Guide
Bursaries: means-tested help with independent school fees
- 5 min read
- By ExamKind Editorial Team
- Facts checked
- Reviewed
The short answer
A bursary is help with independent school fees that depends on what a family can afford. Schools look at your income and, often, your savings and other resources, then decide how much of the fee to cover. Some bursaries cover the full fee. Every school writes its own rules, income guides and deadlines, so the only reliable guide is each school's own bursary policy. This page explains the common features, with dated examples from schools' published policies.
What is a bursary?
Independent schools are fee-charging schools that do not have to follow the national curriculumWhat a private (independent) school isChecked 9 Oct 2026 against GOV.UK.The source says: Private schools (also known as ‘independent schools’) charge fees to attend instead of being funded by the government. Pupils do not have to follow the national curriculum.
View the official source. Many of them offer bursaries: a reduction in fees for families who could not otherwise pay them. Schools usually describe bursaries as means-tested. For example, Putney High School says it has means-tested bursaries availablePutney High School: AvailableChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Putney High School.The source says: A number of means-tested bursaries are available for pupils entering Year 7 or Year 12.
View the official source for pupils joining in Year 7 or Year 12, and Channing School says its bursaries depend on "your family's individual circumstances".
A bursary is offered by the school under its own policy. The school decides who gets one and how much.
How is a bursary different from a scholarship?
A scholarship is an award for talent or achievement, such as academic work, music, art or sport. A bursary depends on money. Some schools let a child hold both; the school's policy will say.
At some schools, a scholarship covers much less of the fee than a bursary can. As examples from schools' published policies:
- Channing School's scholarships go up to 50%Channing School: Max percentChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Channing School.The source says:
Scholarships are awarded for up to 50% of the tuition fees as a result of the audition and qualification in the academic examination.
View the official source of fees, while its bursaries can cover up to 100%Channing School: Max percentChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Channing School.The source says:Depending on your family’s individual circumstances, our bursaries can cover up to 100% of tuition fees.
View the official source. - At St Catherine's School, Bramley, scholarships go up to 5%St Catherine's School: Max percentChecked 10 Oct 2026 against St Catherine's School, Bramley.The source says:
No student may hold more than 5% fee discount in scholarships or awards, but may hold a second award in titular form.
View the official source, while bursaries can cover up to 75%St Catherine's School: Max percentChecked 10 Oct 2026 against St Catherine's School, Bramley.The source says:Help can be provided up to 75% of the fees.
View the official source. - Abingdon School's scholarships bring no fee reduction (scholarships are honorary)Abingdon School: Max percentChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Abingdon School.The source says:
Please note that scholarships and awards do not include any fee remission.
View the official source.
So if the cost of fees is the question for your family, the bursary policy is usually the one to read first.
How much of the fees can a bursary cover?
It depends on the school and on your circumstances. Each school that publishes an upper limit sets its own. As examples from schools' published policies:
- Abingdon School: up to 100%Abingdon School: Max percentChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Abingdon School.The source says:
These free and subsidised places can be worth up to 100% of day fees.
View the official source of day fees. - St Catherine's School, Bramley: up to 75%St Catherine's School: Max percentChecked 10 Oct 2026 against St Catherine's School, Bramley.The source says:
Help can be provided up to 75% of the fees.
View the official source.
The limit is the most a school will give, not a typical award.
Not every part of every school offers bursaries. For example, Bradford Grammar Junior School's answer to whether it offers bursaries is NoBradford Grammar Junior School: AvailableChecked 11 Oct 2026 against Bradford Grammar School.The source says: Please note there is no financial assistance for children starting in the Junior School or for Junior School pupils moving from Year 6 to 7, and for those applying for entry into Years 8, 9 or 10.
View the official source: the school says there is no financial assistance for children starting in the Junior School. Check whether help is offered at the age your child would join.
Who can get a bursary?
Each school publishes its own income guide, and the way they measure income varies a lot. As examples from schools' published policies:
| School | Income guide in the school's policy |
|---|---|
| Abingdon School | £100,000 (gross household income, guide)Abingdon School: Income thresholdChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Abingdon School.The source says: For families where the gross household income exceeds £100,000 and/or there is significant equity in a property, it is suggested that you arrange a brief telephone call with the financial controllerView the official source |
| Benenden School | £125,000 (combined income, guide) (unlikely to qualify above); £35,000 (joint net disposable income, guide) (may be eligible for up to 100% below)Benenden School: Income thresholdChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Benenden School.The source says: Alternatively, a family with a combined income of over £125,000 is unlikely to qualify for any support.View the official source |
| Putney High School | £107,500 (assessable income and resources a year (London schools), maximum)Putney High School: Income thresholdChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Putney High School.The source says: If your family’s assessable income and resources are below £107,500 a year for London schools, you may be eligible for some supportView the official source |
| Royal Grammar School Newcastle | £55,000 (gross household income, guide)Royal Grammar School, Newcastle: Income thresholdChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Royal Grammar School, Newcastle.The source says: These families typically have a gross household income of £55,000 or less.View the official source |
| The Grammar School at Leeds | £85,000 per year (gross income and savings from all sources, maximum)The Grammar School at Leeds: Income thresholdChecked 10 Oct 2026 against The Grammar School at Leeds.The source says: To qualify for a partial bursary, gross income and savings from all sources must not exceed £85,000 per year.View the official source |
Two things stand out. First, schools measure different things: gross income, net disposable income, or income plus savings and other resources. Second, some figures are a firm maximum and others are only a guide. Abingdon, for example, gives its figure as a guide and suggests that families above it arrange a short call with the school's financial controller. Do not rule a school in or out from a single number; read how that school does its sums.
