Bursary Policy 1 REVIEWED NOV16 NEXT REVIEWED NOV 17 1 DBA

Transcription

1 Bursary Plicy 1 REVIEWED NOV16 NEXT REVIEWED NOV 17 1 DBA

2 MEANS -TESTED BURSARIES General The Gvernrs f St Jseph s Cllege are cmmitted t bradening access t the Cllege by ffering t eligible parents/guardians means-tested financial supprt with the payment f Clleges fees. Such supprt is knwn as a Bursary and may be awarded in the frm f a discunt f up t 100% n tuitin fees payable, depending n the financial, cmpassinate r ther pertinent circumstances f applicants. Such awards are subject t the availability f funding and cannt be guaranteed. Bursary awards are subject t repeat testing f parental/guardian means each year and may be varied upwards r dwnwards, depending n circumstances. Awards are made n the basis f the St Jseph s Cllege Scale f Awards, which sets ut award levels in relatin t a family s financial circumstances. The Scale f Awards is reviewed and revised annually by the Principal t reflect any changes in fee csts, and is apprved by the Gvernrs. Thugh awards are generally tied t this scale, they may be varied upwards r dwnwards depending n individual parents/guardians circumstances (e.g. their savings, investments and realisable assets, as well as their incme, the size f their family, any ther persns dependent upn them and like), cmpassinate r ther pertinent cnsideratins. Requests fr financial supprt usually fall int tw categries: New applicants t the Cllege, where a place has been ffered but parents/guardians are unable t fund the tuitin fees. Existing pupils where a change in parents/guardians circumstances has resulted in difficulty in meeting tuitin fees and may result in the child being withdrawn part way thrugh a stage f educatin. New Applicants t the Cllege Awareness. Infrmatin prvided by the Cllege alerting the parents/guardians f ptential pupils t the pssibility f gaining means-tested financial supprt with the payment f Clleges fees is included in: The Cllege prspectus. The Cllege website. The Applicatin Prcess. Bursaries may be made available t parents/guardians f children entering St Jseph s Cllege. (See the Cllege s Admissins Plicy). They are awarded at the discretin f the Gvernrs; the Principal and Cllege Bursar are respnsible fr the management and crdinatin f the prcess. Step One. Parents/guardians seeking a bursary are required t cmplete an applicatin frm which seeks t establish the financial circumstances f the husehld. The frm, which requests details f incme and capital, may be fund at Annex A and must be 2 REVIEWED NOV16 NEXT REVIEWED NOV 17 2 DBA

3 accmpanied by full dcumentary evidence. The cmpleted frms, tgether with the necessary dcumentary evidence, are t be submitted t the Bursar n later than the date f the Entrance Exam in any year fr bursaries t start the fllwing September. Step Tw. The Bursar assesses all applicatins in rder t establish the likely level f supprt which will be required in rder t allw the child t attend the Cllege. This may invlve The Bursar, r a representative, visiting the parents/guardians hme t ensure the infrmatin has been crrectly interpreted and the basis f the financial assessment has been fair. Step Three. The Bursar prepares a recmmendatin in accrdance with St Jseph s Cllege Scale f Awards which is cnsidered with the Principal and a jint recmmendatin is then reached. Step Fur. The jint recmmendatin is presented t the Bursary Cmmittee fr apprval. Step Five. End f March. The parents/guardians are advised whether their child is t be ffered a place at the Cllege and f the bursary ffer. Step Six. Parents/guardians are then required t sign a letter accepting the place at the Cllege and an acknwledgement agreeing t any cnditins relating t the bursary. The Case fr Assistance. The Principal and Bursar will cnsider a number f factrs when making the judgement as t the justificatin fr supprt, and the extent f such supprt. In the main, the child s suitability fr the Cllege is the first cnsideratin in granting supprt. Suitability. In assessing a child s suitability, attentin will be given t the academic assessment result f each applicant, but ptential will als be cnsidered as well as actual achievement. Bursary funds are limited and thse judged mst likely t gain mst frm the educatinal prvisin will be given pririty. Each pupil t whm supprt is ffered must, in the pinin f the Principal, be likely t make sund academic prgress fllwing admissin and pssess the ptential t develp the quality f his r her wrk, and benefit frm participatin in the wider, extra-curricular activities n ffer at the Cllege. In nrmal circumstances, each applicant shuld meet the Cllege s nrmal academic requirements. Previus Cllege reprts will be lked at fr evidence f gd behaviur. Financial Limitatins. The amunt f bursary award is nt influenced by the level f the academic ability f the child but by the extent f need. Each case is assessed n its wn merits and awards are made accrdingly, subject t the Cllege s ability t fund these within the cntext f what is viable within its verall budget. It is recgnised that judgements abut what sacrifices a family shuld make t pay Cllege fees will be persnal. Hwever, the Cllege has a duty t ensure that all bursary grants are well fcussed and s, as well as current earnings, ther factrs which will be cnsidered in determining the necessary level f grant will include: The ability t imprve the financial psitin r earning pwer f the family. Fr example, where there are tw partners, bth wuld be expected t be emplyed unless ne is prevented frm ding s thrugh incapacity, the need t care fr children under Cllege age r ther dependents, r the requirements f their partner s wrk. 3 REVIEWED NOV16 NEXT REVIEWED NOV 17 3 DBA

