KMS Bursaries
Eligibility
Pupil Premium and Pupil Premium Plus funding is made available in English schools to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and to close the gap between them and their peers. Kingston Music Service (KMS) does not receive Pupil Premium or Pupil Premium Plus funding.
KMS is however committed to giving every young person access to a music education and to supporting eligible young people to develop their musical talent where possible.
KMS provides a fee remission of up to 100% off KMS fees on specific provision, to those children who are eligible for free school meals. Currently children who attend a London primary school are entitled to a Universal Infant Free School Meal. This is not the same as free school meals from the Local Authority.
Who can apply for a KMS bursary?
You can apply for a KMS bursary if all of the follow applies
- the child attends a Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames school
- the child is in year 3 or above
- you have an annual income of less than £16,190
- you are eligible for free school meals - i.e. you receive at least one of these benefits:
- income support
- income-based job seeker's allowance
- income-related employment and support allowance
- the guarantee element of state pension credit
- support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- child tax credit (but not working tax credit)
- working tax credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
KMS Develop Bursary
The KMS Develop Bursary is available to any child who is eligible for pupil premium (see above). There is a specific amount of money available for these bursaries each year and they are awarded on a first come first served basis.
What support will I get?
If successful, you will get the following support depending on the student’s experience, and the instrument chosen:
Tutition
| First year of learning | Trumpet, Clarinet, Guitar, Violin, Viola, Cello, Recorder | Students learning an instrument for the first time are eligible for a bursary on a STARter Group | 50% reduction on STARter Group rate: Currently £42.50 (full rate £85) per term |
| First year of learning | Drums/Percussion | Students learning drums/percussion for the first time are eligible for a bursary to attend either Percussion Jam or UpBeat | 50% reduction on ensemble rate: Currently £42.50 (full rate £85) per term |
| First year of learning | Piano | Students learning the piano for the first time are eligible for a bursary on a 30 minute group lesson or 20 minute individual lesson | 60% reduction on KMS fees |
| Second year of learning | Any instrument (subject to availability of lessons) | Students learning an instrument having learned for at least one year are eligible for a bursary on a 20 minute individual or 30 minute group lesson | 60% reduction on KMS fees |
| Second year of learning | Ensemble membership | Free membership of an ensemble for one year | Free membership of an ensemble for one year |
| Following years | Any instrument (subject to availability of lessons) Develop Bursary students are eligibility checked each year. | It is possible for parents/tutors to request a longer lesson (30mins) if the student has made sufficient progress and shows good commitment. | 60% reduction on KMS fees |
| Following years | Ensemble membership | Membership of any KMS Ensemble | 60% reduction in fees |
Extra Bursary Benefits
Instrument hire: 60% reduction off any KMS instrument hire
Please note - you are only able to apply for one course bursary per child.
How to apply
Once you have applied for lessons with KMS, for lessons at school or a music centre , please complete this KMS Develop Bursary application form, and we will be in touch. We may contact you for further information.
Once a bursary has been granted it is the parent/guardian's responsibility to let KMS know of any changes in financial circumstance straight away. If something changes and you no longer meet the criteria for the bursary we will ask you to pay the full amount for the lessons. We reserve the right to recover any underpayment of fees.
KMS Promise Bursary
The KMS Promise Bursary is a one year programme and is available to two students per year who show great potential in their musicianship and are eligible for pupil premium (see above). Parents apply for the award by February each year via an application form. Decisions are made via the application form, supporting statement from School Music Lead and KMS Selection Workshop, normally held in March.
What support will I get?
If successful, you will get the following support depending on the student’s experience, and the instrument chosen:
Tuition
| First year of learning | Trumpet, Clarinet, Guitar, Violin, Viola, Cello, Recorder | Students learning an instrument for the first time are eligible for a bursary on a STARter Group | 100% reduction on STARter Group rate |
| First year of learning | Percussion | Students learning drums/percussion for the first time are eligible for a bursary to attend either Percussion Jam or UpBeat | Free Percussion Jam or UpBeat membership for the duration of the bursary |
Extra Bursary Benefits
Instrument hire: 100% reduction off any KMS instrument hire
Students will be allocated a mentor who will monitor progress on a regular basis to help with their development as musicians.
Please note - you are only able to apply for one bursary course per child.
How to apply
Applications for Promise Bursaries open in November each year..
Once a bursary has been granted it is the parent/guardian's responsibility to let KMS know of any changes in financial circumstance straight away. If something changes and you no longer meet the criteria for the bursary we will ask you to pay the full amount for the lessons. We reserve the right to recover any underpayment of fees.
KMS Talent Bursary
The KMS Talent Bursary is a four year programme and is available to two students per year who show great talent and potential in their musicianship and are eligible for pupil premium (see above). Parents apply for the award by February each year via an application form. Decisions are made via the application form, tutor recommendations and an interactive music workshop with student and parent/carer (KMS Selection Workshop, normally held in March).
To be eligible:
- Be in at least year 3
- Have been learning a musical instrument for a minimum of one year
- Show potential and commitment to learning
- Be eligible for pupil premium grant funding (see above)
- Be learning with a KMS tutor in school, online or at a centre
- Live in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
- Attend a school in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
What support will I get?
If successful, you will get the following support depending on the student’s experience, and the instrument chosen:
| Tutition | Students learning an instrument having learned for at least one year are eligible for a bursary on a 20 minute individual or 30 minute group lesson | 100% reduction on KMS fees |
| Ensemble experience | Membership of any KMS Ensemble | Free membership of an ensemble for the length of the bursary |
| Theory Group | Membership of a KMS Theory groupFree membership of a theory group for the length of the bursary |
Extra Bursary Benefits
Instrument hire: 100% reduction off any KMS instrument hire.
Students will be allocated a mentor who will monitor progress on a regular basis to help with their development as musicians.
Please note - you are only able to apply for one course bursary per child.
How to apply
Applications for Talent Bursaries open in November each year..
Once a bursary has been granted it is the parent/guardian's responsibility to let KMS know of any changes in financial circumstance straight away. If something changes and you no longer meet the criteria for the bursary we will ask you to pay the full amount for the lessons. We reserve the right to recover any underpayment of fees.