Assisted Places Scheme
General
The Trustees of Dunottar School are committed to broadening access to the school by offering to eligible parents/guardians means-tested financial support with the payment of school fees. These are called assisted places and may be awarded in the form of a discount of up to 100% on tuition fees payable, depending on the financial, compassionate or other special circumstances of applicants.
Assisted Places Awards are subject to testing of parental means each year and may be varied upwards or downwards, depending on parental circumstances. Awards are judged against a Scale of Awards, which sets out award levels in relation to a family’s financial circumstances. The Scale of Awards is reviewed and revised annually by the Trustees to reflect any changes in fees and costs.
New Applicants to the School
Attention is drawn to the possibility of gaining means-tested financial support with the payment of school fees in:
- The School prospectus
- The School website
- The School advertising and promotional material
The Application Process
Assisted places may be made available to parents/guardians of children entering from year 7 upwards of Dunottar School. They are awarded at the discretion of the Trustees.
- Parents/guardians seeking an Assisted Place are required to complete an application form to establish the financial circumstances of the household. The completed forms, together with the necessary documentary evidence, are to be submitted to the Bursar no later than the 1st February for awards to start in the autumn term.
- The School assesses all applications in order to establish the likely level of support which will be required in order to allow the child to attend the School. This may involve a representative of the school visiting the parents/guardians’ home to ensure the information has been correctly interpreted and the basis of the financial assessment has been fair.
- All applications are assessedin accordance with the Dunottar School Scale of Awards.
- The recommended awards are presented to the Trustees for approval.
- The parents/guardians are advised whether their child is to be offered a place at the School and of the Assisted Place offer. Parents will normally be advised by the end of February.
- Parents/guardians are required to sign a letter accepting the place at the school and an acknowledgement agreeing to any conditions relating to the Assisted Place Award.
How applications are considered
- The School will consider a number of factors when making the judgement as to the justification for support, and the extent of such support. In the main, the child’s suitability for the school is the first consideration in granting support.
- In assessing a child’s suitability, attention will be given to the academic assessment result of each applicant, but potential will also be considered as well as actual achievement. Assisted Places funds are limited and those judged most suitable will be given priority as those likely to gain most from the educational provision. Each pupil to whom support is offered must, in the opinion of the Head, be likely to make sound academic progress following admission and possess the potential to develop the quality of her work, and benefit from participation in the wider, extra-curricular activities on offer at the School. In normal circumstances, each applicant should meet the School’s standard academic requirements. Previous school reports will be consulted for evidence of good behaviour.
- The amount of the Assisted Places award is not influenced by the level of the academic ability of the child but by the extent of need. Each case is assessed on its own merits and awards are made accordingly, subject to the School’s ability to fund these within its overall budget.
- It is recognised that judgements about what sacrifices a family should make to pay school fees will be personal. However, the School has a duty to ensure that all awards are well focussed and so, as well as current earnings, other factors which will be considered in determining the necessary level of grant will include:
- The ability to improve the financial position or earning power of the family. For example, where there are two partners, both would be expected to be employed 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 any capital. Significant capital savings and investments would be expected to be used for the payment of school fees, as would equity values in houses.
- In cases of separation, the contribution made by the absent parent.
- Contribution to household or education costs by other, wider, family members, any adults unrelated to the child or by outside sources.
- The number of other dependent children in education and related financial circumstances.
Existing Pupils - Change in Family Circumstances
Within overall budget funding, the School will also consider cases of sudden, unforeseen need or where applications meriting financial assistance are received out of the normal calendar cycle for Assisted Places submission, scrutiny and award. Parents/guardians with a child at the School whose financial circumstances suddenly change may apply for financial assistance to the School by completing an application form and giving a full explanation of the change in circumstances. Such awards are subject to the availability of funding and cannot be guaranteed.
Annual Review
All awards are subject to testing of parental means each year and may be varied upwards or downwards depending on parental circumstances. Current holders will be issued with means-testing forms during the summer term each year for return by the end of June. The Trustees may reduce or withdraw an award where a pupil’s progress, attitude or behaviour has been unsatisfactory or where the parents/guardians have failed to support the school, including the late payment of any contribution they are making to the fees.
Confidentiality
All awards are confidential and recipients are required as a condition of granting the assistance to maintain this confidence.
Other Sources of Fee Assistance
In addition to the School’s Assisted Places Scheme, there are a number of educational and charitable trusts which provide assistance with tuition fees. In the majority of cases, these are to assist children who are already attending a fee-paying school and due to a change of circumstances may be unable to remain. Dunottar School encourages parents/guardians to apply for support where it is felt a good case can be made for assistance. Further information on how to pursue such assistance may be obtained from the school.