Wykeham Journal 2017 | Page 15

more applications than we can satisfy . We therefore have to decide whom we can support and whom we are going to have to disappoint . A committee comprising the Headmaster , Registrar and me , as Bursar , makes these difficult decisions . We work in close consultation with Housemasters and seek to identify those children who are most likely to take the best possible advantage of what the school has to offer . Before Christmas we assessed applications for those hoping to enter the school in September 2019 . There were 38 applications . We were able to make awards to 25 ; we judged that four had sufficient resources to be outside the eligibility criteria , but awards could not be made to nine families who would have been eligible for support if funding had allowed . To be fair to everyone , we ask all parents of a particular cohort to apply at the same time . For example , when we offer provisional places to those wishing to join the first year two years in advance , we ask those parents who need a bursary to submit their applications at that time . So those entering in September 2019 are assessed in autumn 2017 . This allows the school to allocate the bursary funds available having understood the demand for the year and assessed all applicants at the same time using a common process . We adopt a similar approach for other points of entry such as those seeking either a scholarship through Election or a Music Award or admission into the sixth form . All applicants then have to submit a Bursary Application form . This is not to be undertaken lightly . It stretches to 24 pages , is designed to be searching and asks for extensive details of the family ’ s circumstances : family finances , including income and expenditure , and assets and liabilities , including opportunities to release capital from savings and investments , second homes and buy-to-lets and other realisable assets , and equity in houses ; the size of their family and any other persons dependent upon them ; the level of support required ; the reasons why a bursary is needed and the measures the family has taken to find alternative sources of funding , including from other family members . The form must be accompanied by documentary evidence . In a perfect world I would personally visit every parent at home , but time does not allow . Every parent resident in Britain should expect to receive a home visit by a representative of the school . This may be a current or former member of staff . This year for the first time we have been using an outside not-for-profit organisation that has considerable experience of making such visits on behalf of a large number of schools . Not only are they independent but they also bring a wider perspective , having a familiarity with the approach taken by our peers that is hard for a bursar to come by under OFT competition rules . I try to meet those living abroad in Winchester wherever possible . The size of a child ’ s bursary is determined on the basis of need , according to a sliding scale , which sets out award levels in relation to a family ’ s financial circumstances . Though awards are generally tied to this scale , each case is assessed on its own merits and may be varied depending on individual parents ’ circumstances , as well as compassionate or other considerations . To put this in context , families with gross income of £ 40,000 or less and without significant assets are likely to be eligible for a 100 % bursary . When assessing whether to give support , the boy ’ s suitability for the school is a key factor . Every boy we consider has already been offered a place in the school , so meets our academic requirements . We are looking for more : each boy must not only perform well academically , but must also be likely to benefit from participation in the wider extra-curricular activities on offer at the school , and to play a full part in its day-to-day life . Bursary funds are limited and those judged most suitable will be given priority . Preference will also usually be given to Scholars and holders of Music , Sports and other similar awards . All bursaries are conditional on good conduct and continuing good performance by the recipient . They are reviewed annually and are subject to repeat testing of parents ’ means . Particular attention will be paid as a pupil moves from the lower school to the sixth form . Bursaries may be ( and are ) varied upwards or downwards , or even withdrawn altogether if parents ’ circumstances change . However , a bursary represents a long-term commitment on the part of both the school and the parents , and once a bursary has been awarded , the expectation is that the level of award will not vary from year to year , provided that the parents ’ financial circumstances do not change .
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