Bursaries at St Edwards

BURSARIES AT ST EDWARD’S INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

The Founder’s Intention

For over 150 years St Edward’s has has provided education and financial support, helping as many young people as possible from all backgrounds to benefit from the outstanding educational experience the School provides. Revd Thomas Chamberlain founded St Edward’s in 1863. He was born into a wealthy Oxfordshire family and himself benefitted from an excellent education, first at Winchester College and then Christ Church, Oxford. Chamberlain had a great passion for educating children, and founded several schools, including St Edward’s, which was intended for the education of the sons of low-paid clergy. He was determined to ensure that the sort of education he had received could be made available to others who could not afford it. The drive to extend access to education and opportunity is no less strong at the School today. St Edward’s educates some 800 girls and boys, and broadens access by offering eligible parents means-tested financial support with the payment of school fees. Such support is known as a bursary.

‘Teddies gave me so many opportunities to become involved in many aspects of school life: acting, rowing, being a member of the Choir and the Close Harmony group, the Combined Cadet Force – and eventually I became Head Girl. I shall always be grateful for the support and kindness of the whole community and I know my Teddies friends will be friends for life.’ ANNABEL | STUDYING PSYCHOLOGY AT DURHAM UNIVERSITY

Bursaries at St Edward’s

Currently the School provides some level of bursary support (ie excluding Scholarships, Exhibitions and Awards) to 100 pupils each year at a cost of £2.6m. Individual bursaries may be awarded for up to 100% of the school fees, depending on the level of financial assistance needed. For those on the largest bursaries, this may include additional support for books, equipment, exam entry fees and educational visits. Although the School is able to offer a number of bursaries, at present it receives more requests for bursarial support than it can meet. The funding available is insufficient to allow the School to satisfy all applications received and support cannot be guaranteed even if it appears to be fully justified. Although we are working hard to increase the School’s capacity to award bursaries, the level of bursaries that can be offered each year is fixed and finite. Inevitably, this involves difficult decisions and on average, fewer than 20% of applications are successful. Preference will be given to those assessed as likely to gain the most from a St Edward’s education and to contribute most to the School.

‘I felt very lucky to be given the chance to study at St Edward’s where there were so many opportunities. I really enjoyed the House community and the way you became like a family with the rest of the people in your House.’ REUBEN | FORMER PUPIL

Applying for a Bursary

• BAL will make arrangements to undertake a home visit in order to discuss the application with the family applying. • On the basis of the CSFC form and home visit, BAL will then submit a report to the School which includes the recommended level of assistance, where this is considered necessary. • The Bursary Committee will review all BAL reports. Parents are subsequently informed by the Registrar of the indicative level of fee assistance that they could be offered, subject to the annual limits of Bursary funds and the applicant fulfilling all entry assessment requirements of the School. • On completion of the School’s entry assessments, the Registrar will compile a list for the Bursary Committee of those pupils who have performed strongly enough to be offered both a place at the School and a Bursary. The Bursary Committee will agree the final • Plisa tr . ents will be advised whether or not their child has met the criteria to be offered a place and a Bursary by the Registrar. For Shell applicants, this will be in March of the academic year in which their child is being assessed; for Lower Sixth applicants, this will be in December of the academic year in which their child is being assessed. Confirmation of fee support will be given in the academic year preceding entry to the School. • Apart from in exceptional and wholly unforeseen circumstances, the School’s expectation is that parents who do not apply for a Bursary at the time of their child’s assessment will not require financial support throughout the time that their child attends the School; it will not be possible to accept subsequent Bursary applications from parents.

Prospective parents who are unable to fund school fees (in full or in part) must apply for bursarial support no later than 1 st September in the academic year in which their child is being assessed for entry to the School. The School is not able to provide an indication of the amount of financial assistance that may be available until the Registration Form has been completed and returned to the Admissions Department together with payment of the Registration Fee. Children are assessed for entry at the following points: • For Shell (Year 9) entry, in Years 6, 7 and 8 • For Sixth Form (Year 12) entry, in Year 11 The following notes will help guide parents through the application process. If you need assistance to complete these forms please contact the Admissions Department who will be happy to help. • Please request a Confidential Statement of Financial Circumstances (CSFC) form from the Admissions Department in advance of the due date of entry. • The CSFC Form seeks to establish the financial resources of the household. • The CSFC Form must be returned to the Admissions Department no later than 1st September in the academic year in which the child is applying to St Edward’s. • The Bursary Committee meets to assess the proposed list of applicants and those likely to be successful in the means-testing process will be forwarded to a firm of independent assessors, Bursary Administration Limited (BAL).

Bursary Reviews

• Those children who have met and been offered a confirmed place with bursarial support in Year 6 will be subject to parental means in Year 8 before the child begins at the School. • Once in the School, bursaries are subject to annual testing of parental means and may be adjusted according to family circumstances. Recipients of bursarial support are also subject to periodic formal review and are expected to remain worthy of their position by demonstrating good levels of academic effort, co-curricular contribution and good behaviour. • The School reserves the right to withdraw a bursary should significant pastoral or behavioural concerns arise at any time before the child joins the School such that our ability to keep the child safe in a full boarding environment is compromised.

‘I was at a comprehensive school before Teddies. It was a great school but there weren’t many people in my class who actually wanted to work hard. It was easier to go with the flow and not push myself to do the best I could. When I came to Teddies, I found the pace of work exhilarating, and I was immensely privileged to be appointed Captain of Rugby in my final year. I will be forever grateful for all the wonderful experiences and opportunities my time at St Edward’s gave me.’ FERDI | STUDYING MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AT BRISTOL UNIVERSITY

Criteria for Awarding a Bursary

Confidentiality

Since the School receives more bursary applications than funds available, the School as a charity has a fiduciary duty to ensure that all bursary awards are well focused and justified. It is a matter of personal judgement about what sacrifices a family should make to pay the School’s fees. However, in assessing the level of bursary awards, the School will consider other factors, as well as current earnings, including: • The ability to improve the financial position or earning power for the family. Where there are two partners, both would be expected to be employed unless one is prevented from doing so, through, for example incapacity. • Opportunities to release any capital. Significant capital savings and investments would be expected to be used for the payment of school fees, as would significant equity values in houses. • In cases of separation, the contribution made by the absent parent, or the contribution which could reasonably be expected from the absent parent. • Contribution to household costs by other, wider, family members, any adults unrelated to the child or by outside sources. The School considers that the following, as examples, would not be consistent with the receipt of a bursary award, and would certainly influence the level of any offer: • Frequent or expensive holidays • New luxury cars • Investment in significant home improvements • A second property or landholding

The School respects the confidentiality of bursary awards and recipients are expected to do likewise. Specifically, details of the award should not be posted publicly on social media or anywhere else. By applying for a bursary parents are entering into a special relationship with the School. The School asks you to respect that spirit and apply in the utmost good faith.

Please note, this bursary information is subject to change.

For further details, please contact the Admissions Department either by email registrar@stedwardsoxford.org or by telephone 01865 319200.