for income details of both parents if necessary.

What will I have to pay?

The contribution to fees will depend on your family’s relevant income before tax from all sources of both parents and any unearned income from all of your dependent children. An allowance of £2000 is deducted from the total for other dependent children in full-time education.

Assets are taken into account when considering a bursary award.

You will need evidence of your income (P60 or end of year accounts). Relevant income is assessed in the tax year before the school year in question. The level of financial assistance will be reviewed annually; details of your income each year will therefore be required.

Parental Contribution To Fees For The 2010/2011 School Year

Relevant income 2009/2010 tax year One bursary place for a pupil entering in Sept 2010 For each of two bursary placeholders entering in Sept 2010
£ £ £
 19,000  201  150
 23,000  600  510
 27,000  1,002  870
 31,000  1,401  1,230
 35,000  1,800  1,590
 39,000  2,502  2,292
 43,000  3,501  3,330
 47,000  4,500  4,371
 51,000  5,502  5,412
 55,000  7,101  6,531
 59,000  8,700  7,650
 63,000  10,302  8,772
 67,000
  11,901  9,891
 71,000  13,500
  11,010
 75,000  -  12,132
 76,000  -  12,411
 78,000  -  12,970
 79,000  -  13,250

Please note: This is not the full scale, which increases in steps of graduated relevant income throughout the scale. Pupils in Foundation Schools, prior to September 2008, who receive Bursaries will remain on the Foundation's old scale.