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A Founder’s Award is the name for the St Paul’s bursary programme. Our Founder’s Awards give parents who have accepted the offer of a place at St Paul’s a percentage reduction in the school fees.  They are only awarded to those parents who are unable to pay the full fees and who successfully apply to the school for a formal assessment of their financial situation.  The value of the award is therefore means-tested, and depending on the parents’ financial circumstances it could be between 2% and 100% of fees. Founder’s Awards are discretionary and subject to the financial resources of the school.

Families with a gross household income of up £135,000 pa or less and net assets up to £1.5m may be eligible for a bursary.  From 2024-25, those with gross household incomes below £73,000 pa may be eligible for an award of up to 100% of fees, subject to net assets. An allowance of £15,000 per child will be made against assessable income for any dependent children (of school age or in higher education) in the family other than the applicant. These examples are indicative only and the school cannot guarantee that they will apply to particular parents.

The money to support bursaries all comes from the school.  There is no government support.

Bursaries at St Pauls includes support for extras (please see diagram above), matching the percentage of award.

Firstly, all applicants must fill in the online registration form and pay the registration fee of £200 for entry at 7+, 8+ and 13+ or the £75 application fee at 11+ and 16+. On completing the online registration form, please state you wish to be assessed for a bursary.

Only individuals whose family home is in the UK, where at least one parent resides, and where both parents and candidate are not subject to immigration control, may be considered for a bursary.

The examples below illustrate the types of families who could benefit from our bursary scheme.

• Both parents self-employed on low income. Living in rented accommodation. One child receiving 100% fee remission.
• Both parents employed with low incomes. Living in modest home with mortgage. One child receiving 90% fee remission.
• One parent with moderate income. Living in rented accommodation. Two children receiving 70% fee remission.

Parents in receipt of a bursary award will be required to pay any balance of termly fees in accordance with the school’s terms and conditions. A reduced deposit of £500 is also payable when parents accept the offer of a place. Any 100% bursary award recipient does not need to pay a deposit.

Bursaries are granted on the basis of financial need and scholarships are awarded to signify outstanding achievement in academic work or talent in music at 11+ and 13+ (and art at 16+). Scholarships at St Paul’s are honorary, worth £60 per annum.

We will only assess you for a bursary as and when your son makes significant progress through the academic admissions process.  This is because we have many more applicants for places at the school than there are places available, and we have to be certain that we think your son would really benefit from the very particular type of education we offer here.  At that stage, we will automatically send you all the relevant forms and guidance notes to complete.  This will usually happen at the following points:

7+ and 8+ – if successful in being called for interview following the written examination

11+ entry – following completion of the ISEB pre-test and if invited for the written assessment

13+ entry – Spring of Year 7

16+ entry – after interview

St Paul’s is a highly academically selective school. The admission processes for each entry point differ and are set out in the school’s Admissions Policy. Full details and timings of the process for each entry point can be found in the Admissions section. Please be aware deadlines for registration differ depending on selected year of entry.

Bursary application assessments are conducted independently of the academic selection process after an applicant has met the academic entrance criteria.

Bursary Awards are only available to candidates whose family home is in the UK where at least one Parent resides and where Parents and candidate fall into one of the following categories:

i. British Citizens in possession of a British passport (The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) and Irish Citizens in possession of an Irish passport.

ii. Have ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status

iii. Have ‘indefinite leave’ to remain in the UK

Yes, a bursary awarded for one son will be taken into account in assessing the support necessary for another.