The Poor School is designed to enable students without grants or parental support to pay for themselves by holding a daytime job. Most get through the training in that way. Parental support is, of course, a great advantage.

Local authority grants are very rare. More common are contributions from charitable trusts. It is necessary to do your own research, since your eligibility for a particular charity may depend on your region, your background and your ethnic origin. In addition, there is a publication: The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need, available at most Citizens' Advice Bureaux. For more information click here.

Fees

Fees are £1790 per term. They must be paid termly, one month in advance of the term starting. The final two terms' fees must be paid together (less deposit, see below) at the end of the fourth term.

Deposit

A deposit of £600 is required from each new student soon after they accept a place at the school. This is then credited to the student at Christmas in the second year (i.e. it is deducted from the amount they have to pay).

The deposit, and all money paid to the school, is returnable at our discretion. The payment of a deposit we take as an indication of your honest intent to attend, subject to any conditions you may attach. We will accept the deposit on your terms, perhaps after negotiation, but, once paid, it is not returnable on demand.

Refunds

For those who leave before the scheduled end of the training refunds are often due. Fees paid in advance, including the deposit, will be refunded except fees paid for a term which is in progress, and provided that the circumstances of the leaving and the behaviour of the student have been reasonable and not disruptive. A term is deemed to be in progress once the due date for payment has passed. All refunds are made in the autumn.