How do Bursaries Help

Research by Springboard, an organisation that matches bursary candidates with independent schools, suggests that bursary recipients, matched against similar disadvantaged pupils in the community, achieve more and higher A-level results. There is also evidence that bursary recipients from low socio-economic backgrounds do better at university as they have increased cultural capital. 61% 60% of Bedford School’s 80%+ (of fee costs) bursary recipients went on to attend Russell Group universities, compared with 9% of all Bedford state pupils (2017-21).

Russell Group graduates are 14% more employable than non-Russell Group peers, earning c£200,000 more over their lifetime than graduates from lower ranked institutions. 14% of Bedford School’s bursary students took degrees in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects.

Universities that specialise in STEM, or other technical fields, tend to perform better in terms of graduate employability.

Enabling social mobility and creating equitable access to educational opportunities sit among the UK’s most important societal challenges. Families from less advantaged backgrounds are often unable to consider an independent education for their children, which can prevent those young people from fulfilling their potential. The pandemic has led to the widening of the income gap between the richest and poorest in society, which has only led to further disparity, where birth, rather than worth, often dictates the aspirations of future generations. page 3

“Thanks to a bursary, I was able to attend Bedford School. I believe this education provided me with three main benefits: First, the inspiring, down to earth and supportive ethos of the school, which filters down to the individual teachers. Secondly, access to amazing sporting facilities, highly qualified coaching staff and opportunities for consistent participation and leadership in a variety of sports. Lastly, and most importantly, the house system and tutor system at Bedford gave me lifelong friends. I would definitely encourage anyone considering supporting Bedford’s bursaries programme. Without this being available at Bedford, there would be many capable and talented boys who would not be able to access all that Bedford has to offer.”

Leroy Knowles (92-97)