Educational Grants

General information

The charities are able to consider grants towards a number of the costs involved with the education of clergy children in both the maintained and the independent sectors. Children for whom grants are sought must be undergoing full-time education and be under the age of 25. Grants are not awarded retrospectively and they are generally based on one year’s costs for any particular category.

It should be noted that for children under the age of 11 help can only be considered towards:

• school uniform costs;
• school trips; and
• if the child is a chorister (or has a probationary place) at a choir school, school fees.

The areas where one or both of the charities can consider education-related grants are the following:

Part 1—Miscellaneous education grants

Grants may be considered towards the following:-

School uniforms

The grant is designed to help with the cost of uniform specified by the school, including sports-wear.

Travel costs

For children aged 11 and over attending day schools. The grant is to help with the cost of travel to and from school by public or private transport.

School trips/language exchanges

For trips/exchanges which are recommended by the school. A letter from the school is required in all cases, setting out the objectives of the trip/exchange.

Music lessons

For children aged 11 and over towards the cost of tuition on not more than two instruments per child.

Musical instruments

For children aged 11 and over to help with the purchase of no more than two instruments per child.

Art/sporting activities

For children aged 11 and over to help with tuition or coaching fees for any two activities. Evidence of commitment will be needed.

Computers (including related software)

For children aged 11 and over who require a computer for their school work. Not more than one computer grant will be awarded for any child, and not more than one computer grant will be awarded for any household in any 12-month period. Receipts for the computer hardware and software in question will need to be provided to the charities.

Notes:

1. The renewal of the above grants, other than for musical instruments and computers, may be considered annually.

2. Grants are normally for a proportion of the stated costs, up to a set limit, and the limits in force at the time of application will be made known to applicants if required.

Part 2—School fee grants for children attending independent schools

General

Grants towards school fees can be considered where independent education is necessary for a clergy child. Before any grant is made for this purpose, the charities’ Educational Adviser will normally contact the parents to discuss the needs of the child.

Applications may be made during the year in which the child becomes 11 years of age (except for choristers and probationers, when they should be made as soon as the place at the choir school is awarded), and should ideally be submitted at least two clear terms before the grant is required. Initial enquiry may be made up to one year in advance of the proposed start date.

Grants are not awarded retrospectively, and are paid in instalments three times a year just before the beginning of the school terms.

Application will need to be made each year for the renewal of any school fee grant. However, subject to the applicant’s financial circumstances grants will normally be renewed until the end of the child’s GCSE year, but only if the child remains at the school in question.

Application may be made for school fee assistance to continue into the sixth form, but only where continued independent education in the sixth form is necessary and subject to a further report from the charities' Educational Adviser. 

Important information concerning school fee grants

Help is provided only where there is a demonstrable need for a child to be educated at the independent school in question. Parental preference is not accepted as a need for independent education. Applicants are required to provide evidence of the need for independent education in support of their application.

The level of any grant is based upon the amount of fees the parents have to find after help from other sources, e.g. clergy bursary or scholarship, or other financial support. The normal grant is for a proportion of the net fees the applicant has to find, up to a maximum limit which will be advised to applicants when the initial enquiry is made.

A certificate from the principal of the school is needed before actual payment of the grant is made. This should state that the pupil is, or will be, in attendance and not under notice of withdrawal, and that his or her progress is satisfactory (as applicable). A copy of the relevant certificate will be issued with the application form.

Grants can be considered towards both tuition fees and boarding fees.

Grants are made for the school stated in the application only and are not transferable to any other school. We must therefore be advised at the earliest opportunity when a change of school is considered necessary.

Notes

1. When parents know they are likely to require our help with school fees, they should approach us before committing their child to a particular school. Failure to do so could result in disappointment, for both parents and child, if a grant is not awarded.

2. Every effort should be made to find a school which allows special reductions in the fees for clergy. Should nothing appear about this in the prospectus or Independent Schools Year Book, it is still worth making the enquiry. Our Educational Adviser is sometimes able to negotiate with schools for special reductions. (Without a substantial reduction the fees are likely to be beyond the reach of most applicants, even after a grant from us.)

3. Grants towards school fees are not normally available for those serving outside Great Britain and Ireland.

Part 3—Grants for children continuing in education after leaving school

Grants can be considered to help with special outfits or equipment (but not books) required by a child who has left school and is undertaking full time vocational training.

Maintenance grants can be considered for clergy children who are undergraduates (but not post-graduates) at university.

Grants can be considered for clergy children who are medical students undertaking medical electives abroad, even if they have already graduated.

Note: Grants for clergy children continuing in education after leaving school can only be considered for those under the age of 25.

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