Admissions

Bursaries

It is central to our ethos that any student with the capacity to thrive at St Paul’s should be able to take up her place, regardless of her family’s financial situation. Our bursary scheme enables us to offer an extraordinary education to talented students whatever their background, who in turn enrich the school beyond measure as valued members of our vibrant community.

The aim of the bursary programme is to make a St Paul’s education affordable and accessible through the provision of needs-based financial support. A bursary is a means-tested award and is determined by the family’s financial situation. Each bursary is considered on a case-by-case basis and will take into account income, realisable assets and other relevant factors. The level of assistance provided depends on individual circumstances and varies from partial bursaries to full bursaries, where the maximum value awarded is the full published fees. Bursaries are offered for students joining us at both 11+ and 16+, although the number of bursaries available each year is at the discretion of the school and will vary.

Students in a lesson in the art studio.

Who is eligible?

Any student who meets the school’s academic and residence requirements but whose parents are unable to afford a full fee-paying place would be eligible for a bursary.

Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. In addition to household income we consider equity in property, other assets, savings and alternate sources of income in order to understand each applicant’s individual financial circumstances and the level of fee support that may be required. Any mitigating circumstances in a household which may impact on a family’s ability to afford full fees will also be considered.

Normally students will have attended a maintained school, but we may occasionally make exceptions depending on the situation. From September 2023, to qualify for a bursary, the total household income threshold is £140k (gross), meaning that parents earning a combined total above this amount are unlikely to be considered. Where parents are separated, we may request for separate financial assessments to determine affordability of school fees.

An offer of a bursary is subject to the school’s Bursary Conditions of Award (please see below). We require parents to complete a financial assessment form each year and we may adjust the value of the award if the family’s income or assets change. Families are required to inform the school immediately should there be any changes to financial income during a school year. Subject to there being no change in circumstances, the bursary will continue throughout the student’s time at the school.

Parents are welcome to contact the Business Directorate at anytime to discuss a possible application:

020 7605 4881

bursar@spgs.org

Bursary Conditions of Award

How to apply?

The procedures and important dates for entry into both the MIV and VII (Years 7 and 12) for September 2024 are outlined below.

11+

Step 1:  If you wish to apply for a bursary for the MIV (Year 7), please indicate this on the registration form. The deadline for entry forms for September 2024 is mid-November 2023.

Step 2: You are then asked to complete a preliminary bursary application form, which will take into account income, capital resources and other means held. The deadline for submission of the application form is early January 2024.

Step 3: Bursary applications are considered once examinations and interview have taken place. You may receive a home visit by the Bursar and a senior member of our academic team to discuss the application in more detail. Home visits will take place in February and/or March 2024.

Step 4: If your daughter is offered a place, you will be notified at the same time as to whether she will receive a bursary, and for what amount (provisional). You will be asked to complete an annual income assessment form in May 2024 to confirm the value of the bursary for the academic year 2024-25.

16+

Step 1: If you wish to apply for a bursary for the VII (Year 12), please indicate this on the Year 12 entry form. The deadline for entry forms for September 2024 is mid-October 2023.

Step 2: You are then asked to complete a preliminary bursary application form, which will take into account income, capital resources and other means held.  The deadline for submission of the application form is mid-November 2023 (date subject to change).

Step 3: Bursary applications are considered once examinations and interview have taken place. Some candidates may receive a home visit by the Bursar and a senior member of our academic team to discuss the application in more detail. Home visits take place in late November 2023.

Step 4: If your daughter is offered a place, you will be notified at the same time as to whether you will receive a bursary, and for what amount (provisional). You will be asked to complete an annual income assessment form in May 2024 to confirm the value of the bursary for the academic year 2024-25.

What does a bursary cover?

Where a student receives full tuition fee assistance, the bursary award will also include the following:

  • a one off grant of £500 on entry to the school to assist with initial costs
  • one extra subject such as music or a PE activity
  • up to £250 per academic year for school trips
  • the cost of travel to and from school

Every bursary award holder receives an allowance of £225 per year for textbooks and full cover of any public examination costs.

We can provide funds for additional support to cover the costs of visits and trip where we recognise the educational value to the student. Parents should write to the Bursar to request such funding. Assistance will be awarded based on financial need.

Unexpected hardship

We may award a bursary to an existing student if the family has suffered unexpected financial difficulties and parents are no longer able to pay fees in full. These bursaries are to avoid a student’s education being interrupted at a critical stage and, wherever possible, are awarded so that the student can complete a particular phase of study (for example, students who have already embarked on their GCSE course). These awards are usually to provide short-term assistance; there is no guarantee that if a bursary is awarded during a student’s GCSE course it will be continued to enable her to take A levels at the school. Post-entry bursaries are not usually awarded for students in their first three years at St Paul’s unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as the death or sudden incapacitating illness of a parent.

To hear from current and previous bursary recipients about what a St Paul’s bursary has meant to them, please visit our bursary testimonials page.

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Bursary Testimonials and FAQs

Bursary Testimonials and FAQs