FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND
THE HEADINGTON RYE ACCESS PROGRAMME
A limited number of means-tested financial awards, worth, in some cases, up to 100 per cent of day fees can be applied for through the Headington Rye Access Programme (HRAP) on application to the School for Year 7 (11+). Additional means tested financial awards of up to 50 per cent of day fees are also available for Year 9 (13+) entry. Financial assistance may also be considered for Year 12 (16+) entry through our programme of Special Awards. Regrettably, financial support for Prep School entry or boarding fees is not available.
If parents believe they may be eligible to receive financial assistance with senior school day fees, they should contact the Admissions Office for advice via admissions@headington.org. Exceptionally, under some circumstances, the Registration fee and deposit may be waived if this would cause your family financial hardship.
The Headington Rye Access Programme
Who can apply?
Local girls applying to the School for day places in the U3 (Year 7), U4 (Year 9) or L6 (Year 12), who live within a reasonable distance of the School, defined as being no greater than a thirty mile radius from Headington.
How many awards are made?
The number of awards varies annually depending on demand and affordability. The maximum number of transformational awards for 11+ applicants in any one year, worth up to 100 per cent of the day fees, is capped at four. Smaller awards, worth no more than 50% of the day fees, are also offered at other entry points. Financial assistance for 16+ applicants may also be considered for those awarded one of the School’s Special Awards.
What are the criteria for awards?
Financial Awards are determined by the academic performance of the pupil in the relevant entry assessments and by the family’s financial circumstances. The HRAP is entirely distinct from our scholarships programme, which is solely based on merit. HRAP awards are confidential and will go to those candidates who have met the entrance criteria and are deemed to benefit most from a Headington education. Parents should note that siblings do not automatically qualify for financial assistance.
HRAP funds are limited and the School exercises great care in making financial awards. Each pupil to whom support is offered must, in the opinion of the Headmistress, be likely to make sound academic progress following admission and possess the potential to develop the quality of their work and benefit from participation in the wider, extra-curricular activities on offer at the School. Each applicant should meet the School’s normal academic requirements.
How are requests assessed?
The value of the HRAP 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 the context of what is viable within its overall budget. It is recognised that judgements about what sacrifices a family should make to pay school fees will be personal.
However, Headington Rye Oxford, as a Charity, has a duty to ensure that all forms of financial assistance are used fairly and appropriately to support those families in greatest need. Consequently, as well as current earnings, other factors which will be considered in determining the necessary level of award 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.
- Where parents do not live together, the financial circumstances of both parents’ households. Both parents and their households will be assessed unless there is sufficient evidence that it would not be reasonable to do so. The assessment is based on the School’s assessment of both parents’ ability to contribute to the school fees and the contribution to household costs by other, wider, family members, any adults unrelated to the child or by outside sources.
Where fees are already being paid to other schools or child care providers the School will take this into account when considering the appropriate level of award for new bursary applicants. The reasonableness and sustainability of these arrangements will form part of the annual review on an ongoing basis.
The School considers that the following may not be consistent with the receipt of financial assistance:
- frequent or expensive holidays
- new or luxury cars including those on hire purchase
- the use of disposable income to repay loans for any of the above or to repay, for example, directors’ loans to personal companies
- investment in significant home improvements which are not required as part of the essential maintenance of the family home
- a second property/land holdings unless part of a business which is providing adequate income to be considered as such
- regular, excessive expenditure
The School uses a specialist external assessor (Bursary Administration Ltd) to conduct financial assessments. As part of this process, an assessor will conduct a home visit to discuss the application with the parents or guardians. Further information about Bursary Administration Ltd can be found here.
HRAP awards may be withdrawn at any point (including prior to a child joining the school) if incomplete information is provided or information relevant to the assessment is excluded, or attempts are made to conceal or mislead the school in its assessment. HRAP awards are subject to repeat assessment of parental means each year and may be varied upwards, downwards or withdrawn, depending on the outcome of the review. All HRAP awards are made at the sole discretion of the School and are subject to an ongoing duty of disclosure.
How to apply
All requests for financial assistance must be received at the time of registration, and before the relevant application deadline, in order to be considered.
Step One
Parents or guardians of those pupils seeking financial support must declare their intention to apply for a HRAP award on the application form when they register for a place at the School through the School’s online registration process. They will then be sent a link to the online HRAP application form in the Autumn Term of the academic year they are due to sit the entrance exam. The HRAP form seeks to establish the financial circumstances of the household and request details of income, expenditure, capital and debt. At this stage there is no requirement to upload supporting documentary evidence.
Step Two
The HRAP candidate is invited to attend the appropriate entrance assessment day alongside all those applying for a place at the School.
Step Three
Parents or guardians of HRAP candidates that pass the academic assessment and are deemed to be provisionally eligible for financial assistance will then receive an email from the School inviting them to upload supporting information or evidence for their HRAP application. This will include proof of your income and assets, such as P60s, payslips, HMRC self-assessment forms, mortgage statements, council tax bills or recent benefits paperwork. The School aims to inform all applicants that they are eligible to move to the next stage of the process within a week of the assessment day. Parents and guardians will then have a week to upload the supporting information.
Step Four
Bursary Administration Ltd will then contact families directly to arrange a home visit. It is important that parents and guardians make themselves available for this visit, as this is an integral part of the assessment process. The home visit gives the assessor an opportunity to ensure that the School has correctly understood the application and for parents or guardians to provide any further information or explanation that they feel would add to their application. Please note that your child is not involved in this visit, or in the bursary application as a whole. Families who do not make themselves available for a home visit will not be able to proceed with their HRAP application.
Step Five
The School receives the financial assessment report and HRAP recommendation from Bursary Administration Limited and allocates awards based on the amount of funds available. The School aims to inform all applicants of the outcome of this decision meeting as soon as possible.
YEAR GROUP
APPLY BY
11+
Noon on Friday 11th October 2024
13+
Noon on Friday 11th October 2024
16+
Noon on Friday 11th October 2024