4 Opprtunities t release any capital. Significant capital savings and investments wuld be expected t be used fr the payment f Cllege fees, as wuld equity values in huses. In cases f separatin, the cntributin made by the absent parent. Cntributin t husehld csts by ther, wider, family members, any adults unrelated t the child r by utside surces. Where fees are being paid t ther Cllege s (r universities) the Cllege s grant will take int accunt all these utgings. Acknwledging that thers might have a different view, the Cllege cnsiders that the fllwing wuld nt be cnsistent with the receipt f a bursary: Frequent r expensive hlidays. New r luxury cars. Investment in significant hme imprvements. A secnd prperty r land-hldings. Other Factrs. It is recgnised that, in additin t academic ability and financial cnstraints, there may be ther circumstances which shuld be cnsidered. These include: Where a child has siblings at the Cllege. Where the scial needs f the child are relevant (eg: may be suffering frm bullying at their present Schl/Cllege). Where a parent/guardian is terminally ill r is unable t secure permanent emplyment due t pr health. Where a separatin has resulted in the child having t be withdrawn frm the Cllege adding t the stress f cping with the parents/guardians separating. Existing Pupils - Change in Family Circumstances Within verall budget funding the Cllege will, in nrmal circumstances, set aside each year a Hardship Fund, fr cases f sudden, unfreseen need r where applicatins meriting bursary assistance are received ut f the nrmal calendar cycle fr bursary submissin, scrutiny and award. This sum will be set within budgetary cnstraints. Parents/guardians with a child at the Cllege whse financial circumstances suddenly change may apply fr a bursary t the Bursar explaining their situatin and using the frms at Annex A. Such awards are subject t the availability f funding and cannt be guaranteed. Annual Review Annual Review Bursary awards are subject t annual review by Bursary Administratin Ltd n behalf f the Cllege and may be adjusted depending n parental circumstances. Annual review frms will be issued at the beginning f January each year fr return by the end f the mnth. All bursary 4 REVIEWED NOV16 NEXT REVIEWED NOV 17 4 DBA

5 awards are subject t repeat testing f parental means each year and may be varied upwards r dwnwards depending n parental circumstances. Current bursary hlders will be issued with repeat means-testing frms by the beginning f January each year fr return by the end f the mnth. Fr thse previusly in receipt f bursaries, the Principal and Bursar, in making their jint recmmendatin t the Bursary Cmmittee, have the discretin t recmmend t the Cmmittee the reductin r withdrawal f an award nt nly where a pupil s prgress, attitude r behaviur has been unsatisfactry but als where the parents/guardians have failed t supprt the Cllege, fr example by the late payment f any cntributin they are making t the fees. Cnfidentiality The Cllege respects the cnfidentiality f bursary awards made t families and recipients are expected t d likewise. Other Surces f Bursary Assistance In additin t the Cllege s Bursary Fund, there are a number f educatinal and charitable trusts which prvide assistance with tuitin fees. In the majrity f cases, these are t assist children wh are already attending a fee-paying Schl/Cllege and due t a change f circumstances may be unable t remain. St Jseph s Cllege encurages parents/guardians t apply fr supprt where it is felt a gd case can be made fr assistance. Further infrmatin n hw t pursue such assistance may be btained frm: The Bursar St Jseph s Cllege d.baber@stjs.c.uk Educatinal Grants Advice Independent Schls Cuncil c/ Ryal Natinal Children s Fundatin Sandy Lane Cbham Surrey KT11 2ES Tel: Annex: A. Bursary Applicatin Frm Please cntact the Bursar fr frm. B. Educatinal Trusts REVIEWED NOV16 NEXT REVIEWED NOV 17 5 DBA

