Bursaries

Bursary Support

STAHS is committed to providing a transformative secondary education to as many as possible of the young people who meet our entry criteria, regardless of their families’ financial circumstances.

Bursary funding is available to pupils applying for Year 7 and Year 12 entry to the Senior School. (In exceptional circumstances Bursary Awards may be awarded to pupils applying to join Senior School in other year groups. Bursary Awards are not available to pupils applying to join the Prep School.). Bursary Awards provide up to 100% assistance with School tuition fees. The School may also make additional awards over and above the cost of tuition fees, for example to assist with costs such as travel, uniform, School lunches, educational trips and music lessons.

The School considers a number of factors when making a judgement on the offer of financial support. As with all applications for places, we seek to identify pupils who will gain most from and give most to STAHS. In assessing a child’s suitability, potential as well as attainment in examinations and assessments are considered. Bursary funds are limited and priority will be given to those we judge can benefit most from our curricular and co-curricular provision. Each pupil to whom support is offered must, in the opinion of the Head, be likely to make good academic progress following admission and benefit from participation in the wider, co-curricular activities on offer at the School. Each applicant should meet the School’s normal academic requirements.

To apply for a bursary we ask you to complete a detailed bursary application form to help us to assess accurately each individual application. The application deadlines for pupils joining in September 2025 are:

Senior School:  Friday 15 November 2024
Sixth Form: Monday 4 November 2024

We will be delighted to help you through the bursary application process – please contact our Admissions office.

I was incredibly grateful to be chosen, it meant I could continue indulging my love of studying
Alumna Sofia

Bursary FAQ's

Many common questions are addressed here, but should you require any additional information, please contact our Admissions team at admissions@stahs.org.uk or on 01727 792 509.

What is a Bursary Award?

Bursary Award gives parents who have accepted the offer of a place at STAHS a percentage reduction in the School tuition fees.
It is only awarded to those parents who are unable to pay the full fees and who successfully apply to the School for a formal assessment of their financial situation. The value of the award is therefore means-tested and, depending on the parents’ financial circumstances, it could be up to 100% of tuition fees. Bursary Awards are discretionary and subject to the financial resources of the School.

Families with a gross household income below £85,000 pa may be eligible for an award, subject to net assets. This figure is indicative only and the School cannot guarantee that it will apply to particular parents. The money to support bursaries all comes from the School and from donations. There is no government support.

What does a Bursary Award cover?

The Bursary Award will cover or part-cover the School tuition fees. It may also cover or part-cover educational trips, training camps, examination fees, School lunches, uniform and the School coach service where applicable.

Are there any other costs?

Parents in receipt of a Bursary Award will be required to pay any balance of termly fees in accordance with the School’s terms and conditions. A deposit is also payable when parents accept the offer of a place, but this may be reduced in the event that a substantial Bursary is awarded. Deposits are refundable following a pupil’s final year at the School.

How do Bursary Awards differ from Scholarships?

Bursary Awards are granted on the basis of financial need and Scholarships are awarded to signify outstanding achievement in Academics, Art, Drama, Design and Technology, Music Instrumental and Choral or Sport. Scholarships at STAHS are largely honorary, worth 10% of School tuition fees.

How do we apply for a Bursary Award?

All applicants must fill in the online application for a place form and pay the application fee (please contact the Admissions team at
admissions@stahs.org.uk if you need to request a reduction or waiver of the application fee). The main application form includes a point to indicate that you wish to apply for a Bursary Award. A Bursary Application Form will then be sent to you.

When will we be assessed?

We will assess your application after receipt of your completed application for a place form, bursary application form and supporting documents. This will usually happen between November and March in the year of application. Late applications are unlikely to be accepted and incomplete applications may disqualify you from Bursary assistance and may delay the assessment process.

How will we be assessed?

You will be sent a bursary application form to complete and return. It will ask questions about your household financial income, expenditure and assets/liabilities, details of any investments you hold, your accommodation and your dependants. We require documented evidence to verify the information you provide and these documents will be sent to Bursary Administration Ltd, who will carry out the appropriate assessment on behalf of STAHS.

When will we find out if we qualify for a Bursary Award?

Offers of School places include the outcome of Bursary Award applications, so you will hear whether your child has a place at STAHS and if we are able to offer Bursary support at the same time.

How is my child assessed for a place at STAHS?

STAHS is a highly academically selective school. The admission processes for each entry point differ and are set out in the School’s Admissions Policy. Full details and timings of the process for each entry point can be found in the Admissions section of the School website. Please be aware, deadlines for application for a place differ depending on selected year of entry. Bursary application assessments are conducted independently of the academic selection process.

If I already receive a Bursary Award for one child at the School, will I be able to apply for additional support if another child is offered a place at STAHS?

Yes, a Bursary awarded for one child will be taken into account in assessing the support necessary for another.

How can you ensure that my child will not be treated differently to other pupils?

The Bursary application process is undertaken by the Finance Office at STAHS, independent of the admissions process, and the data provided is used for the purposes of assessing your application for financial assistance. An application for a Bursary Award will not affect a candidate’s academic eligibility and vice-versa. Once a place is awarded, only certain senior members of staff will be aware of Bursary recipients and this information is treated with discretion.

The Deputy Head Pastoral is the first point of contact for Bursary pupils or their parents if they have any queries or concerns about settling in and thriving at STAHS. The School focuses on ensuring that every girl is fully integrated into School life irrespective of their economic background, so that they can all benefit from what STAHS has to offer.

Does the Bursary Award last for my child’s entire schooling?

The Bursary Award is discretionary and is subject to an annual means test re-assessment. The value of any award is calculated against a sliding scale, which means that if your income increases, the amount of assistance may diminish and vice-versa.

How do I arrange to visit STAHS and find out more about the School?

Call the Admissions team on 01727 792 509 or email admissions@stahs.org.uk. We will be happy to discuss the ways in which you can visit the School and meet current pupils and staff.

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