Dulwich College in south London is facing mounting tension between parents over the future of its bursary program amid rising tuition fees. The independent boys’ school, where annual fees now exceed £32,000, is considering a review of its financial support offerings following pressure from some full-fee-paying families seeking relief on costs.

At a governors’ meeting in June, representatives of approximately 250 families urged the school to explore greater efficiencies and reconsider the scale of bursary provision, according to a confidential school note. Several parents expressed concerns about their ability to continue affording the fees, which have increased sharply by 30 percent over the past three years, from £8,231 per term in 2023 to £10,706 this September. Some voiced fears that the school risks becoming accessible only to the wealthiest households, potentially excluding families with professional incomes.

In response, Dulwich College’s governing body signaled that a reassessment of its long-term financial strategy was underway under the leadership of Robert Milne, who became headmaster last September. A letter to parents dated June 22 indicated that the assumptions behind the school’s financial plan were being revisited to better align with the growing economic challenges facing families. The governors acknowledged that bursary provision "could form part of wider strategic discussions" and noted that existing bursary recipients would continue to receive support.

Bursaries currently benefit about 192 pupils—just over 10 percent of the student body—with the school allocating £5 million for financial aid in the 2024-25 academic year. Funding for these bursaries is drawn entirely from endowment income and other school activities, rather than fees paid by parents. However, governors conceded that this funding model might not be sustainable indefinitely.

The school attributed recent fee increases to several factors, including the impact of the UK government's fiscal policies, rising employer National Insurance contributions, and the loss of charitable business rates relief. Governors also highlighted the burden of absorbing nearly half the cost of a 20 percent VAT on private school fees introduced by the Labour government, limiting the fee hike passed on to families last year to 10.6 percent. They stressed that it is not the college’s intention to exclude parents through pricing.

The debate has created a divide between full-fee-paying families, some of whom advocate for cuts to bursaries in order to slow fee rises, and parents of bursary-supported students who fear such measures would erode the school's inclusive character. One concerned parent emphasized that the school’s diversity owes much to its bursary scheme and warned that reducing financial support would undermine that element.

A Dulwich College spokesperson reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to widening access through bursaries funded from sources other than parental fees, highlighting the school’s ongoing dedication to sustaining financial aid despite current challenges.