6 Schlarship r Bursary: cnditins f award 1 Grant f the Award: An Award is granted at the sle discretin f the Cllege. 2 Obligatins f the pupil: The pupil wh is the subject f an Award is required t wrk hard, t cntribute psitively t the life f the Cllege, t be a credit t the Cllege and t set a gd example t ther pupils. The pupil must adhere t the Cllege's required standards f cnduct and prgress. These are the Purpses f the Award. 3 Obligatins f the parent(s): The parents are required t: 3.1 supprt and encurage the pupil t achieve the Purpses f the Award; and 3.2 supprt and uphld the aims, values, eths and gd name f the Cllege; and 3.3 cmply with the Cllege's Terms and Cnditins. 4 Means tested awards: All means tested awards will be subject t annual review and the parents shall each year be required t cmplete a financial means questinnaire. After any annual review, the Cllege reserves the right t vary the value f the award with immediate effect and will cnfirm the new value in writing t the parents. 5 Cntinuatin f the award: Cntinuatin f the award is dependent upn the fllwing cnditins being fulfilled: 5.1 in the case f a means tested award, the parents satisfy the Cllege's financial requirements each year; and / r 5.2 in respect f all awards: the financial resurces allcated by the Cllege t supprt the award being sufficient t maintain the award; and it being in the financial interests f the Cllege t maintain the award. 6 Cnfidentiality: The value and terms and cnditins f the award shall remain cnfidential between the parents and the pupil and the Cllege. 7 Terminatin f the award: The award may be terminated n the fllwing grunds: 7.1 terminatin n financial grunds: the Cllege may terminate the award n ne term's ntice in writing if, in the pinin f the Cllege s Gvernrs acting in gd faith: the parents have nt satisfied the Cllege's financial requirements under clause 4 and clause 5.1; r the Cllege is n lnger able t cntinue the award under clause 5.2. The terminatin shall take effect frm the date set ut in the written ntice; 7.2 terminatin n the grunds f cnduct: the Cllege may terminate the award by written ntice sent t the parents with immediate effect if, in the pinin f the 6 REVIEWED NOV16 NEXT REVIEWED NOV 17 6 DBA

7 Cllege s Gvernrs acting in gd faith, ne r mre f the fllwing cnditins has been fulfilled: the pupil has nt cmplied with the bligatins set ut in clause 2 and in the further pinin f the Gvernrs there has been n significant imprvement fllwing cnsultatin with the parents and / r the pupil and the issue f a written warning; r the parents have nt cmplied with the bligatins set ut in clause 3; r the parents f the pupil d nt keep the value and terms and cnditins f the award cnfidential in accrdance with clause 6; r the parents withdraw the pupil frm the Cllege withut prviding a full term's written ntice. 7.3 Repayment f the award: The parents will be required t repay all r part f the benefits received under the award, if it is terminated in any f the fllwing circumstances: under clause if the parents have knwingly r recklessly prvided false r inaccurate infrmatin abut their financial psitin, all benefits received frm the date n which the false r inaccurate infrmatin was supplied may be repayable; r under clause if the pupil has been fund t have cmmitted a serius breach r series f persistent minr breaches f discipline fr which the sanctin wuld nrmally be expulsin r required remval, up t three terms' benefits (if received) may be repayable. 8 Fees in lieu f ntice: Fr the avidance f dubt, the benefit receivable under an award will nt apply t any term fr which the Cllege requires payment f fees in lieu f ntice. 9 Cnditins f award: These cnditins f award take precedence ver any f the Cllege's Terms and Cnditins which are incnsistent with them but in all ther respects the Cllege's Terms and Cnditins as amended frm time t time shall apply and these cnditins f award shall be interpreted in accrdance with them. 7 REVIEWED NOV16 NEXT REVIEWED NOV 17 7 DBA