A recent study has found that nearly one-third of private school bursaries and scholarships in the United Kingdom are awarded to families in the highest income bracket, although these households receive the smallest average grants. The research, conducted by University College London (UCL) and published in the British Journal of Sociology of Education, analysed 25 years of data from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey, spanning from 1997/98 to 2023/24.

The analysis revealed that 30 percent of bursaries went to high-income families, while 18 percent were allocated to middle-income households and 17 percent to lower-income households. Despite receiving a substantial share of the funding, children from the wealthiest families were awarded the lowest average bursaries. Conversely, middle-income families obtained the largest average grants, with lower-income households receiving smaller sums comparatively.

When adjusted to 2023 prices, the study found that middle-income families received average bursaries of £1,038 per pupil, lower-income families around £787, and the highest income families received about £396. The value of bursaries relative to school fees has declined over the period, with average grants covering 57 percent of fees in 1997–2000 but only 27 percent in the most recent years from 2021 to 2024. Furthermore, the proportion of pupils receiving any form of bursary increased from 8 percent to 14 percent during this time.

Professor Francis Green, co-author of the study and a member of the UCL Institute of Education, highlighted the limited impact of such financial aid in broadening access for less affluent groups. He noted that many of Britain’s leading private schools originated from endowments intended to educate children from poorer backgrounds. However, despite the growing prevalence of bursaries, the support’s scale and effectiveness in addressing social exclusivity remain limited. Green pointed out that with average private school fees accounting for 58 percent of median disposable household income, independent education remains largely unaffordable for many families.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which represents more than 1,400 independent schools, stated that a third of students in ISC member schools receive fee assistance. She emphasized ongoing efforts to prioritise means-tested bursaries aimed at supporting disadvantaged students and those from the “squeezed middle,” helping families who might otherwise be unable to access independent education.

The findings provide insight into the evolving role of bursaries within the UK’s private education sector, highlighting both increased bursary availability and persisting challenges in making these schools truly accessible to families across all income levels.