welcome from the head
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Thank you for your interest in Kingswood’s bursary programme.
For over 275 years, Kingswood has proudly provided both exceptional education and financial support to young people. As a school founded by John Wesley, our ethos has always been rooted in welcoming pupils who can truly benefit from our transformational education, regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.
We are pleased to share that this year, we are providing bursaries to support over 50 pupils. However, this represents a significant stretch on the school’s resources, and each year, the number of bursary requests exceeds what we are able to offer. We are actively working to raise additional funds to expand future bursary opportunities, but our current resources remain fixed.
I am acutely aware that awarding financial support to a student who does not truly need it would mean another deserving student may miss out on the opportunity to benefit from a Kingswood education. Before submitting a bursary application, I trust that you have explored all possible
funding options, including any support available through extended family or other means within your network.
Should you decide to proceed with your application, please know that we will consider it carefully. Our bursary application form is detailed and will require a significant commitment of time and attention from your family. It is essential that your application reflects a full and accurate disclosure of your financial position, as incomplete forms cannot be accepted.
As part of your application, we will ask for your confirmation that all financial information provided is complete and truthful. Receiving a bursary is the beginning of a unique relationship with Kingswood, and I ask that you approach the application with this spirit of trust and integrity.
I look forward to getting to know you and your child as you move through the application process. Please know that Kingswood is here to support you, and we will do our utmost to assist in any way we can.
Warm regards,
Mr Andrew Gordon-Brown Headmaster & Principal of The Kingswood Foundation
kingswood bursaries
Kingswood School seeks to provide financial assistance to those whose family income would otherwise preclude them from attending, and where a Kingswood education may be particularly beneficial.
The School has no endowment, and the value and number of bursaries will be varied according to the strength of applications and the number of bursary holders already within the School. Bursaries are not available for pupils attending the Kingswood Preparatory School unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Bursaries normally range in value from between 10% and 50% remission from fees, but in exceptional circumstances, larger bursaries of up to 100% of the basic fees can be awarded. In some cases, the School will also work with a charity, such as
the Methodist Central Bursary Fund or the Joint Educational Trust (JET), so that additional financial assistance beyond the School’s contribution is available. Charities which offer such bursarial assistance have their own criteria which must be met by parents.
In addition to financial need, the School’s criteria for awarding bursaries are:
▶ To enable very academically able pupils to benefit from the education Kingswood has to offer;
▶ To enable pupils with a particular talent to benefit from the education Kingswood has to offer;
▶ To widen the social spectrum benefiting from an independent education.
It is expected that families will have investigated all means of funding before requesting a bursary.
The following would not be consistent with an award of financial assistance:
▶ New or luxury cars
▶ Frequent or expensive holidays
▶ Investment in significant home improvements
▶ Second property or land holdings
▶ Excessive expenditure on eating out, retail services or expensive hobbies
The following guidelines may be useful as you consider an application:
Income from all sources will be considered net of taxes, including contributions by others to household costs and outgoings such as household expenses, mortgages and pension contributions.
Both parents will be expected to work, 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 capital such as through savings, investments or the release of equity in a family’s main residence or by securing funds through the support of family should be used.
Costs of fees paid to Kingswood for siblings will be considered. The cost of educating a child at another school or university cannot be taken into consideration.
application process for new students
Eligibility
for students new to Kingswood is assessed via a
Means
Tested Declaration and an assessment of income and capital. Families will be provided a link to complete their declaration.
The decision to award (or not award) a bursary and the size of the bursary is then made by the Principal, in consultation with key members of the Foundation Lead Team. For September 2026 applicants, the timeline below will be followed:
Additional criteria also considered:
▶ Whether there are personal circumstances which warrant trying to enable a particular pupil to attend the School (either real need in the case of the child or obvious qualities which would benefit the School community);
▶ Whether the pupil has been given a scholarship. Some families are not dependent upon a scholarship being a monetary one. Others can only afford to send their child if the scholarship helps reduce the cost of the fees. Therefore, consideration is given as to whether a small monetary scholarship might be increased by the award of additional bursary assistance or whether the holder of an honorary scholarship should also be offered bursarial support;
▶ Whether the pupil has existing connections with the School (such as through the family) or strong connections and/or involvement in the Methodist Church. Notification of any awards to be made will be sent to parents at the same time as the results of the entrance examination are released.
Any offer of a bursary will be confirmed at the same time as an offer of a place. Each year, demand for bursaries is higher than the available funding and families should be aware that not every application will be result in the offer of a bursary.
Year 7
Year 9
Year 12
application process for current students
For students currently attending Kingswood School, parents should be aware that the School would not expect to provide financial assistance within the first two years of a student joining (other than being in receipt of a bursary on entry), since it is expected that sufficient financial resources exist to cover school fees commitments during this period.
Parents seeking to complete a bursary application should contact bursaryapplications@kingswood. bath.sch.uk to request an application form. Eligibility is assessed via a Means Tested Declaration and an assessment of income and capital. The decision to award (or not award) a bursary and the size of the bursary is then decided by the Principal, in consultation with key members of the Foundation Lead Team.
As with students applying to join Kingswood School, additional criteria is considered:
▶ Siblings already attending Kingswood School;
▶ Any existing scholarship or other award;
▶ The year group of the child (particularly where a child is in a public examination year);
▶ Social or psychological needs;
▶ Other sources of funds;
▶ Where a parent/guardian is terminally ill or is unable to secure permanent employment due to poor health.
DURATION OF AWARDS
A bursary, where awarded, is tenable for 12 months.
Families will be required to complete a further Means-Tested Form each year, usually in the Spring Term. This will usually lead to the bursary being renewed on the same terms, or if the financial situation has changed significantly, it being decreased, or increased.
In addition, the School reserves the right to withdraw a bursary should a pupil’s conduct or school work prove unsatisfactory and where there is evidence that they are not making the most of the opportunities.
We encourage families who feel that they may require the support of a bursary to enable their child to attend Kingswood to discuss this with the School as soon as possible.
Hardship for current pupils
Subsequent to entry, the School operates a Hardship Bursary Fund for those whose financial arrangements have unexpectedly changed for the worse.
Parents/guardians of a pupil at the School whose financial circumstances suddenly change may apply for a bursary to the Director of Finance explaining their situation and by contacting, bursaryapplications@kingswood.bath.sch.uk at any time during the year.
Applications will not be considered from current families with arrears in fee payments.
Where offered, such grants will typically be expressed as a percentage of school fees and are subject to the availability of funding and cannot be guaranteed. Such grants may be provided to secure attendance at Kingswood the end of the academic year. A bursary application may then be considered for future years, although an award cannot be guaranteed.
The School’s Remission Policy can be found here
Families may wish to consider alternate sources of support as there are a number of educational and charitable trusts which provide assistance with tuition fees. The School encourages parents/ guardians to apply for support where it is felt a good case can be made for assistance.
Some information is available from the Educational Trusts’ Forum at: www.educational-grants.org or from the Independent Schools Educational Grants Advice helpline: 01932 865619.
Kingswood Senior School Lansdown Road • Bath • BA1 5RG • UK
Admissions
T: 01225 734210 • E: admissions@kingswood.bath.sch.uk www.kingswood.bath.sch.uk