a guide to bursaries
what is a bursary? Fettes is committed to broadening access to the school by offering means-tested financial support towards the payment of school fees - known as a Bursary. Bursaries can cover up to 100% of fees payable, depending on the financial circumstances of applicants. Given the inclusive nature of the school, consideration will also be given to support towards the cost of essential school equipment and some relevant and educationally focussed trips. Bursaries at Fettes are not connected to Scholarships, which are awarded based on a child demonstrating excellence in a particular area.
who is eligible? At Fettes College we are proud to offer Bursary funding of up to 100% of the school fees for children entering 1st Form/P7/Year 7 or above. Owing to high demand for places at certain entry points and the limited funds available, Bursary support will be prioritised for Senior School years and directed towards boarding places and to those applying from within the UK. For the avoidance of doubt, Bursaries will not be available to those entering T Form and below.
how is a bursary awarded? In order to ensure that we give Bursaries to those families who need it most, awards are made on the basis of affordability, a process known as ‘means-testing’. A thorough review of the family’s financial circumstances will take place including: • Savings, investments and realisable assets • Income • Size of their family and number of dependents The level of award is reviewed and revised annually by the Bursar and Finance Manager to reflect any changes in those financial circumstances and is approved by the Governors. Bursary awards are therefore subject to repeat testing of parental means each year and may be varied upwards or downwards, depending on parental and family circumstances.
deadlines Please note that the bursary application process for starting at Fettes in September 2025 has not yet begun. Deadlines will be posted here at the start of August 2024.
the application process Awards are made at the discretion of the Governors and the Bursar is responsible for the management and coordination of the process although the administration is supported by a third party organisation which performs a review of the applications and undertakes home visits where appropriate. Below is a guide to the standard stages of Bursary Application:
Stage 1 Register your child with the Admissions Department as the admissions process runs parallel to the bursary process.
Stage 2 Parents/guardians seeking a Bursary are required to complete an application form to establish the financial circumstances of the household. The form, which requests details of income, expenditure and capital, is available by contacting the Bursar’s PA at bursarsoffice@fettes.com. Applications must be submitted no later than the date indicated on the form.
Stage 3 Where applicable, a home visit will be arranged during which full documentary evidence will be reviewed. The Bursar then receives the application and the home visit report for consideration.
Deadline dates, which must be adhered to, on previous page
Stage 4 The Bursar assesses all applications in order to establish the likely level of support required. This may involve follow-up correspondence with the parents to ensure the information has been correctly interpreted and the basis of the financial assessment has been fair.
Stage 5 The Bursar prepares a recommendation based on the assessment. This is then considered with the Head and a joint recommendation reached. The joint recommendation is discussed with a sub-committee of Governors for approval.
Stage 6 Following the Entrance Assessments, the parents/guardians are advised whether their child is to be offered a place at the school and as part of this, a separate confirmation of any bursary offer is also made. As there is a finite amount of funding available and we have many more Bursary applications than funds to allocation, not every applicant will be successful in their application.
Stage 7 Parents/guardians are then required to sign the Final Entry form and, in addition, formal acceptance of the offer of a Bursary which serves to acknowledge the conditions relating to it.
the case for assistance The Head and Bursar will, on behalf of the Governors, consider a number of factors when making the judgement as to the justification for support and the extent of such support. In the main, the child’s suitability for the school is a major consideration in granting support but other factors are also taken into account: Suitability In assessing a child’s suitability, attention will be given to the academic assessment result of each applicant but the child’s potential will be considered alongside actual achievement and the pupil’s entrance interview and previous school reports will assist in forming a view in this regard. Bursary funds are limited and, all things being equal, priority will be given to those likely to gain most from the educational provision at Fettes. Each pupil to whom support is offered must, in the opinion of the Head, be likely to make sound academic progress following admission and possess the potential to develop the quality of his or her work and benefit from participation in the wider, extra-curricular activities on offer at the school. In addition, previous school reports will be consulted for evidence of good behaviour. Financial Limitations The amount of the Bursary award is not influenced by the level of the academic ability of the child but by the extent of financial need. Each case is assessed on its own merits and awards are made accordingly subject to the school’s ability to fund these within the
context of available funds and its overall budget. It is recognised that judgements about what sacrifices a family should make to pay school fees will be personal. However, the school has a duty to ensure that all Bursary awards are well focused and so, as well as current earnings, other factors which will be considered in determining the necessary level of grant will include: • The ability to improve the financial position or earning power of the family. For example, where there are two partners, both would be expected to be employed unless one is prevented from doing so through incapacity, the need to care for children under school age or other dependents or the requirements of their partner’s work; • Opportunities to release any capital. Significant capital savings and investments are expected to be used for the payment of school fees as are significant equity values in houses; • In cases of separation, the contribution made by the absent parent; • Contribution to household costs by other, wider, family members, any adults unrelated to the child or by outside sources; • Where reasonable fees are being paid to other schools (or universities) the school’s level of support will ordinarily take into account these outgoings; • Acknowledging that others might have a different view, the school considers that the following would not be consistent with the receipt of a Bursary: • frequent or expensive holidays;
• new or luxury cars; • investment in significant home improvements; • a second property/land holdings. Other Factors It is recognised that, in addition to academic ability and financial constraints, there may be other circumstances which should be considered. These include: • Where a child has siblings at the school; • Where the social needs of the child are relevant (e.g. may be suffering from bullying at their present school).
existing pupils change in family circumstances Within overall budget funding, the school will, in normal circumstances, consider cases of sudden, unforeseen need or where applications meriting Bursary assistance are received out of the normal calendar cycle. Parents/guardians with a child at the school whose financial circumstances suddenly change may apply for a Bursary to the Bursar. Parents/guardians should contact the Bursar’s PA on bursarsoffice@fettes.com to obtain an application form explaining their situation. Such awards are subject to the availability of funding and cannot be guaranteed. For the avoidance of doubt, Bursary support for existing pupils is only available to families in exceptional circumstances and if the events leading to the application were demonstrably and unequivocally unforeseeable at the time the child joined Fettes.
annual review All Bursary awards are subject to repeat testing of parental means each year and may be varied upwards or downwards depending on parental and family circumstances. Current Bursary holders will be issued with repeat means-testing forms at the beginning of February each year for return by the end of the month. The Head and Bursar have the discretion to recommend to the Governors the reduction or withdrawal of an award not only where a pupil’s progress, attitude or behaviour has been unsatisfactory but also where the parents/guardians have failed to support the school, for example by the late payment of any contribution they are making to the fees.
confidentiality The school respects the confidentiality of Bursary awards made to families and recipients are expected to do likewise. It is important to note, however, that Fettes College celebrates the opportunity to widen access through the provision of Bursaries, particularly given the original intentions of its founder, Sir William Fettes, who devoted his wealth to “the maintenance, education and outfit of young people”. Fettes College relies heavily on the generosity of its community to support the provision of Bursaries and, with that in mind, recipients of Bursaries may be contacted during their final year at Fettes or as OFs by the school to share their Fettes experiences and the difference the Bursary made to them so that others may benefit from similar support.
Fettes College is a registered Scottish Charity, No SC051259