Bursaries At The Downs School
Bursaries are awards which are made on the basis of a family's financial circumstances. A wide range of factors is considered in making the awards; the school does not apply a simple family income threshold to determine whether the award may be made. In considering the financial needs of an applicant, the size of the family and the level of income and capital are taken into account. As a result the number and size of bursaries can vary considerably each academic year.
Applicants are required to complete a Confidential Means Questionnaire which provides details of their income and capital. Satisfactorily completed, the document is then evaluated by the Bursary Committee. The circumstances are evaluated as soon as reasonably possible, the conclusion related to the applicant immediately thereafter.
The school has limited resources from which it can offer bursaries. When the assessment carried out by the Committee shows there is no financial need, no bursary will be granted. The school offers 100% bursaries although the usual level of award tends to be between 10% and 40%.
The circumstances of those parents enjoying a bursary award are reassessed every year. In the case that their circumstances have not changed, then the school will normally continue the original arrangment.
