Bursaries

Supporting education for all

Please note: Before applying for a bursary, you must be registered for entry into the School – please make sure you have enquired with our Admissions Team and completed the registration form.

Means-tested bursaries (up to 100% on rare occasions) are available to pupils of exceptional aptitude whose resources might not be enough for the cost of fees. All conditions are explained in detail in our Bursary Policy, available for download via our Policies page.

Bursaries are available for pupils joining Years 7, 9 and 12, and are only available for pupils in other years in exceptional circumstances. Demand for bursaries can be very high, and not all applications will be successful.

Overseas applicants can be considered for Scholarship Awards only, not bursaries, and fee reductions will be granted off the tuition fee element of the boarding fee only.

Types of financial assistance

The categories of bursaries available are as follows:

• Marryott Bursaries – Means tested support for applicants to the school at Years 7, 9 and 12 whose families would otherwise be unable to consider the school due to financial circumstances. This may also be awarded as a top up bursary where a scholarship is awarded.
• Richard B Ward STEM Bursaries – Means tested support for applicants at Year 12 studying STEM subjects at sixth form, whose families would otherwise be unable to consider the school due to financial circumstances.
• Hardship Bursaries – For existing pupils where an unforeseen change in parents’ circumstances has resulted in difficulty in meeting tuition fees and may result in the child being withdrawn at key points in their education.

The demand for bursaries is high and not all applications can be funded.

The Richard Ward Bursary for STEM Excellence

This bursary offers provision to fund a limited number of students each academic year who wish to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) during their time in Sixth Form. Interest in this bursary is high, and will therefore only be offered to those candidates who show academic excellence across the field, but especially in STEM subjects.

The bursary fund was gifted to Woodbridge School by former pupil, Dr Richard Ward, whose studies from 1942 to 1950 sparked a lifelong passion for science. Dr Ward died in November 2014, leaving half the surplus of his estate for the benefit of pupils wanting to study STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at A-level and beyond, but who may otherwise be unable to afford a place.

The creation of the Richard Ward Bursary Fund will enable many generations of Woodbridge School sixth form pupils to share in his passion and enthusiasm for science using the excellent Woodbridge School facilities that inspired Richard at a young age.

Criteria for bursary awards

Bursary awards are subject to an annual review of parents’ financial circumstances, with fresh information being required for every year that their child attends the school. Bursary awards may be removed or varied upwards or downwards, depending on the parents’ financial circumstances.

Awards are made on the basis of the confidential scale of awards which sets out award levels in relation to a family’s or household’s financial circumstances, as amended from time to time. The scale of awards is reviewed and revised to reflect any changes in fee costs. Though awards are generally tied to this scale, they may be varied upwards or downwards depending on individual parents’/guardians’ circumstances (e.g. their savings, investments, and realisable assets, as well as their income, family size, marital status, dependants and similar factors).

Bursary awards are highly competitive and as such not all eligible pupils will be awarded a bursary. If the financial criteria have been met following the financial assessment process, then those pupils judged most suitable will be given priority as those likely to gain most from the educational provision, in accordance with the following criteria:

• Excellent performance in the appropriate entrance examination.
• Potential to benefit from the key strengths of the School in music; sport; drama.
• Need to benefit from the School’s exceptional pastoral care.
• Potential to contribute positively to the school community

All conditions are explained in detail in our Bursary Policy, available for download via our Policies page.

Applying for a bursary

If you would like to be considered for a bursary, please indicate this on the application form where prompted. You will then be sent the bursary application form together with further details about the process.

The process in brief

1. Parents or guardians must complete the bursary application form, declaring their full financial circumstances and supplying supporting documentary evidence.
2. We assess applications to establish the likely level of support required, usually visiting the applicants’ home to ensure accuracy and fairness.
3. We advise applicants whether their child is to be offered a place at the School and of any bursary offer with associated school-based performance benchmarks.
4. Parents or guardians must sign a letter accepting the place and agreeing to any conditions relating to the bursary.

All bursaries will be subject to an annual review.

Academic assessment

Candidates applying for entry to the School will be shortlisted on the basis of the entrance test results, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to an Academic Assessment.

Dates for September 2025 Admissions

Please note: If you are a late applicant please contact the Admissions Team directly at admissions@woodbridgeschool.org.uk or by calling 01394 615041.

Bursary Application Deadlines:

• Year 12 entry – Monday 28 October 2024
• Year 9 entry -Monday 25 November 2024
• Year 7 entry – Monday 25 November 2024