Bursaries
Bursaries are currently available for pupils entering Senior School in Removes (Year 7) and in Sixth Form.
If you wish to discuss the matter of financial assistance or request a bursary application form for an application in future year groups, please contact our Admissions Manager on 01244 689553 or email admissions@kingschester.co.uk
Bursary Application Process for Entry to King’s Senior School (Year 7) for September 2026
The deadline for Year 7 bursary applications for September 2026 entry is Monday, September 22, 2025.
Important: Bursaries are means-tested and typically available to families with a gross annual household income below £60,000; however, other factors such as assets, expenditure, and overall financial circumstances are also assessed. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award due to high demand and limited funds.
The bursary process at The King’s School assesses two key areas:
- Financial eligibility for means-tested support (e.g. household income, expenditure, assets)
- Academic ability, based on performance in the Entrance Exam
Bursary funding is limited each year. If the number of applicants exceeds the available funds, bursaries will be awarded based on Entrance Exam rankings, starting from the highest-scoring applicants, until all funds are allocated.
(Please note, the amount of bursary support awarded is determined solely by financial need)
In previous years, families completed the Financial Review without knowing whether their child was likely to rank high enough in the exam to be awarded a bursary. This sometimes led to disappointment when financially eligible students were not offered a bursary, as all available funding had already been allocated.
In response to this, we are introducing the Bursary Pre-Entrance Assessment, which all bursary applicants will sit in October 2025 (date TBC). This assessment will identify the top-performing applicants whose academic ability is in line with previous successful bursary candidates.
The top-performing applicants in this test will then proceed to the Financial Review stage. The number of applicants progressed to this next stage will be based on the funding available for that year.
Following the Financial Review and an informal interview with the Headmaster, families will be informed if they qualify for means-tested support. To help families plan their finances, the exact bursary amount will be confirmed before the applicants sit the Entrance Exam on January 16, 2026.
Unfortunately, applicants who do not reach the required academic standard in the Bursary Pre-Entrance Assessment will not continue in the bursary process but are warmly invited to sit the Entrance Exam in January for a full fee-paying place.
Key dates for entry to King’s Senior School (Year 7):
- Monday, September 22, 2025- Deadline for all bursary applications
- October 2025 (date TBC) – All bursary applicants to sit the Bursary Pre-Entrance Assessment, to be held at The King’s School
- October-November – Top performing candidates to progress to the Financial Review stage and attend an informal interview with the Headmaster
- Friday, January 16, 2026 – Entrance Exam
Frequently asked question regarding bursary application process for Year 7 entry
Bursary Application Process for Entry to King’s Sixth Form for September 2026
The deadline for Year 12 bursary applications for September 2026 entry is Monday, November 24, 2025.
Important: Bursaries are means-tested and typically available to families with a gross annual household income below £60,000; however, other factors such as assets, expenditure, and overall financial circumstances are also assessed. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award due to high demand and limited funds.
