Diluting Exclusivity? The Prevalence and Distribution of Bursaries and Scholarships for Britain's Private Schools

Abstract

Bursaries and scholarships are sometimes advanced as a mitigating factor for Britain's private schools' social exclusiveness and as a vehicle for social reform. This paper analyses trends in these grants since 1997 using the Family Resources Survey. We find that one in ten private school pupils received a bursary or scholarship, while only 3.4 percent of total fees were mitigated in this way. Over time the grants became more common but decreased in value relative to fees. Across income groups, grants were partly progressive, but became less so over time. Across occupational classes, grant frequency was consistently neutral, but grant amounts were somewhat progressive. Drawing on these findings and on historical evidence from the 20 th century, the paper concludes that bursaries and scholarships are unlikely to bring forth a significant reform of the socioeconomic sectoral divide in Britain's school system.

Keywords: Bursary, scholarship, social mobility, private school, inequality