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Bursaries atGodolphin and Latymer

Excellence Community Diversity

We simply must keep this feeling that girls get into G&L because they want to, because they have enough ability to cope with the work and because they are prepared to work when they get there. Godolphin and Latymer was a non-fee-paying Voluntary Aided Grammar School and the character of that school – where a girl’s family’s wealth simply did not matter at all – is the character which the Bursary Fund seeks to preserve.

Margaret GrayPresident, The Godolphin and Latymer School Bursary Fund, 1977 to 2010

Head Mistress from 1963 to 1973

The Godolphin and Latymer School Bursary Fund

A Godolphin girl has the opportunity to realise her potential – academically, physically and as a member of a vibrant school community. She will leave Godolphin and Latymer as a confident, articulate and independent young woman – a leading citizen of the future.

Since its foundation in 1905, the School has been committed to ensuring its education is accessible to girls of intellectual promise from all backgrounds. Until 1976, it was a grammar school within the state system and charged no fees. The Governing Body took the decision to revert to full independent status in 1977 to preserve Godolphin and Latymer’s academic tradition. So great was the desire to accept bright girls whatever their financial circumstances, that the Bursary Fund was established.

Following the phasing out of the Government Assisted Places Scheme in 1998, bursaries have been made available to girls on entry. The School has launched a number of initiatives in order to support the endowment of the Bursary Fund, ensuring that merit and not background remains the essential requirement for a place at the Godolphin and Latymer School.

The Governing Body of the School, through the Strategic Plan, seek to uphold the ethos of a community whose legacy is one of opportunity, diversity and excellence.

What a Bursary meant to me

I’m not exaggerating when I say that without a bursary from G&L I wouldn’t be where I am today. It goes without saying that G&L’s academic credentials and the quality of the education it offers are outstanding. But education is about so much more than exam results and what really sets G&L apart is the passion for learning and the care that goes into each girl’s individual development both at school and beyond. I am hugely grateful for the academic, musical and other intellectual opportunities I had at G&L, which simply wouldn’t have been possible without the financial support offered by the bursary fund.

Old DolphinClass of 2000

I was a student at G & L from 1990-97 and had a half-paid bursary during that time, which allowed me to attend. I went on to study chemistry at Oxford University and to get a Diploma in Journalism at City University in London. I am now a news editor at New Scientist magazine. A lot of the things I learned at G&L are still useful in my daily life, especially, but not exclusively when trying to solve crossword puzzles. The thing that most come to mind are: an understanding of plate tectonics, some knowledge of Shakespeare and Chaucer, what happened in Europe between the two world wars, group theory, DNA replication, the rules of tennis and the ability to speak French and German (to some extent). I had both an in-depth and well-rounded education. Many of the teachers were inspiring, all were incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated. G&L also taught me self-confidence: when I am debating with someone at work, or for pleasure, I often think that it was partly the competitive, stimulating atmosphere of school that encouraged me to stick to my convictions stubbornly, yet also gave me the discipline and rigour to learn to defend them. Finally, I have to mention the friends I made. I still see seven of the girls I met at G&L very regularly: I currently share a flat with one and lived in San Francisco for a while with another. Not one of us is shy.

Celeste BieverClass of 1997Winterstoke ScholarMy generation were so lucky to go to a school like Godolphin and

Latymer. We had such a sound education for which our parents did not pay. My friends and I benefitted from the free places, as none of us would have had the opportunity to go to such a good school and then onto university as we did, without that. I got so much from the school and giving to the school to fund bursaries now is one way in which I am able to give back.

Christine ParkerClass of 1955Past Parent and Former Staff Member

By offering bursaries on entry to Godolphin and Latymer, we remain true to the ethos of this school. Bursaries, enabled by the Bursary Fund, provide the brightest girls, regardless of parental income an opportunity to attend this school. It is something that all our past and current girls support. Each year, from the Christmas Bazaar to exciting fundraisers such as the annual school show, our girls show their commitment to bursaries, with the ongoing support of parents, Old Dolphins, Friends and staff. This upholds the school’s integral place in the local community and as a leader in girls’ education.

