Withington Girls’ School is committed to providing financial support for talented girls from low and middle income backgrounds through means-tested bursaries. We do not make financial awards solely based on ability; instead we seek to direct bursary funds to those families most in need, to allow their daughter to fulfil her potential.

Bursaries are funded by The Marjorie Hulme Bursary Fund through the generosity of donors, charities, trusts, foundations and by school funds.   The School’s Governors are investing in generations of Withington pupils by donating the equivalent of 4% of fee income each year to the WGS Trust (Charity Number 505207) for bursary provision.

As a full bursary is worth a considerable amount, a rigorous process is in place to identify which families should be awarded bursaries.

Demand for bursaries far exceeds the bursary funding available and a limited number of full bursaries can be offered.

Parents who choose to participate in the bursary application process must do so with an understanding that securing a bursary is not a given, even if eligibility criteria have been met.

Please read our Bursary Policy to find out more about eligibility and the criteria for bursary applications.

BURSARY POLICY

Key points to note:

• Parents should indicate at the time of completing the school’s application form that they wish their daughter to be considered for a bursary.
• Means-tested bursaries are available for external candidates joining us in years 5, 6, 7 and 12.
• A guideline figure for qualifying household income is £60,000 per annum or less.
• Parents whose gross income from all sources exceeds £80,000 per year are unlikely to qualify for an award.
• To ensure impartiality and good governance, the school appoints an independent company, Bursary Assessment Associates, to conduct a financial review of families’ circumstances.
• On receipt of an application where bursary interest is indicated, parents are provided with a link to a confidential online bursary application form. This is processed and managed by Bursary Assessment Associates.
• Bursary applications are evaluated for prospective pupils before an offer of a place at the school is made.
• Full or partial bursaries may be offered, according to the family’s financial circumstances.
• If bursary support is to be offered, the amount of support is made clear when offers of a place at the school are made.
• All bursary awards are subject to an annual review to ensure that our funds are being awarded to those families in greatest need.
• We reserve the right to review a bursary award at any time.

APPLY FOR A PLACE