Provision of bursaries/financial assistance
College has a limited amount of funding available every year for the provision of means-tested bursaries. In addition we hold a certain amount of funding for current families who find themselves in financial difficulty whilst their daughter is at College.
We aim to use the funds available for bursaries in order to widen access to College to girls from families who would not otherwise be able to afford a College education. We work with three educational institutions using a very careful process to select girls who would really benefit from the opportunities on offer; these are a school in East London, a small group of Gloucestershire day schools and a charitable organisation in Europe.
In addition to girls selected through these institutions, we will offer a very small number of bursaries to candidates who apply to College to enter in years 7, 9 and Sixth Form and these will be available for exceptional girls who are invited for scholarship. Parents should indicate to us on the examination form that they wish to be considered for a bursary and then complete means-tested bursary forms. Deadlines for the steps in this process will be strictly adhered to. Success in gaining a bursary will depend upon a very high level of performance in the academic and scholarship examinations for the relevant year group. The Admissions Tutor can give advice regarding the academic level required and an Early Assessment for years 7 and 9 is strongly recommended. The entrance exams are held in November for Sixth Form and in January and February for years 7 and 9. Bursary candidates for Sixth Form must attend the Scholarships examinations at College. Once the results are known, parents who have indicated interest in bursary funding will be contacted and informed as to whether their application is being considered. The means-testing process will then take place. This involves a home visit from members of the Finance Department in order to discuss the application and explain the implications of the award. The final decision regarding bursary awards will be taken by the Principal.
The sequencing of the 2012 bursary process will be as follows:
Sixth Form Applications
August 2011: Entrance information sent out to parents
1st October 2011: Deadline for returning Registration and Examination entry forms for November exams
14th October: deadline for returning Means Tested Bursary forms
7th, 8th November: Sixth form entrance examinations. Bursary candidates must take the Scholarship examinations at College. Candidates will be notified of the results within two weeks of the examinations. The final stage of the bursary process will include a home visit by the Finance Director and an interview with the Principal.
Lower College Applications
August 2011: Entrance information sent to parents
21st October: Deadline for having an Early Assessment
1st November: Deadline to register and enter your daughter for the exams if you would like to be considered for a Means Tested Bursary
1st December: Deadline for returning the Means Tested Bursary forms
9th, 10th January: College entrance examinations. These can be taken either at College or in the candidate’s own school.
1st February: Results for ordinary places are sent to parents
6th to 8th February: Academic, Music, Art and Sports scholarships held at College.
Once the results of the January examinations are known, bursary candidates will be contacted regarding the final stages of the process which will include a home visit from the Finance Director. The final stage will be an interview with the Principal which will take place during the scholarship days in February.