Parents want the best for their children, but that is becoming increasingly expensive and may put some off applying to independent schools.

But it shouldn’t. Bursaries are a game changer with almost all schools now offering them, and they all want to fill those places.

Schools are investing in fundraising, establishing Development offices to raise funds to enable and increase bursary provision. Many schools that previously offered a wide range of scholarships have now moved to bursaries only. Widening access and having a genuinely mixed school population enriches the school in every way, whilst in many cases transforming lives.

Bursaries are means-tested and offered according to need, scholarships are offered based on talent and often carry little or no monetary value. These are often used to attract pupils – kudos if you like. Bursaries though can make the difference and enable a child to take a place they otherwise couldn’t. When I started out in this field, most bursaries offered were 100% or close but as time has gone on, and incomes are squeezed, fees go up, more and more bursaries are being offered ranging from 25% to 80%. That makes a huge difference.

I would encourage any family thinking about this to do their homework – identify the schools you think will suit your child, research their bursary provision and procedure – and all will be different of course! Some schools are far ahead on bursary provision – Latymer Upper, Eton, Whitgift, Benenden, Christ’s Hospital, Reigate Grammar, Brighton College to name a few. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they are the right one for your child and they’re not the only schools offering bursaries. Find out what they will want from you – and it will be a detailed look at your circumstances which you need to both be prepared for and honest about. Be realistic – life is about choices and if you would like to send your child to a certain school but also still have three holidays a year, the school is not going to fund those. But don’t think that because you are not in genuine need of an 100% bursary they won’t consider you – not the case and it is certainly worth applying.

As ever for me, it comes down to the right child in the right place. This time with an added dimension and a bit more parental input. But do it properly and you will get that result. For 16 years I was at the forefront of increasing bursary provision in the schools I worked in – it was without exception the best bit of my job. I know the bursary landscape inside out and can help you get your child to that school.

By Cat Sutherland Hawes

Schools Advisor