Mumsnet Talk

So, ds has been offered a place at a selective prep school. us accepting this is totally dependant on a bursary for which we have applied. My question is, how likely is it that the place would have been given if the bursary isn't going to be forthcoming?? We have had a letter saying we will hear from the bursar next week, but would they have offered a place knowing that there is no way we could afford the fees without the bursary?

Hard to say. If, for instance, they have two bursaries on offer and four children need one - well, someone is going to be disappointed. On the other hand they have told you you will 'hear from the bursar' which implies the governors have decided you can have a bursary, now the bursar has to say how much. Good luck! And let us know...

It depends. What tends to happen is that there is a closing date for applications and they are then all 'weighed up' against what the school has available and what they consider from their calculations what you can afford to pay, the bursar will then contact you with the % they can offer. The place is offered first as they don't know how many chunks the bursary pot needs to be divided into and without the place then they wouldn't need to process your application. Good luck and hope you get the % you need

Thanks! It would be such a shame if we had to say no after all this ! I'll be back
PS am a reg nc'd as am a bit nervous!!

Good luck. Dd1 was offered a place but we were very clear it was dependant on bursary. She did get what we needed and this is her second term and been the best decision we have made for her.
However, hers isnt a selective school.

When the head called to offer the place, I mentioned the bursary and he did say he was aware of it so...fingers X'd

I made itclearthan my DS could only accept a place if he was awarded a bursary. He was offered a place but no bursary. I wasn't the only disappointed person.

Bugger - just had an email asking about our credit card debts. We have a few because, as I explained in the application, I was out of work for a while and to keep the house, we had to use them. we're paying them back no interest and don't have any now. Will this go against us though?? Am getting v sad that we may not get help

Hold your nerve: they're clearly still assessing you. Just tell the truth and hope for the best.

Thank you. have just had a good cry and thought oh well, that's that, it was a nice idea and at least he passed etc . It's horrible. Have been totally honest, so can't do more than that!

Still haven't heard They have to let us know by the end of the week. please reassure me!!

They haven't said 'no' so you're still in the running! Do you know how many bursaries there are and how many applicants? Not that it helps really. My Dsis was in your position. When the Head rang and said they had a bursary she burst into tears on the phone, and she is definitely not a crying person generally. Credit card debts are a difficult one for a Bursar. If they were used for luxury holidays etc it's a very different scene from if they had to be used for survival during a tough time.
Keeping fingers crossed for you.

That's true - I would imagine they would say no straight away to give people a chance to maybe find another school?? <straw clutching> The school itself is a pretty wealthy one in a wealthy city that offers the equivilent of around 60 100% bursaries over the prep and upper each year <frantically checked the Charity commission accounts page > and I know they are very keen to welcome the 'poor'!! However, I am now concerned about these cc debts - they have never been used for holidays or monets etc, and I did explain this so hopefully they will understand that we went through a rough patch . I will also cry if we get a result! Thanks.

Hi again We got an offer of a bursary today, and without wanting to sound ungrateful, it just isn't enough - however we do the sums Can people appeal or negotiate does anyone know. I can't believe we put her through all that, she passed so well, we were totally honest about our (lack of) funds and now we are having to say no Please be gentle!

That's a shame. No advice but maybe phone and ask if there is likely to be anymore available. If she can't go anyway you have nothing to lose.

You can't appeal. But you can negotiate: if you can't afford to go there on current offer, you've got nothing to lose.

Do work out how much you need to hold the plan together before you start talking to the school.

thanks. Negotiation is the word I was looking for! We have worked out what we would need and can show them the sums (again!) I'll call tomorrow. Is it likely they would listen though? Is this something others do?

Yes it is. Negotiate.

You will be in a much stronger position if someone else turns their offer down though.

The key to negotiation is to manage to do it while still sounding like the sort of parent they will want to be dealing with from here on in.

Good luck!

Ok, so I will contact them tomorrow (have to accept the place by Friday ) and state that we can afford xxx so, knowing the kind of child our dc is, and how brilliantly they performed in the test and what they will bring to the school etc, would it be possible to negotiate the sum to an acceptable level? That kind of thing??

Yes. We negotiated 3 times. In the end they caved in and gave us what we needed. We had to go away at one point and see if family could help out. (they could help a little) and then school came up with the rest we needed.
I hope that makes sense. I wouldn't worry about the deadline date too much if you are in discussions with them before the cut-off date.
Good luck.

You could always mention their charitable status

I know people who have successfully negotiated bursaries.

You do realise that you are likely to have to do this every year, though?

IME, bursaries are for one year, and you have to reapply every single year. What will your position be when she has been there for a few years, and has friends, and they decide that you are eligible for a smaller bursary, this year?

You could always mention their charitable status

I really really wouldn't!

IME, bursaries are for one year, and you have to reapply every single year. What will your position be when she has been there for a few years, and has friends, and they decide that you are eligible for a smaller bursary, this year?

IME a good school will not kick a bursary child out due to lack of (parents) funds, unless there are exceptional circumstances (ie, your child is a full on nightmare to teach).

Many schools offer sponsored busarys that are awarded for several years/through to U6

Bursaries are reviewed annually but are unlikely to be withdrawn or changed dramatically unless you are spending on luxuries and going on holiday.

Another words if you get a payrise - expect to put it towards next years fees after the annual review but also bare in mind the fees will increase a few % by next September.

Good luck for tomorrow. We have been through this and its nerve wracking and cringey but worth it - however it works out. If you suceed thats fab and if they fail to offer you more - you know you dgave it your best shot. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I know a woman, who is a young widow, whose DC are at two well known schools. (Schools you are likely to have heard of, particularly if you live in London.)

She has to reapply for a bursary for her DD every year. (I think her DS has a very generous scholarship, so she doesn't have to do the same at his school.)

So, do check that any bursary will be for the whole time at the school. The school may, for example, decide that once your credit card debts are paid off, you should use that money to pay school fees, and the bursary may decrease, accordingly.