Upton House is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, along with their protection and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  

Authority and circulation

1. This policy has been authorised by the Governing Body of Upton House School ("the School"). Its status is advisory only. It is addressed to parents of pupils and of prospective pupils and to all members of the teaching and administration staff.

2. This policy contains an overview of the Bursary Scheme currently in operation at the School. The policy, together with all ancillary documentation including a financial means questionnaire, is made available to all parents and prospective parents on request.

Aims

3. The aims of this policy are:

3.1. to widen pupil access to the School and ensure that an Upton House education is provided to children from a broad spectrum of society;

3.2. to continue the School's long tradition of providing public benefit;

3.3. to meet and if possible exceed the Charity Commission's public benefit requirements applicable from time to time.

Introduction

4. The School is a registered charity that is committed to providing significant public benefit. The School is aware of its obligations under the Charities Act 2006 and seeks to adhere to the public benefit principles identified by the Charity Commission. This policy is reviewed on an annual basis to take into consideration the latest guidance from the Charity Commission.

5. The School has a long history of providing financial assistance to pupils and their families. While the costs of running the School require that those who can pay full fees must do so, every year the School foregoes fees through bursaries and scholarships.

6. The School's Bursary Scheme includes both Admissions Bursaries for the parents of new pupils and Hardship / Emergency / Rescue Bursaries for parents whose financial position worsens unexpectedly once their child is already at the School. The Scheme is designed to assist parents or prospective parents on low incomes who for financial reasons might otherwise be unable to send or continue to send their child to the School.

7. Bursaries are entirely means tested and are awarded on an annual basis to parents who are financially eligible and who meet the application requirements set out below in full. Due to the limited financial resources of the School applications may not be successful.

8. All bursary applications are treated in the strictest confidence. Pupils will not be made aware that they benefit from a bursary unless informed by their parents.

9. In some circumstances up to 100% fee remission is available, plus extras and uniform where appropriate. By 2015 the School aims to offer means based fee remission equivalent to 3-5% of its annual fee income.

Publicity

10. We view a socially diverse pupil population as a key component of a full and balanced education. The availability of bursaries at the School is advertised locally.

Eligibility and Procedure

11. All parents and prospective parents of pupils at the School are eligible to apply for a bursary, and should contact the Bursar at the School in the first instance for more information.

12. All applicants for an Admission Bursary or a Hardship / Rescue / Emergency Bursary are required to complete a means questionnaire. The questionnaire is designed to provide a full picture of the income, assets, outgoings and liaibilities of applicants so that the School's Bursary Committee can determine those to whom an offer of a bursary would be most beneficial. Please note that families who may be classified as 'low income' but have substantial assets may be ineligible to receive a bursary.

13. In order to have their application for a bursary considered by the Bursary Committee, parent/guardians must complete the questionnaire and provide the Bursar with any supplemental information that is requested. It is critical that parent/guardians answer all of the questions carefully and in full. All bursaries are subject to an annual means-test review. Nevertheless, should any of the information disclosed in response to the questionnaire become inaccurate at a later date, the School must be informed without delay. For example, should the financial position of parent/guardians with a pupil already at the School worsen unexpectedly, they should contact the Bursar as soon as possible so that a way forward can be agreed. Failure to divulge requested information or a change in circumstances to the School could lead to a bursary being withdrawn or withheld.

14. Applying for a bursary will not prevent parent/guardians of pupils or of prospective pupils from applying for a scholarship in respect of their children.

The Bursaries

15. The deadline for Admission Bursary applications is the end of the Autumn term in the year prior to entry.

16. Applicants who satisfy the means testing criteria will then be invited to the school for interview early in the Spring term. Both the parents/guardians and the prospective pupil will need to attend the interview. The prospective pupil may be asked to sit some standardised tests on the day of interview but the offer of a place is not dependant on the results of these tests. The results will be used, in conjunction with the same information obtained for pupils already in the school, for monitoring purposes should the application be successful.

17. Admission Bursary applications are considered by the Bursary Committee during the Spring Term and applicants will be informed of the date of the meeting when their application is acknowledged. The Headmistress will write within fourteen days of the meeting to notify applicants of whether they have been successful. Successful applicants will be sent a letter of offer specifying the conditions of award and requiring them to complete and sign an acceptance form.

18. Applications for Hardship / Rescue / Emergency Bursaries may be made at any time during the year and will be considered by the Bursary Committee as soon as possible after the Headmistress has been notified by parent/guardians of a change in their financial position.

19. Each Bursary offer will reflect the particular circumstances of the recipient and be expressed as a % remission of tuition fees. All Bursaries are awarded for one academic year and remain subject throughout that period to the conditions of award provided with the letter of offer.

A School Council made up of appointed and elected pupils meet regularly to discuss whole school issues.