Many independent schools are beginning to offer more mean- tested bursaries aimed at able children from families who would not be able to afford school fees. At Abingdon that can be up to 100 per cent of fees.

But they are not seen as a panacea for broadening the intake to independent schools. They are far better than offering nothing, but there is some debate as to whether they will really attract the spectrum of children they are aimed at.

In order to reach the children who would qualify, independent schools have to promote the scheme to both the target parents and their children's current schools, which are most likely to be in the maintained sector. It has not always been easy to convince either of these parties that an independent education is a good idea.

Seen by some as creaming off' the able children, it returns to the arguments of grammar versus comprehensive and direct grant education. For some parents it is an unfamiliar institution that they do not want to be part of.

Having said this, there are many parents and schools who do welcome the bursary scheme and the opportunity it offers, but in order to really provide open access to an independent education there is a need to ensure that all children are given the choice.

Independent schools should be working alongside the primary school headteachers to promote the bursary scheme.

It is through these heads and their staff that we can reach parents of children who would never have thought of, for example, an Abingdon education.

Many parents would also think twice before accepting a bursary for an able child. Concerns over the cost of extras' such as trips, music lessons and uniform can make a dent in anyone's budget, so provision has to be made for financial support in all these areas.

But these are just the financial worries. There is the additional concern of whether a child will thrive socially and it is up to the school to reassure the parents that the entry process is designed to ensure that children who are offered places will be happy and enjoy school life.

A further potentially contentious issue facing schools is how the means-tested bursaries are funded and schools will vary enormously as to the monies they have available.

Abingdon, like many independent schools, is not socially elite and has a high percentage of professional parents, often both working in order to educate their children independently.

Many families also rely on help from grandparents and other relatives towards fees. Although parents are positive about open access and the availability of bursaries, it could be seen as both unfair and unpopular to ask existing parents to subsidise bursary places, so many schools will have to find funding from elsewhere.

Abingdon can talk with some authority on the area of open access having had the philosophy at the heart of the school's 750-year history, with roots in the grammar school and direct grant systems.

Abingdon was one of the first schools to introduce means tested scholarships, whereby winning a scholarship gives only a small automatic financial reward. Any further support is through a means-tested bursary to ensure that financial assistance only goes to families that need it.

Nine years ago, when this policy was first introduced, it was uncertain what the effect would be, but competition for Abingdon scholarships has strengthened with art, drama, sport and music scholarships now also offered on the same basis.

Other independent schools have looked to follow suit, however, in a competitive arena, schools are looking for general agreement on policy and there is a danger of schools falling foul of the Office of Fair Trading if they are seen to be fixing the market' in determining how much a scholarship should be worth.

A bursary to an independent school is not necessarily what every parent or child wants but if it provides the opportunity for a family to have a choice then that has to be a good thing and should be supported by all those involved. Only then will we achieve true open access.