Bursaries
Testing times
Pressure to focus on providing bursaries to prove public benefit continues under the new Government. Henry Briggs sets out a strategy for how charitable independent schools can effectively means-test bursary applicants
With the arrival of the public benefit test and the evidence of its interpretation by the Charity Commission in its published assessment of five schools last year, all independent schools with charitable status were forced to review their bursaries policy.
The money-go-round
Many independent schools will use the provision of bursaries, together with sharing facilities and resources, to satisfy the public benefit requirement of the Charities Act 2006. David Sewell summarises the main issues to consider
Bursaries are funded in three main ways. The first is from income, by way of a discount on fees; this may be from a designated fund earmarked for the purpose. Some schools set aside a fixed percentage or amount from their annual fees. Secondly, the governors may control a restricted fund representing donations received for the specific purpose.
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In public service
The Charities Act 2006 is the most recent iteration of the debate on independent schools and charitable status. Sam Macdonald reviews the measures that will impact across the range of schools’ operations
Long before the 2006 Act received Royal Assent, rumblings of disquiet were felt across the charity sector. These were caused – at least ostensibly – by the obvious disparity between charities established for the advancement of education or religion, or the relief of poverty, which were presumed to provide public benefit, and all other charities, which were not. It was felt that all charities should be treated the same and all, therefore, should have to demonstrate that they provided public benefit.
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Means to an end
Public benefit requirements are forcing charitable independent schools to consider introducing or expanding scholarships and bursaries. This actually provides compelling marketing opportunities, argues Stephen Martin-Scott
For the independent school sector, the Chinese adage “We live in interesting times” was re-written on March 7, with the publication of the Charity Commission’s draft guidance on satisfying “public benefit”.
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