Scholarships and bursaries

Definitions of scholarships and bursaries can vary significantly from one school to another. The following information addresses some of the more common questions asked by parents of current pupils and prospective parents by clarifying the various sources of financial support for parents in meeting tuition fees for their child whilst a pupil at Morrison's Academy.

BURSARIES

Scope of Bursary provision
Having no significant financial endowments, the School has limited resources from which it can offer bursaries. A range of factors is considered in making the awards and there are no statutory rules. As a result, the number and size of bursaries can vary considerably.

In all cases, the level of a bursary is determined by the extent of financial need and, to allow this to be assessed, applicants are required to complete an application form which provides information on the family and documents total income and capital assets. In exceptional cases full bursaries may be available, but awards tend to be in the range of 20% to 65% of the tuition fee. Where no financial need can be established, no bursary will be granted.  There is no set level of provision and identification of any bursary will include an objective assessment of parental ability to meet fees either from income or through disposal of assets.

Who can apply?
Awards are available to existing pupils and new applicants, the main point at which bursaries are awarded being at entry to Form 1 in the Secondary School.

A limited number of awards are granted at other stages of the Secondary School, but these are determined by the availability of bursary funds at the time. Many of these awards are intended to assist existing pupils where there has been a significant change in financial circumstances, such as loss of income, which threatens the pupil's continued attendance at Morrison's Academy.

Only in very exceptional circumstances will the award of a bursary be considered for a pupil in the Primary School.

The application process
Where the child is not currently attending Morrison's Academy, an application for enrolment is required in the first instance. When making an enrolment application, parents who wish to apply for financial assistance will be sent a bursary application which should be completed and returned to the Admissions Registrar with the enrolment application.

Parents may apply for enrolment of their child on the basis that acceptance will be conditional upon receiving bursary support. Parents of prospective pupils must advise the School if they wish to take up the offer of a place and bursary within 2 weeks of receiving an offer.

Parents of existing pupils seeking a bursary should contact the Bursar's Office for an application form.

The bursary application form requires details of the family income both earned and unearned and regular commitments such as mortgage payments, insurances and loans. Information on other dependent children in the family is required with details of associated expenses if in full time education or their income if employed. This is intended to provide a clear picture of the family's position in order to allow the Bursar to make a fair assessment of financial need. Parents may wish to have a short meeting with the Bursar so that the process may be fully explained and understood.

The main round of bursary considerations takes place during the Spring Term. Application forms are distributed by 1 March each year for submission by 1 April. Awards are identified by 1 May, in good time for parents to consider the level of financial assistance offered when deciding whether or not to accept a place at the School in the new academic session which begins in August.

Applications from prospective parents may be submitted after this date but awards may be limited and will be dependant upon the residual availability of bursary funds.

Consideration of Applications and Awards
Following assessment of the information provided in the application, the Rector and Bursar decide whether support is appropriate and upon the level of such support. Unsuccessful cases are usually the result of either lack of evidence of financial need, or insufficient availability of bursary funds. Where the number of applications received creates the possibility of bursary funds being oversubscribed, account will be taken of the degree to which the pupils will benefit from the academic nature of the curriculum and the co-curricular facilities and opportunities available at Morrison's Academy.

There is no course of appeal following the award decision but unsuccessful applicants may re-apply in subsequent years.

Bursary awards are deducted from the tuition fees and is shown on the fee note which is sent out by the Bursar. No actual payment is made to the parent.

Length of award
Bursaries are normally awarded on the basis that assistance will be maintained for as long as the pupil remains at Morrison's Academy. However, this ongoing funding is subject to annual review of the need for financial assistance. Where such review reveals that the family's financial circumstances have improved sufficiently, the bursary may be reduced or withdrawn.

In some cases, awards may be granted for a limited period, subject to review. This often applies where a family has experienced a temporary change in their financial circumstances. In all cases awards are conditional upon the pupil making reasonable academic progress and maintaining good standards of behaviour and may be withdrawn in the event of consistent breach of School rules or serious misconduct.

Where the financial position of the family changes the School expects the Bursar to be notified and this may lead to a review of the amount of the Bursary being granted. From time to time parents of children receiving bursaries may be requested to confirm that there has been no significant change in their financial position.

Support for costs other than tuition fees
In assessing total outgoings, an allowance is made for other living expenses. This is based upon the number of adults and dependents in the family. Allowance is also made for the cost of travel to and from School and the cost of school uniform.

Limited funds are available to support private tuition in a musical instrument where a pupil shows particular talent and parental funding is not available. Such awards are also subject to means-testing.

Withdrawl of Bursaries and Scholarships
Any scholarship, bursary or ex-gratia awards or allowances which have been made may be withdrawn if, in the opinion of the Rector and the Board, the aims and objectives of the scholarship or bursary are not being met and the right is reserved to require repayment in full in the event of the pupil being withdrawn with or without notice or removed from the School.

Funding of bursaries
The School's ability to make bursary awards is primarily as a result of funding from other charitable organisations and trusts. These include:

The Morrison's Academy Foundation
The Jeffrey Charitable Trust
The Wolfson Foundation

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scope of Scholarship Awards
At Morrison's Academy, scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit in a competitive process.

Current Scholarships include:
The AM Wilson Scholarship (Maths & Science)
The Roy Scholarship (Business Studies and Accounting)
The Strathairn Scholarship (Modern Foreign Languages)
The Williamson Scholarship (History)
The Governors' Scholarship (Discretionary)

Eligibility
Any pupil in Form 5 who is currently studying five subjects at the NQ Higher Grade may apply to enter a scholarship competition. A pupil who will be entering Morrison's Academy to complete their schooling in Form 6 may also apply provided the offer of the place at the School has been accepted by the date of the scholarship examination.

Entrance Requirements
Candidates will be required to present themselves for three papers and an interview. One paper will be a general essay paper while the other two will be in subjects which the candidate intends to study in Sixth Year at Advanced Higher level. The examinations and interviews are conducted during the Spring Term.

Awards
The awards are made on the basis of the subjects the candidate intends to study at Advanced Higher level in S6 and are assessed upon performance in the examinations and interviews. As their significance is quantified principally in terms of academic achievement rather than monetary value, they are awarded without consideration of financial need.

The nominal financial benefit of Scholarships is determined annually by the Board of Governors during the Spring Term in the previous academic year. Awards to recipients are presented at Speech Day and are dependent upon satisfactory completion of the designated course of study in their 6^th year.

In recognition of the award of a scholarship, recipients' names are inscribed on the honours boards in Memorial Hall.

OTHER SOURCES OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Charitable Trusts
A number of educational and charitable trusts exist to provide assistance with tuition fees. In the majority of cases these are to assist children who are already attending a fee-paying school and due to a change in financial circumstances may be unable to remain. Furthermore such trusts tend to be reluctant to commit funds for more than one or two years and therefore will be unlikely to consider pupils in Junior School or at the lower end of the Senior School. Nevertheless the School encourages parents to apply for support where it is felt a good case can be made for assistance. Most trusts will contact the School to seek information regarding the pupil's conduct and general performance.

An internet search for "Education Grants" will reveal a large number of potentially useful sites. Details of regional and national trusts can also be found in the following publications which are available in public libraries:

• The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts:  published by the Charities Aid Foundation, 48 Pembury Road, Tonbridge, TN9 2JD. (Only apply to those trusts which help individuals.
• The Educational Grants Directory:  published by The Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2DP

Further information
Further information on how to pursue financial assistance may be obtained from: 

Should you require further assistance regarding bursaries or other financial support, please contact the Bursar.