Re: KCS - Scholarship

[vaux777]

Anybody able to tell me how much the academic scholarship given at Kings College School is with respect to the school fees? Is it more about the prestige rather than financial value?

They are nominal only.

During the open day they mention it around £250 only.

Nominal. Few £100. If you need financial support, you need to apply for a bursary. To get a bursary they really have to want your child. About ten years ago, a kings academic scholarship came with more significant money off but they changed it to focus on money off bursaries.

There are other schools with much more generous scholarship schemes. Whitgift stands out. An academic scholarship there gives you 50% off the school fees. A music plus an academic scholarship equals a free place! I think Emmanuel gives 25% off. But of course, king’s is top of boys league table, if that matters to you. But if money is tight, then go for KCS but apply for a bursary too?

We got scholarship offers from Kings, Whitgift and Trinity. Kings was 5%; Whitgift 25% and Trinity 30%. You have to do an awful lot for a Kings scholarship -it’s really not worth it.

My son won an academic scholarship at KCS at 11+ entrance. It’s worth £250 a term throughout his time at school so not to be sniffed at, but it is more the prestige really. He doesn’t have to do anything specific as a scholar although I think they reserve the right to withdraw it if there’s a significant decline in academic standards achieved (but they’d be concerned about that for any of their pupils as standards are so high). It certainly hasn’t created any additional “pressure” for him - he’s been enormously happy there (now in 6th form following a stellar set of gcse results), it was totally the right place for him. If you need real financial support there is a good bursary programme - my son has many friends who are on partial and full bursaries.