Financial Contributions (not applicable to Direct Entry Boarding or Day Places)
Paying For Your Child's Education At Christ's Hospital
A Life-changing Educational Opportunity
The Christ's Hospital Foundation
funds the gap between the assessed parental contribution and the full cost of educating a child at the School. Currently, 97% of pupils' places are either fully supported or parents are asked to contribute on a sliding scale according to household income.
Should your child enter Christ's Hospital, he or she will receive the invaluable gift of education and a life-changing opportunity at a most remarkable and outstanding school.
How Contributions are Assessed
We aim to make a boarding education at Christ's Hospital accessible to children from all social and economic backgrounds; however, parents have a responsibility to their child to put an education at Christ's Hospital near the top of their spending priority list.
Before your child takes the Initial Entrance Assessment (normally in November of year prior to entry), you should use the Ready Reckoner as an initial guide which you might find useful before contacting our Contributions Assessment Manager, Mrs Janet Young, email: jey@christs-hospital.org.uk or direct line 01403 247555, for an estimate of how much you may need to pay to the Foundation towards the cost of your child's education.
How much a parent pays and how much is funded by the Foundation depends on the income received into the household in which the child resides, for example:-
All earned income excluding tax and NI of the parent/s, step parent/s, common law spouse or partners who form a family unit
Any other regular income from which the home benefits
The income from investments and savings, and a % of the value of assets, e.g. equity in the main residence in excess of £500,000, business assets
Any maintenance received for the family
Money paid to any member of the family as a gift or Covenant
Any other income
We include:-
The majority of DSS Benefits
We do NOT include:-
Housing benefits and Council tax benefits
Disability allowance
Carer's Allowance
We deduct:-
Tax and National Insurance and allow a percentage for mortgage and/or rent payments (capped at 12.5% of your total income) however, this cap will not be applied to mortgage/rent payments that are below £4,000 per year
Annual costs for Council Tax, Water Rates, Buildings Insurances
Childminding/nursery fees essential for a parent to work
Maintenance paid out by Court Order or CSA
An allowance of a notional expense of £500 will be made for each dependant child (other than the child or children at Christ's Hospital, up to the age of 16, or 18 if in full time education) who live permanently in the family home
We do not make an allowance for fees paid to other schools
For an estimate of your contributions using the Ready Reckoner, please click here
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How does my child qualify for a free place?
All parents are required to make an annual financial declaration to Christ's Hospital. Currently, families with a Christ's Hospital assessed income of £8,500 pa or less would not be asked for a contribution.
When will I know if or how much I have to contribute towards my child's education?
Following an offer of a child's place at Christ's Hospital, we provide an estimate based on the information you have provided on the Finance Form. The final notification of the contribution will be sent to you in the summer before your child starts school.
How do I pay the contribution?
If you are asked to contribute, payment of your parental contribution is divided into three equal instalments, due prior to the start of each term and will be collected by direct debit.
Do I have to pay for the Entrance Assessments?
There is a fixed one-off non-refundable charge of £10 per candidate for sitting our Initial assessments. A further means tested charge will be made for candidates invited to the Residential assessments.
What happens if I withdraw my child before entry?
If having accepted a place, you withdraw your child before entry; you will become liable to pay a term's contributions in lieu of notice.
What happens if my circumstances change?
Unlike other independent schools, Christ's Hospital Foundationers need not lose their place at the School should their family circumstances change.
All parents must advise us of any change in their circumstances. Where family income is affected by bereavement, redundancy, ill health or divorce/separation, contributions will be reassessed based on the new family situation. However, if the change is one of personal choice, e.g. lifestyle change, no review will take place until the following academic year. In such circumstances contributions may not necessarily be reduced.
What 'Extras' will I have to pay?
The Foundation pays for:-
- The 'Bluecoat' Uniform
- Books and stationery
- Some financial help may be available for travel to and from school according to family income if the home is in excess of 70 miles within the British Isles
- Some financial help may be available for essential School Trips, according to income
Parents are asked to pay for:-
- Sportswear, casual wear, nightwear, underwear and shoes (second-hand sports wear can be purchased at favourable prices and parents on very low incomes may be eligible for a sports clothing grant)
- £20* per term for pocket money
- £25* per term for House Funds (which contributes towards treats and entertainment)
- A dictionary and a Bible
- Dry cleaning of the 'Bluecoat' Uniform
- Miscellaneous e.g. lost books, testing of personal electrical equipment
* Parents on very low incomes may be assisted with these costs
Do I pay for Music Tuition?
Free music tuition is given for one instrument to all opting for A Level Music or Music Technology and GCSE Music. A limited number of new entrants who show good potential for future musical development may also have free tuition on one instrument. Pupils who receive free music tuition on one instrument may also learn a second and fees will be charged according to parental income. If a pupil opts for more than two instruments, full tuition fees will be charged for the third instrument.
Where a pupil is not taking academic music exams, up to two instrumental lessons will be available and fees will be charged according to parental income; full tuition fees will be charged on a third instrument.
Parents are required to pay for music examination fees.
Is there a discount for Siblings at Christ's Hospital?
The assessment for siblings will be calculated using the net assessed income after deducting the parental contributions in respect of the first child.
I am self-employed, how will I be assessed?
The assessment will be based on the net profit declared on the previous year's Tax Computation. Should the previous year's accounts not be available at the time of the assessment you must provide an estimate and the assessment will be re-calculated on receipt of the final accounts.
During the course of your child's education at Christ's Hospital, the Foundation reserves the right to make home visits without prior appointment.