Scholarship pupils could be history as private schools change fees rules

Published on Thursday 9 April 2009 21:34

THE tradition of the scholarship pupil at Scotland's independent schools is being consigned to history following changes in charitable rules.

The practice of waiving fees for exceptional pupils is disappearing as fee-paying schools move to a system of assessing parents' finances.

Recent judgments from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) indicated schools could remain charities only if they helped more children from poorer families. Traditionally, scholarships would be given to particularly bright pupils, regardless of ability to pay. That led to some well-off parents, who could afford the fees, receiving large discounts.

Hannah Hamilton, external affairs officer for Dundee High, said the school had phased out scholarships to ensure funding went to those most in need.

She said: "Around 15 per cent of senior pupils now receive some level of financial support.

"We are proud of our long tradition in assisting pupils to attend the high school, no matter what their background."

Gordon Woods, warden (headteacher) at Glenalmond in Perthshire, said his school had gradually reduced its automatic 50 per cent scholarship discount to 30 per cent last year, and might scrap it by next year.

He said: "We've decided, in common with a lot of schools, to step down the automatic element. The funds are reallocated to the means-tested process, which allows us to finance the widening access."

Frank Gerstenberg, former head of George Watson's College in Edinburgh, warned the system might not work if some schools refused to change, as they could siphon off the brightest pupils.

He said: "There were people with scholarships in the past who could afford the fees.

"This should prove a much fairer system."

St Leonards School in St Andrews was criticised by OSCR last year for helping too few poorer children.

Dr Michael Carslaw, headmaster, said scholarships at the school no longer attracted a fee discount. He said: "They exist purely as a means of celebrating pupil achievement.

"We have a completely means-tested system for our bursary awards and in 2005 we reduced our day fees by, on average, 30 per cent to increase accessibility."

OSCR last year ruled four independent schools, including St Leonards, did not meet the public benefit test necessary to remain a charity because of particularly high fees and little cash help for poorer families.

Jane Ryder, OSCR chief executive, said: "Greater access through means-tested bursaries is one way in which our concerns can be addressed."

A spokeswoman from the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, said: "Increasingly, schools are focusing their available funds on means-tested support.

"Ideally, schools would like to attract pupils from across the social spectrum and they are keen to encourage applications from those in greatest need."

DIFFERING DISCOUNTS ON EDUCATION

A SCHOLARSHIP is a titular award for academic or sporting prowess accompanied by a discount on fees.

It can exempt the parents of particularly talented youngsters from having to pay any fees at all. But it varies from school to school, with some offering an automatic 50 per cent discount on the basis of ability and means-testing the remaining 50 per cent.

Bursaries are means-tested discounts on school fees against parental income.

They are calculated depending on how much a pupil's parents can afford to pay, and do not take into consideration any particular ability of the child.