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Bursaries

Bursary places available between 25% – 50%

A means-tested bursary gives financial assistance to pupils who might not otherwise be able to benefit from an outstanding education at Unicorn School. With effect from June 2026, our focus for new bursaries will be to provide assistance in the 25%-50% range, so that we are able to commit to helping several families in their Unicorn journey.

Eligible parents and guardians could potentially benefit from a tuition fee discount of up to 50%, depending on the individual and financial circumstances of each applicant. Please note that our Bursary Fund has limited resources and where we give a bursary, we aim to do so for as long as that child is at Unicorn and the bursary is still needed. Therefore, even if we would otherwise be willing to consider bursary support, we may not be able to offer a bursary, depending on fee assistance we are already providing to children at Unicorn.

Eligibility

We will consider any application upon request, but you should consider that bursary assistance is unlikely to be available if either of the following apply:

• you have an annual gross family income in excess of £125,000, or
• you have net personal assets in excess of £400,000 per family (including equity in property)

In a two-parent family or family with shared custody between parents, you should also assume that both parents need to be working (unless one parent cannot work or there are other extenuating circumstances) in order to be eligible for a bursary so we will ask for working status of both parents.

Existing Unicorn families can also apply for a bursary where a change in circumstances has resulted in difficulty meeting tuition fees. We will consider any Unicorn family who feel they are in this position, but please note that regard will be had to the factors above.

Bursary funding available is limited. As such, even if your family income and net assets fall below the guidelines above and, where relevant, both parents are working, there is no guarantee that financial support will be offered.

Application process

We are inclusive and pride ourselves on fairness and consistency. As such, all our bursary applications are initially independently assessed by an external company.

Once you have submitted an application, they will arrange a meeting to validate the information provided and then produce a confidential report which will be sent to the school.

A small sub-committee of Governors reviews the report from the external company and recommendations made, together with any other information provided to us and any other factors we have been made aware of. The sub-committee then makes a decision whether a bursary is granted.

Any bursary awarded will be reviewed and means-tested each year as financial circumstances can change.

Two children in dress-up outfits pose in a classroom; one wears a tall black fur hat and blue robe, the other a red firefighter vest and blue shirt.

How to apply for a bursary

Parents of any prospective pupil, as well as those of existing pupils, may apply for a bursary. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

If you wish to consider applying, in the first instance, please contact the Bursar by email at Bursar@unicornschool.org.uk or by phone on 0208 948 3926.

The next step in the bursary application process is the independent assessment by an external company, Bursary Administration Ltd (BAL). If an application is to be progressed for consideration, the bursary form will be sent directly to you by the Bursar and you should then expect a meeting with BAL (virtually via Zoom).

Any information provided and subsequent report will also be seen and reviewed by the Head and Bursar (or their delegates) and a sub-committee of Governors, but is kept entirely confidential.

For any new pupils, once you have received an offer to the school, you can complete an application form.