Bursaries Leaflet

BURSARIES AT HARROW HONG KONG 1

WELCOME FROM THE HEAD Dear Parents, Bursaries at Harrow Hong Kong are central to our School’s ethos, and enrich our entire community. A Harrovian education is a truly unique offering, combining the highest level of education with a well-balanced Super-Curriculum and Co-Curricular diet.

At Harrow Hong Kong, we believe that success should be measured not only by grades, but by one’s influence on the world. The willingness and ability to learn, to lead and to serve are what enable a life to be both well-lived and worthwhile. Our purpose is to develop these qualities in Harrovians during their time with us, by focusing on our six leadership qualities which run throughout the entire school and are embedded in our pupils: • Contributing positively to the community • Applying knowledge with compassion • Solving problems collaboratively • Solving problems creatively • Making fair and just choices • Facing challenges with determination Leadership is a very Harrovian quality and some of the great Old Harrovians, such as Winston Churchill, Jawaharlal Nehru and King Hussein of Jordan are renowned for providing profound leadership at significant points in modern history. Educational Excellence for Life and Leadership aims to equip and challenge Harrow Hong Kong pupils to use their knowledge, skills and talents to make life better for other people in their community and the wider world. These priorities are underpinned by our values, which inspire all of us to try harder as individuals, so that collectively we thrive.

Should you wish to apply for a place at our School please do contact us.

Ann Haydon Head

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INTRODUCTION FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES It is an honour to oversee the Scholarships and Bursaries Programme at Harrow Hong Kong. I have the privilege of working with fantastic pupils in this School who would not have been able to experience the outstanding opportunities of a Harrovian education without the support of this programme. As well as forming part of the diverse mix of pupils which reflects our ethos as an international school, these pupils contribute positively to the life of the School in a wide range of areas.

At Harrow Hong Kong, our Social Vision of ‘a caring, respectful community in which everyone thrives’ is at the heart of our leadership attributes. We believe that bright, deserving pupils should be able to study at Harrow Hong Kong irrespective of the income of their parents or guardians.

Towards this aim, we offer a number of transformational means-tested Bursaries to pupils who would benefit from a Harrovian education but whose parents or guardians cannot afford the full fees. This is an important part of the School’s charitable ethos and desire to make a positive impact on the local Hong Kong community.

I am delighted that you are interested in what we have on offer at Harrow Hong Kong and wish you all the best for your application and future education.

Mrs P. Hicks Mrs P. Hicks Head of Scholarships & Bursaries

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Bursary Awards Harrow International School Hong Kong is an independent fee-paying school. The School is committed to broadening access by offering means-tested financial support for the payment of school fees to eligible parents/guardians of pupils applying to the Upper School. Such support is known as a Bursary, which is awarded in the form of a discount of up to 100% on tuition fees, depending on the financial circumstances of applicants. The granting of a bursary is discretionary, but only families with a relatively low household income are likely to receive bursary assistance. Additional support for related costs, such as capital levy, transport and uniform, are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The School has a sum of money set aside for Bursaries. Each year some additional provision is made from School funds, however such provision will depend upon the School’s financial position. Parents who wish to apply for a Bursary will be asked by the School to complete a confidential statement of financial circumstances form which requires full information about the family’s financial position, with supporting documentation. Awards are made on an individual basis and are subject to annual review to reflect any changes in the cost and in the family’s financial circumstances, so may be revised upwards or downwards.

All pupils applying for a Bursary are expected to satisfy the School’s academic entrance requirements and, if the demand exceeds the number available, Bursaries are awarded with reference to performance in the admissions assessments.

Confidentiality: Harrow Hong Kong respects the confidentiality of Bursary awards made to families, and recipients are expected to do likewise.

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Scholarship Awards Harrow Hong Kong also offers a merit-based Scholarship Programme which includes a financial award as well as other opportunities and expectations. Scholarships are awarded to the brightest and most talented pupils in order to support, nurture and challenge their talent or academic prowess and dedication, further enabling them to be role models and contribute to the School community. Pupils may apply for Scholarships for entry into Year 6, Year 9 and Year 12, and they are awarded through a separate application and additional assessment process, which does not take into account financial circumstances.

Candidates may apply for both a Scholarship and a Bursary Award. More information on Scholarships can be found in the Scholarships Brochure on the School website. https://www.harrowschool.hk/admissions/scholarships-and-bursaries All Scholarship and Bursary awards are dependent on the availability of places in the School and at the discretion of the Head and the Governors.

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Application and Assessment All candidates for the School must follow the standard admissions application and assessment process for the Upper School (Year 6 upwards). Full details are available on the School website: https://www.harrowschool.hk/admissions/admissions-process The School’s vision statement ‘Educational Excellence for Life and Leadership’ and its Boarding ethos strongly influence the key areas of emphasis in the School and, therefore, the factors that are important in its admissions procedures and decisionmaking about which pupils to admit: • • • •

Academic ability Commitment to a broad range of co-curricular activities Developing relationships in and around the School community Alignment with the School’s ethos

Given the diversity of nationalities and first languages among its pupil body, English is the only inclusive language of the School and so applicants need to be proficient in English in order to access the full range of the curriculum and the community. The School’s admissions procedures, therefore, evaluate the current level of proficiency in English of all applicants in an age-appropriate way in order to assess their ability to access the curriculum.

A pupil for whom the Bursary award is made is expected to comfortably meet (and continue to meet) the normal criteria for admissions. A candidate is also expected to: • Receive strong supportive confidential references from their previous school(s) • At interview, demonstrate the ability to make the most of the opportunities presented by a Harrow Hong Kong education

Bursary Process To apply for a Bursary, candidates must submit the following: • • • •

An application for admission to the School Bursary application form A covering letter with details of any other factors to be taken into consideration Supporting documents as specified on the Bursary application form

If the candidate is successful in the standard admissions process, their Bursary application will be assessed and applicants should be informed of the outcome of a Bursary application at the same time that an offer of a place is made.

The admissions application deadline is November 1st of the year preceding entry. Bursary and Scholarship applications will not be accepted once the application deadline has passed.

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Eligibility Please be aware that being eligible for a Bursary in no way guarantees that an award will be made.

Financial Circumstances Funds available for Bursaries are limited. Consequently, the merits of applications are rigorously scrutinised. Matters that will be taken into account include, but are not limited to: • • • • •

The value of property Other assets and/or savings Whether both parents are working Whether parents are the owners of a company In cases of separation, what contribution is being made by the non-resident parent

As a rough guide, if the school fees amount to 50% of net household income after expenditure on rent, tax, MPF, utilities, etc, you would be eligible for a small Bursary, and there is a sliding scale based on net income. For example, if net income is lower than the cost of the school fees, then you could be eligible for a full Bursary.

Other Factors It is recognised that, in addition to academic ability and the School’s financial constraints, there may be other circumstances which should be considered, such as: • Whether a child has a sibling at Harrow Hong Kong • 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 their school • The parents are resident outside Hong Kong • Whether any Bursary application has been made for other children at a fee paying school Please enclose a covering letter with your application explaining any personal circumstances that you feel should be known when considering your application.

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HARROW INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG 38 Tsing Ying Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories, Hong Kong Tel: (+852) 2824 9099 Fax: (+852) 2824 9928

harrowschool.hk

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