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The Yehudi Menuhin School is independent and relies on school fees to
cover the annual running costs. Generous financial assistance towards
the cost of fees is provided for children living in the UK by the Department
for Children, Schools and Families under the Music and Dance Scheme (MDS). This
assistance is measured according to a sliding scale linked to family income.
Overseas pupils who have been resident in the UK for two full calendar
years or more are also eligible for a grant under the same scheme. Otherwise
it falls to the parents to search for sponsorship from their own Government
or from other charitable sources.
For the school year 2008/09, our fees are just over £38,700. Under
the MDS, parents with a relevant gross income under £11,774 in the
tax year 2007/08 do not have to pay anything towards 2009 fees. If
gross income exceeds £11,774 then a proportion is payable on an
increasing scale up to the full fees. As a guide, some examples of the
annual parental contribution for 2008/09 are given below:
| Relevant Income | Annual Parent Contribution | |
| £15,000 £20,000 £30,000 £40,000 £50,000 £60,000 £70,000 £80,000 |
£216 £717 £1929 £3429 £5187 £6999 £8898 £10890 |
'Relevant income' is normally the gross family income (before tax) from all sources for both parents, together with any unearned income of their dependent children, less an allowance (£1745 2008/09 ) for dependent children. The amount of assistance provided is reviewed annually and parents are required to give details of their income each year to enable their contribution towards fees to be reassessed. For this purpose they must complete the DCSF form MD1, supplied by the school, and must provide documentary evidence as requested on the form. The level of their contribution is then calculated by the school in accordance with DCSF regulations, verified by the school's auditors and finally approved by the DCSF (who also approve the level of fees charged). Parents are billed termly for one third of their annual contribution, to be paid in advance at the beginning of the term.
The paragraphs above give only an outline of the Music and Dance Scheme. Further details, if desired, may be obtained from the school Bursar.
