As a charity, we believe that a Highgate education should be accessible to all academically gifted children in our local community.
Each year, we offer several fee-assisted places (bursaries) to eligible families who apply at 7+, 11+ and 16+. Bursaries could help transform a child’s experience of learning and greatly increase the opportunities available to them in adulthood. They can have a positive impact, not only on an individual recipient, but they also enrich and diversify our school community.
We currently have almost 100 bursary recipients in the Senior School, most receiving substantial awards covering 90%-100% of their fees. Many will also receive assistance with additional costs such as IT, school trips and uniforms. We want a Highgate education to be accessible, and for bursary holders to be able to participate fully in every aspect of school life.
Find out more in our FAQs below and from the relevant entry point for your child on the tabs above.
“My daughter has really gained confidence and flourished at Highgate. She has become the child I always knew she could be”
Highgate parent of bursary recipient
“I was very lucky to be given a full bursary. I strongly believe this opportunity will help me to achieve my dreams. One day, I hope to return the favour by providing a bursary for a child like me.”
Year 8 pupil
For further information on bursaries, or if you feel you can’t afford our application fee, please contact our Senior School Bursary Officer. Please also review the Bursary policy.
Email: bursaryadmissions@highgateschool.org.uk
Tel: 020 8347 4499
If you wish to apply for a bursary, please make this clear on your online application which must be submitted by the deadline published on our website. Your application will be acknowledged and you will be sent a financial assessment form and guidance about its completion.
Yes. Your child has to be considered for a place on academic merit alone, before being considered for a bursary. Those marking the tests and carrying out the interviews will not know that you have applied for a bursary. Therefore, our academic selection process is separate from our bursary process, so if your child meets our academic standards, he/she will still be offered a place, regardless of being awarded a bursary.
Yes. Applicants have to be considered for a place before we consider them for a bursary. When deciding whether to award a bursary, a number of factors are taken into account, including academic performance in our assessments and interview and current school report as well as financial circumstances. However, academic performance will have no impact on the size of the bursary we decide to award.
All bursary awards are subject to review of parents’/carers’ financial circumstances each year, and may be varied upwards or downwards, depending on changes in circumstances. Parents/carers of bursary holders in Years 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 are required to complete a full financial review in June. Parents/carers of bursary holders in other years are asked to sign a declaration that their financial circumstances have not changed since the preceding home visit.
Highgate School recognises that families in receipt of bursaries may find it difficult to meet the wider costs associated with secondary education. In addition to school fees, means-tested support may be available for extra-curricular school trips, individual music lessons and exam fees. Some families receiving 100% bursaries may also be eligible for a uniform grant.
We judge each application carefully, taking into account:
Unfortunately not. Bursaries will be awarded at entry to Year 3 to the Junior School only. At Senior School, bursaries are awarded to pupils joining the school at entry to Year 7 (11+) and Year 12 (16+).