School fees hiked for bursaries

A leading independent school, Winchester College, is increasing its fees to raise funds to provide bursaries for poorer pupils.

This levy will increase over the next two years - with the aim of 5% of the fee being used for bursaries by 2010.

Next year, this extra funding will be equivalent to about £1,400 per year - with annual boarding fees of £27,870.

Independent schools will have to show how they provide a public benefit, in order to retain charitable status.

A statement from the head teacher and warden says that the fund raising will help to "re-align" the school with the charitable intentions of its medieval founders.

Access

The school says it was founded with the purpose "of providing the greatest possible access to those who can best profit (whatever their social background or their parents' means)".

At present, 2% of fees at the school are allocated for bursaries and the maintenance of historic buildings - with this to be raised to 5%, with each percentage point adding £275 to the annual fees.

The longer-term aim is to create more "needs blind" places. By 2018, the school intends to have places for 67 boys on full bursaries and 134 boys with partial bursaries.

The school also says that the plans reflect "changes in charity law and assessment of public benefit" - with the Charity Commission examining how independent schools merit their charitable status.

This status gives tax benefits - and schools will be expected to demonstrate how they contribute to the wider community.

This might mean having to show they share facilities with state schools or offer bursaries to families who could not afford the fees.

The Charity Commission will require schools with charitable status to demonstrate that they are not "exclusive clubs" - with guidelines expecting charities to be "outward-looking and inclusive".

Winchester College says that the changes in its fee structure will help it to become "fully and self-consciously a modern charitable institution".

Other independent schools are likely to be watching Winchester's plan - in terms of providing more bursaries for poorer children and for passing on the cost to parents through annual fees.

Charitable status is estimated to save £100m in tax breaks for the independent school sector.

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