Help is available with school fees on a sliding scale based on gross family income. Assistance is also provided towards the cost of school uniform of up to £250 per year and school books of £125 per year. The award also covers the cost of S3 Projects. Pupils who receive the maximum 100% award are also eligible for help towards the cost of school lunches.
Help with paying fees may be given as an ongoing fixed annual discount on school fees, as a one-off discount or by deferring school fee payment for a period of time.
The School will calculate the amount you will have to pay towards school fees based on your income levels and other financial information.
The level of parental contribution to fees will depend upon the family’s ‘relevant income’. This will normally be the total gross income (before tax) from all sources of both parents, plus any unearned income of their dependent children.
Relevant income does not include income from child benefit, mobility allowance and some other social security benefits. It is normally assessed for the income tax year before the school year in question.
Parents will be required to provide documentary evidence (P60 forms and payslips for employees, latest accounts and tax return for self-employed parents), as a condition of receiving financial help, and for each year thereafter.
Special rules may apply where parents are divorced or separated; where certain disability benefits are payable; and where income is derived from a business with a special accounting year.
The School Governing Council decides the total amount available for help with paying fees as part of the annual budget and fee setting process. Foundation awards are expressed as a percentage of the relevant school fee.
As a rough guide of the level of assistance for the School Session 2013/14, the following table may be helpful.
| Gross Family Income for Tax Year 2012/13 | Parental Contribution to Fees 2013/14 |
|---|---|
| Under £23,000 | No fees payable |
| £23,000 - £29,000 | 10% - 30& |
| £30,000 - £35,000 | 30% - 60% |
| £36,000 - £54,000 | at the discretion of the Foundation Trustees |
| Above £54,000 | Full fee payable |
£5,000 is deducted from gross family income for the second and subsequent children and/or dependant relative.
Siblings will be assessed using the same criteria and scales as for the first child. Providing the School has offered a place and that there are sufficient funds, the same level of financial help will normally be given to siblings.
The Foundation is unable to provide any assistance towards the cost of extra-curricular activities or school trips.
Foundation awards are granted for a school year. If there is a substantial reduction in family income, additional short-term support may be available.
Short-term support is provided to families of pupils already in the School (in any year group) who have experienced a substantial reduction in their family income, for example due to the death of a parent or redundancy or business failure. Short-term support is usually only granted for the current school year and depends on availability of funds. If a family’s financial situation does not improve, they may be eligible for longer-term assistance through the normal means testing process.
The parental contribution will be assessed on the basis of the relevant income of that parent who has custody of the child, plus that of his or her partner, or if he or she has remarried, that of his or her spouse. Maintenance payments are included in parental income.
The strictest confidentiality is observed at all times. Initially if you are applying for a place through our admissions process you need to tick the relevant form on the Application form. You will then receive a FF1 form from the Bursar, which you should complete and return to him.
If you are a current parent whose financial circumstances have changed you should ask the Bursar for an FF1 form to complete and return.
The Bursar will process all applications for help with paying fees. If you are applying as part of the Admissions process, if a place is being offered, your case will be presented to the Trustees of the Foundation for approval. A provisional award, if appropriate, will be made subject to completion of form FF2 and production of supporting documentation.
If you find any of this daunting and need individual advice, please contact the Bursar who will be happy to explain any part of the process.