Bursaries and Scholarships

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Upper School Open Morning

Saturday 26th September 2009, 9.30am to 12pm

Deadline for Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+) Applications

31st December 2009 at 5pm

Assistance with school fees (bursaries)

We offer a number of means-tested bursaries for families of limited means. Financial support is available ranging from 5% to 100% of school fees. In the last financial year, the school provided over £400,000 of means-tested bursary support.

Applicants applying to the Perse for a bursary are subject to the standard assessment criteria that form part of the entrance tests. Places are only offered to applicants who meet the admissions criteria.

All applications for bursary places are assessed on a means-tested basis and will include an interview at the school. There are no residence qualifications; however family situations - including the number of school-aged children, the financial circumstances of both parents, and of any current partner of one or both parents - will be taken into account, along with social security benefits and other financial details. These will include both capital and current income. Any awards made for the current year will be subject to annual means-testing thereafter.

As a very rough guide, combined family incomes of much more than £50,000 with one school-aged child, are unlikely to qualify for financial assistance with fees. The school will operate a sliding scale below this limit which it reserves the right to vary in special cases, but all awards are at the absolute discretion of the school. The number of awards which can be made each year is limited. The Deputy Bursar can provide guidance in individual cases.

How to apply for assistance with school fees

Parents should complete and return the Registration Form and Registration Fee (see link at bottom of page) to the Admissions Office before 31st December in the year prior to entry. Please ensure that you tick the box on the Registration Form which indicates that you are applying for 'means-tested assistance with school fees'. The Admissions Office will pass the form to the Bursary Office who will contact you directly. It may be helpful to know that the Bursary will need a detailed means-test form returned by the date when the entrance test takes place.

Harvey Bursary

Thanks to a Cambridge businessman’s generosity, we can also offer a number of Harvey Bursaries to pupils entering the school in Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+) and Lower Sixth (16+).

Harvey Bursaries are available to children who:

are from a state sector primary or secondary school (although we can occasionally consider exceptional cases from elsewhere, and people of different ages)
are able to show leadership and brainpower skills in a particular area of science or technology or possibly in a similar field
are interested in science and/or technology
show initiative and determination to succeed rather than just being clever
will probably not be able to come to the school without financial help

How to apply for a Harvey Bursary

Parents should complete and return the Registration Form and Registration Fee (see link at bottom of page) to the Admissions Office before 31st December in the year prior to entry. Please ensure that you tick the box on the Registration Form which indicates that you are applying for 'means-tested assistance with school fees' and enclose a covering letter stating that you would also like your child to be considered for a Harvey Bursary. The Admissions Office will pass the form to the Bursary Office who will contact you directly. It may be helpful to know that the Bursary will need a detailed means-test form returned by the date when the entrance test takes place.

Scholarships

The school offers a small number of scholarships each year to pupils of exceptional merit. These awards are not means tested but are limited in value.

Scholarships - Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+)

Academic Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of performance in the annual Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+) entrance tests held in January each year. The school makes awards only if candidates of sufficient merit apply, and will withdraw an award in extreme circumstances if a candidate subsequently fails to justify it.

Music scholarships - potential music scholars will be expected to pass the entrance test and to satisfy the other requirements of Year 7 (11+) and Year 9 (13+) entrants (e.g. a satisfactory reference from your current school).

They will also be given music auditions in January, by arrangement with the Director of Music (who will be happy to meet parents and candidates informally beforehand). The audition will be on a candidate's main instrument (and a second instrument if they have one). Singing may be offered, either as a main or secondary component. There will also be a sight-reading exercise and an aural test.

Year 7 (11+) candidates will probably have Grade 4 or higher on at least one instrument, and Year 9 (13+) candidates will have reached at least Grade 5. The school is however looking for future potential rather than current achievement, and will take previous musical opportunities (or lack of them) into account when assessing a candidate, so those with fewer or no formal qualifications should not feel automatically excluded.

Music scholars will be expected to join in as many of the school's musical activities as possible long-term - including those which take place on Saturdays. It is our normal expectation that they will learn at least one instrument in school rather than outside. Parents are asked to discuss any potential clashes with musical commitments outside school, and any concerns about instrumental teaching requirements, with the Director of Music in advance of the scholarship auditions.

How to apply for a scholarship

No application is required for Academic Scholarships. They are awarded on the basis of performance in the entrance tests.

To apply for a Music Scholarship, you should complete the Music Scholarship application form (see link at bottom of page) and return it with the Registration Form and Registration Fee to the Admissions Office by 31st December in the year prior to entry. Please ensure that you tick the box on the Registration Form which indicates that you are applying for a Music Scholarship.

All scholarships are eligible for bursary supplementation on a means-tested basis.

Scholarships - Sixth Form

Academic, music, art and general scholarships are awarded on merit and are not means tested. All applicants wishing to apply for a scholarship must complete and return the sixth form scholarships forms. They should be returned with the Registration Form and Registration Fee to the Admissions Office by Wednesday 25th November 2009.