The purpose of the Assisted Place Bursary Scheme is to ensure that girls of high academic ability, but whose parents are of limited financial means, are able to attend the school.  An Assisted Place Bursary can be awarded to pupils entering the School providing the pupil is of sufficiently high academic ability and her parents are of limited financial means. 

Where funds are limited awards will be made on the basis of the applicant's performance in the entrance examination.  The award is subject to annual financial assessment.  Consideration will be given to those awarded a full fee bursary receiving a fee remission on the following extras, which are directly related to attendance at LEH: transport to and from school, uniform and sports equipment, field trips which are part of the curriculum, public examination entry fees.

The Application Process:
Bursaries are awarded at the discretion of the Governors. The Head and Bursar are responsible for the management and coordination of the process.

Step One: Parents should apply for an Assisted Place Bursary when they confirm that their daughter is to sit the entrance examination. Parents / guardians seeking a bursary are required to complete an application form which seeks to establish the financial circumstances of the household. The form, which requests details of income and capital, must be accompanied by full documentary evidence. The completed forms, together with the necessary documentary evidence, are to be submitted to the Bursar no later than the date of the Entrance Examination  in any year for bursaries to start the following September.

Step Two: All applications will be assessed in order to establish the likely level of support which will be required in order to allow the child to attend the School. This may involve the Bursar, or his representative, visiting the parents / guardians' home to ensure the information has been correctly interpreted and the basis of the financial assessment has been fair.

Step Three: The Bursar prepares a recommendation which is considered with the Head and a joint recommendation is then reached.

Step Four: The parents / guardians are advised whether their child is to be offered a place at the School and whether or not a Bursary will be available.

Step Five: Parents / guardians are required to sign a letter accepting the place at the school and an acknowledgement agreeing to any conditions relating to the bursary. Parents awarded an Assisted Place Bursary are required to provide a reduced place deposit based on the level of the award as follows:

Parental Contribution

The Case for Assistance

The Head and Bursar will consider a number of factors when making the judgement as to the justification for support, and the extent of such support. In the main, the child's suitability for the school is the first consideration in granting support.

Suitability. In assessing a child's suitability, attention will be given to the academic assessment result of each applicant, but potential will also be considered as well as actual achievement. Bursary funds are limited therefore awards will be made on the basis of the applicant's performance in the entrance examination. Each pupil to whom support is offered must, in the opinion of the Head, be likely to make sound academic progress following admission and possess the potential to develop the quality of her work, and benefit from participation in the wider, extra-curricular activities on offer at the School. Previous school reports will be consulted for evidence of good behaviour.

Financial Limitations

(1) The amount of the bursary award is not influenced by the level of the academic ability of the child but by the extent of the need.

(2) Each case is assessed on its own merits and awards are made accordingly, subject to the School's ability to fund these within the context of what is viable within the context of its overall budget.

(3) It is recognised that judgements about what sacrifices a family should make to pay school fees will be personal. However, the School has a duty to ensure that all bursary grants are well focussed and so, as well as current earnings, other factors which will be considered in determining the necessary level of grant will include:

• The ability to improve the financial position or earning power of the family. For example, where there are two partners, both would be expected to be employed unless one is prevented from doing so through incapacity, the need to care for children under school age or other dependents, or the requirements of their partner's work.
• Opportunities to release any capital. Significant capital savings and investments would be expected to be used for the payment of school fees, as would equity values in houses.
• In cases of separation, the contribution made by the absent parent.
• Contribution to household costs by other, wider, family members, any adults unrelated to the child or by outside sources.
• Where siblings are at other fee paying schools or places of education it would be expected that those organisations were offering bursaries of a similar value to those of LEH.

Acknowledging that others might have a different view, the School considers that the following would not be consistent with the receipt of a bursary:

• Frequent or expensive holidays.
• New or luxury cars.
• Investment in significant home improvements.
• A second property / land holdings.

Other Factors.

It is recognised that, in addition to academic ability and financial constraints, there may be other circumstances which should be considered. These could include:

• Where a child has siblings at the School.
• Where the social needs of the child are relevant.
• Where a parent / guardian is terminally ill or is unable to secure permanent employment due to poor health.
• Where a separation has resulted in the child having to be withdrawn from the School adding to the stress of coping with the parents/guardians separating.

Parents may be in receipt of a Scholarship / Exhibition and an Assisted Place Bursary, however, if a joint award is made, the total value of the support provided will not exceed the value of the Assisted Place Bursary had a Scholarship (or Exhibition) not been awarded.

Annual Review

All bursary awards are subject to repeat testing of parental means each year and may be varied upwards or downwards depending on parental circumstances. Bursary holders will be issued with repeat means-testing forms at the beginning of April each year for return by the end of the month. For those previously in receipt of bursaries, the Head and Bursar have the discretion to recommend to the Governors the reduction or withdrawal of an award not only where a pupil's progress, attitude or behaviour has been unsatisfactory but also where the parents/guardians have failed to support the school, for example by the late payment of any contribution they are making to the fees.

Confidentiality

The School respects the confidentiality of bursary awards made to families and recipients are expected to do likewise.

Other Sources of Bursary Assistance

In addition to the School's bursary Fund, there are a number of educational and charitable trusts which provide assistance with tuition fees. In the majority of cases, these are to assist children who are already attending a fee-paying school and due to a change of circumstances may be unable to remain. LEH encourages parents / guardians to apply for support where it is felt a good case can be made for assistance. Further information on how to pursue such assistance may be obtained from:

The Educational Trusts Forum and also The Joint Educational Trust:

6 Lovat Lane, London,  EC3R 8DT

Email: admin@jetcharity.org

Website: http://www.jetcharity.org/