These figures are examples only, not an average or a national rule. Other schools use different figures, and schools review them.
When do you apply for a bursary?
Often around the time you register. Deadlines differ from school to school, even for the same year of entry:
- Channing School: bursary deadline 6 November 2026Channing School: Bursary deadline (2027)Checked 10 Oct 2026 against Channing School.The source says:
Bursary Application Deadline: 6 November 2026
View the official source, the same day as its 11+ registration deadline of 6 November 2026Channing School: Registration deadline (2027)Checked 10 Oct 2026 against Channing School.The source says:11+ Application Deadline: 6 November 2026
View the official source. - Abingdon School: Monday 9 November 2026Abingdon School: Bursary deadline (2027)Checked 10 Oct 2026 against Abingdon School.The source says:
| Deadline for application submission for free or subsidised places | 9 November 2026 | 29 September 2025 | 8 November 2027 | 10 November 2025 | 6 November 2028 | 9 November 2026 |
View the official source for 11+ entry. - Ibstock Place School: 4 January 2027Ibstock Place School: Bursary deadline (2027)Checked 10 Oct 2026 against Ibstock Place School.The source says:
The deadline for bursary applications is Monday 16 November 2026 for Sixth Form and Monday 4 January 2027 for Senior School.
View the official source, after its 11+ registration deadline of 31 October 2026Ibstock Place School: Registration deadline (2027)Checked 10 Oct 2026 against Ibstock Place School.The source says:For Senior School entry in September 2027, you must register your child by our deadline of Saturday 31 October, 2026.
View the official source. - Hymers College uses two steps: Friday 27 November 2026 (request on main school application form); Friday 18 December 2026 (bursary application form)Hymers College: Bursary deadline (2027)Checked 10 Oct 2026 against Hymers College.The source says:
For September 2027, the deadline to request to apply for Fee Remission via the main school application form is Friday 27 November 2026.
View the official source.
Because deadlines vary, write each school's bursary deadline next to its registration deadline. Our school pages list both where the school publishes them.
What does a bursary application involve?
Each school sets its own process, so read its bursary policy and form. As you read, look for answers to these questions:
- What counts as income and resources? For example, savings, property or other assets.
- What documents does the school need, and by when?
- Is the award reviewed each year, and what happens if your circumstances change?
- Does the award cover only tuition fees, or also costs such as lunches, trips or uniform?
- How are both parents' circumstances treated if they live apart?
- When will you hear, and is the bursary decision made before or with the offer of a place?
If anything is unclear, the school's bursar or admissions team can explain how its own policy works. This page cannot tell you what your family would be offered.
Do the fees a school shows include VAT?
Fees shown by schools may include VAT. Reigate Grammar School, for example, says the published fees include VATReigate Grammar School: Vat treatmentChecked 10 Oct 2026 against Reigate Grammar School.The source says: | Years 7-8 | £9,635 per term (including VAT at 20%) |
View the official source. Check how each school presents its fees before you compare them.
Related pages
- Independent school entrance exams: the complete guide
- The London 11+ Consortium explained
- Selective independent schools in London
- The 11+ on a budget
- Keeping perspective
Sources
Facts on this page come from archived official sources checked between 9 and 13 October 2026: GOV.UK (types of school) and the published fees, bursary and scholarship pages of each school named above. All figures are examples from those schools' own policies, shown with the school's name. Schools change their policies, so always check the current version on the school's website.
ExamKind is independent and is not connected with any school. We do not give financial advice. How we make our content.
| Fact | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What a private (independent) school is | fee-charging schools that do not have to follow the national curriculum | Source: GOV.UK, checked |
| Putney High School: Available | means-tested bursaries available | Source: Putney High School, checked |
| Channing School: Max percent | 50% | Source: Channing School, checked |
| Channing School: Max percent | 100% | Source: Channing School, checked |
| St Catherine's School: Max percent | 5% | Source: St Catherine's School, Bramley, checked |
| St Catherine's School: Max percent | 75% | Source: St Catherine's School, Bramley, checked |
| Abingdon School: Max percent | no fee reduction (scholarships are honorary) | Source: Abingdon School, checked |
| Abingdon School: Max percent | 100% | Source: Abingdon School, checked |
| Bradford Grammar Junior School: Available | No | Source: Bradford Grammar School, checked |
| Abingdon School: Income threshold | £100,000 (gross household income, guide) | Source: Abingdon School, checked |
| Benenden School: Income threshold | £125,000 (combined income, guide) (unlikely to qualify above); £35,000 (joint net disposable income, guide) (may be eligible for up to 100% below) | Source: Benenden School, checked |
| Putney High School: Income threshold | £107,500 (assessable income and resources a year (London schools), maximum) | Source: Putney High School, checked |
Written and checked by the ExamKind Editorial Team. Every fact on this page links to its official source. ExamKind is independent: no test provider, school or council owns us, and we have no ads. Spotted a mistake? Report an error on this page, or see every correction we have made.