Ruth MercerHead Mistress

Bursary Awards

The Governors of The Godolphin and Latymer School are committed to broadening access to the School by offering parents means-tested financial assistance with school fees.

Bursary awards are subject to annual application and review and the value of the award may vary from year to year, depending on parental circumstances. Awards are made on the basis of the family’s financial circumstances, taking into account income and realisable assets as well as any other pertinent circumstances.

Requests for financial support usually fall into two categories:

• Assistance on entry to the school into Year 7 (UIII) where a place has been offered but parents are unable to afford all or part of the school fees. A limited number of on entry bursaries into Year 12 (LVI) may be available.

• Assistance for existing girls where a change in parents’ circumstances has resulted in difficulty in meeting school fees and may result in the girl being withdrawn from the school.

Bursaries on EntryThe number of bursaries awarded on entry each September is at the discretion of the Governors. Awards are made by the Bursar who is responsible for the management and co-ordination of the process.

Parents seeking assistance are required to complete an application form which seeks to establish the financial circumstances of the household. The form, which requests details of capital and income, must be accompanied by full documentary evidence. The completed form, along with the necessary documents, are to be submitted no later than the closing date in any year for bursaries to start the following September. Any application forms which are not returned by the deadline, or are incomplete, will not be considered.

The Bursar’s office assesses all applications in order to establish the likely level of support which will be required. This will usually also involve the parents attending an interview to ensure the information has been correctly interpreted and the basis of the financial assessment has been fair.

The amount of the bursary award is not influenced by the academic ability of the girl but by the extent of need. Each case is assessed on its own merits. The number of awards made is subject to available funding. The School has a duty to ensure that all bursary awards are fairly awarded.

When parents are told that their daughter has been offered a place at the School they will, at the same time, be advised whether the School can provide bursary assistance towards the fees. If parents wish to accept the bursary, they are asked to agree in writing, to any conditions relating to the award. A bursary awarded on entry is, under normal circumstances, guaranteed for the duration of a girl’s education at Godolphin and Latymer. Parents are required to re-apply for assistance each academic year by completing a bursary application form and providing documentary evidence in support of their application. As long as there is no abnormal change in parents’ circumstances, the level of the award is likely to remain constant.

An award may be withdrawn and past awards reclaimed if false information is knowingly or recklessly provided or if parents fail to provide any additional information requested by the School in support of their application.

Hardship Bursaries

For girls already in the School, parents whose financial circumstances suddenly change may apply for a bursary to the Bursar, explaining their situation and by completing a bursary application form and providing documentary evidence in support of the application (as above). Such awards are made for short-term assistance only; usually for no longer than one academic year. The Governors allocate a budget for hardship bursaries each year and therefore, such awards are subject to the availability of funding and cannot be guaranteed. The conditions of application and award are the same as for Bursaries on entry.

Each case is assessed on its merits and awards are made accordingly, subject to need and available funding. Bursary Awards are only made as a contribution towards School fees; parents remain liable for extra charges incurred. It is a condition of the Bursary Award that outstanding charges are cleared as and when they become due. The School reserves the right to withdraw an award if parents fail to meet this commitment.

To Apply for a Bursary

Parents should register their interest in applying to the school in the normal way by completing the Registration Form which can be found either in the back of the Information Booklet or on the website. Following registration, and in the October prior to entry, parents are sent an Application Form on which they are asked to indicate if they are interested in applying for a bursary. Anyone who is interested will be sent a bursary application form by the Bursar’s office.

The School respects the confidentiality of bursary awards made to families and recipients are expected to do likewise. The school is a data controller under the Data Protection Act and information submitted in connection with bursary applications will be processed lawfully and fairly in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

The income threshold for bursary applications is currently £100,000.

Full information about an application for a bursary can be found on the school’s website, under Admissions.

Godolphin Latymer&

Bursaries atGodolphin and Latymer

Excellence Community Diversity

The Godolphin and Latymer School, Iffley Road, Hammersmith, London W6 0PG

Tel: 020 8741 1936 Fax: 020 8735 9520 www.godolphinandlatymer.com Registered Charity No. 312699