School Assisted Places – A brief guide for parents

The School has limited funds available, according to financial need, to support pupils through the Schools Assisted Places Scheme. These awards are made on academic merit in the Entrance Examination in Year 7 and will involve a meeting at School with a member of the Bursary staff.

These means-tested awards are given to support families whose child demonstrates academic excellence and wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford some or all of the school fees. Parents who notify us that they require financial assistance are invited to complete an application form so that the Bursaries Committee can determine the level of award applicable, if any.

School assisted places are dependent on a family’s financial circumstances. We do not publish guidance on qualifying income levels as each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. To qualify for financial assistance, families are expected to be doing everything they can to maximise their income before applying to the school for help.

An independent company will carry out a home visit to assist in the assessment of family circumstances. All applications are then considered by the Bursaries Committee, chaired by the Head.

We support as many applications as we can. In 2023/24, several pupils received fee reductions. Awards are competitive and based on academic merit and financial need.

If your son has performed exceptionally well at GCSE and greater support is required, contact grammar.admissions@lsf.org  to arrange an initial confidential conversation.

FAQs

Who is the scheme for?

The scheme was established to help able children whose parents cannot afford full independent school fees. Awards are normally made only to those entering Year 7 to Year 12.

How much will parents be expected to contribute?

If your annual income is below a certain level, you may have to pay very little towards the fees. The principles underlying the operation of the scheme are that parental income and assets must fall within a certain range to ensure eligibility and the amount of financial assistance provided each year by the Governors will be determined by the level of the parents’ income and assets in the preceding year.

Who will meet the remaining cost of the fees?

The Governors of the Loughborough Schools Foundation have bursary and bequest funds available. These funds will provide the money necessary to maintain the scheme. Funds are limited and it is not always possible to provide assistance to all those who are eligible. The contributions made by Governors to the school fees of those pupils who hold School Assisted Places will be reviewed annually and will always be at the discretion of the Governors.

How to apply?

To apply for assistance, we will require you to complete a ‘Confidential Statement of Financial Circumstance’ form. The deadline for submission of the form is Monday 31 October 2022. Parents will know by the end of January whether or not a place is being awarded and whether there is a possibility of financial support being offered; the amount of any help is subject to the outcome of a School visit and to subsequent confirmation by the Bursary Committee. It is important to note that the academic merit of pupils as well as the financial situation of the parents will be taken into account when considering the award of Foundation Bursaries. With regret it is not possible to offer support to all those parents whose financial circumstances warrant it.

Sir Thomas White Trust Scholarship for Sixth Form  

Loughborough Schools Foundation are pleased to invite strong academic applicants who live in Leicestershire and Rutland with the opportunity to apply for the Sir Thomas White Trust Scholarship. The Scholarship is available for students who are currently educated in a state school and who would not have the means to pay for a place normally. The Scholarship will cover all tuition fees for Sixth Form study for two years. 

The Sir Thomas White charity awards a maximum of three sixth form scholarships to independent schools across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland each year.  Therefore please be aware that this is a competitive process for applicants and that not all schools/colleges taking part in the programme will be able to award scholarships.

Further details, eligibility criteria and the application process can be found on the Sir Thomas White Trust website: http://www.stwcharity.co.uk/scholarships/  

Application forms for Sixth Form study at Loughborough Grammar School can be accessed here: Registration Form Sixth Form

For further information or to make an application, please contact our Admissions on 01509 278101 or by email admissions@lsf.org

Lorraine Simmons Scholarship

The Lorraine Simmons Scholarship was established in memory of a well-known Assistant Matron at Loughborough Grammar School. Alumni remember “Miss Sim” as an immensely warm and kind woman who looked after her boys with real care and friendship that in many cases continued for years after they left. The scholarship is awarded on academic merit and financial need to support a boy who would never otherwise have the opportunity to attend the school. It provides 100% tuition fees for a bright local boy from Year 7 through to Year 13. The recipient must live locally to the school, with a strong preference for a pupil from a disadvantaged background in Loughborough or Shepshed.

To enquire further please contact the Registrar.