Being on Bursary & Fee Advance Scheme

[HoneyB2025]

To anyone who has experience with this.

If you have a bursary for your DC at an independent school, is it possible to also join the schools fee advance scheme. Will this impact your bursary percentage (%) at the next academic year review if you have paid fees in advance for some terms?

Has this happened to anyone? Or what is the best advice on this

I would have thought that the bursar would take the view that it you can afford to pay more than one year's fees in advance that you can probably afford to pay more/all fees for the current year?

*if

If you can afford to pay fees in advance then not sure how you qualify for a bursary

I do not have experience in this, I am asking for a friend. But what I know is they are two different schemes the fee in advance is to offset any internal increase in fees which means you get a discount on fees depending on how many terms you are able to pay in advance and the bursary is financial means tested.

Well aware of that bur bursary will assess all funds eg savings. Just surprised they would be awarded bursary if they earn/have enough savings to pay upfront

A bursary assessment is an invasive assessment of all finances including income, capital and outgoings. If this shows significant investments, the expectation is to liquidate this to fund fees prior to being awarded a bursary. So if a family had capacity to pay several years of part-fee in advance, this would lead to the conclusion they can pay full fees annually instead.

A lot of people are making huge sacrifices to fund school fees and the expectation is the same for bursary holders, just proportionate to income

@twistyizzy true, not sure of the level of sayings but I am sure all that is taking into account.