School scholarships

[WoIsMe]

DH and I both went to state schools, as did everyone in our families, so we have very little knowledge of private schools or scholarships.

DS1 is gifted (high IQ and musical), for example he scored the highest mark his school has ever had for his 11 plus exam. My DS3 is at least as bright as DS1. At age 4 he can already read and is learning his times tables. He's starting Reception in September and, while I think his infant school are perfectly capable of coping with him being slightly ahead of his peers academically, I'm wondering whether we should be looking at some sort of scholarship for later on in his education?

I'm completely clueless about what's involved but I just don't want DS3 to have the same problems as DS1 getting bored in school and never being challenged. The result is that DS1 is doing his GCSEs now and he doesn't have any clue how to apply himself because he's never had to work at anything before now.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[LIZS]

There are fewer scholarships at 7+ than for secondary. You need to research your local options to see what they offer and the criteria. If finances may be an issue bear in mind that scholarships may not give much of a discount now as the focus has shifted to bursaries. It would be worth a conversation with the bursar if so.

[gillybeanz]

Hello WolsMe.

This is the only one that I know offers good scholarships and ticks your boxes.
It's the only specialist music school that has an academic test, too.
Very suitable for the academic musician.
wells.cathedral.school/

[WoIsMe]

Gilly Wells looks like an amazing option for DS3 and it's near enough that he could be a weekly boarder and come home at weekends. He hasn't asked to start a musical instrument yet but he is certainly very musical - both DH and I are musicians so it's not surprising.

Thanks for the tip about a scholarship not giving much of a discount LIZS, since DS3 is only four we would have time to prepare financially should we decide that a private education would be worthwhile.

My question at this point is whether a private education would be a better option for DS3 than a state education. I know that DS1's school has an advanced level for high achievers but the problem is he isn't achieving because he isn't able to work effectively in school.

[gillybeanz]

Wols

I can't help with the academic side and don't know a lot about the school, but know snippets here and there.
My dd attends one of the other specialist Music schools, and wouldn't pass an academic test if her life depended on it.
I would be more than happy to help with your understanding of the MDS, it really is a fantastic scheme that helps with fees, allowing children with potential to gain access to specialist music school irrespective of parental income.

[user1497480444]

what do you mean by

The result is that DS1 is doing his GCSEs now and he doesn't have any clue how to apply himself because he's never had to work at anything before now.

the problem is he isn't achieving because he isn't able to work effectively in school.

what has prevented him finding challenges and working effectively?

What are you expecting to be different in a private school?

[Lucysky2017]

Loads of children do very well in state schools. 50% of Oxbridge, perhaps 60% is from state schools and they all manage GCSE very well and I write that as someone whose children (and me too) were in private schools from 5 to 18 - my oldest are just leaving (3 of mine by the way won music scholarships at 12+).

If you want a good academic private school I do think that is worth paying for and I have been delighted with ours however. For us we started down the private school road at age 4.

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

I have a "gifted" ds, at a state school, he has been provided with opportunities to stretch himself academically, and has at times also struggled with different subjects and the many aspects of school he finds difficult. He is HF Autistic so required support and understanding from his teachers. He has completed a GCSE paper this summer, he has been given a prize for his History work, and his school report this term listed above average and 'mastery' levels of several subjects alongside below average presentation marks.

A good school should be able to meet the needs of most children, if they are gifted learners or SEN, or both! with appropriate support Ds is expected to do well at GCSE and to go on to a good University, but he has just completed y8, will be going up to high school in September, he has a few years yet and if he doesn't apply himself or finds school life more of a struggle than he already does - he could fail to meet those expectations. I don't think a private school would change that materially, supportive engaged parents, a son keen on learning and self motivated is more important - imo.

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

D's is also August born so not yet 13. Plenty of time for going off plan!

[Lurkedforever1]

Some state schools do provide well for able and gifted dc, but it is a lottery. At dd's selection (academic and behaviour etc) means the focus can be equal for all dc. And private means more resources. Plus the fact the teachers can concentrate on teaching rather than whatever bizarre ofsted box needs ticking. Obviously there are crap privates too, but in general it's easier for a selective private school to cater to gifted dc so no valid reason not to, unlike a good state that will still have reasons the most able can't fully have every need met.

In terms of challenge, at dd's the teachers provide none curriculum challenge in subjects when needed. Plus a wide range of subjects and extra curricula activities that require effort. Dd isn't exactly killing herself in maths, but neither is she bored which is my main concern. And some work she's given does require her full effort and really challenges her. She also has peers across the board, some are better than her in some subjects, some are equals, and even in maths there are a couple of them who have different strengths so she has healthy competition for the first time. Again possible at a state super selective but otherwise schools don't have the numbers at the top.

As for scholarships, most are too insignificant a reduction to make much difference to fees. I'd suggest researching the schools that you'd consider and whether fees are an option if you take that route. Or whether you'd qualify for a bursary.

[MrsPatmore]

Agree with Lurked. Scholarships usually a token amount but there are a few schools where 50% off is offered. If your son is musical then all the better as they can top up an academic scholarship with a music one if they really want your son. Depends on the school and the demand.

[iseenodust]

You need to do your research on individual schools. DS goes to a reasonably academic independent school. They do not offer any scholarships but they do offer bursaries up to 100%. 10% of the pupils are on some element of bursary. We are up north though.

[OrlandaFuriosa]

There's a lot you can do, if you have the time, in terms if extra curricular activity on both academic and non academic sides.

If Wells is local, talk to Millfield, discover what they offer, both for DS1 now though it might be a bit late but you never know and in preparation for the younger one.

If really bright, look at Eton too : if you are a KS pretty much everything can be paid for, and if you don't have the means afair they are prepared to out you in a local prep to catch up for the last year pre Eton, though that may have changed. The music is pretty good, though not so good as the specialist schools.

[1805]

Hi OP, I know I'm late to this, but just in case you're still here…

We have a similar situation (and are both musicians too!) with Dc1. Very clever, bored at primary school, etc etc

We managed to get a bursary for him to attend our academic prep school not far from us. It was the best thing we ever did for him. Suddenly he was in a class full of boys just like him and he wasn't even top of the class any more. It made him put (a bit of) work in.

Moving forward, he then got a music and academic award, plus a bursary to a senior school and is doing very well there.

If you can show a school a) how your dc will benefit with what they can offer (broader curriculum, specialist subject teachers, more languages) and b) how dc will represent their school (polite, competitions, exam results) then they should want to help you if they can. The bigger schools generally have more financial help to offer.

Definitely go for it. Ds still doesn't work as hard as others, but is doing well! Good luck!

[Yayitsfriday]

we looked at scholarship for DS2, but decided against it in the end. The school, in the past, has taken away the scholarship if the child wasn't achieving highly enough which caused a lot of stress to families and children. And in general, children who struggled are told by the school to get private tuition otherwise they will have to leave the school. This is a school that costs upwards of £17 000 a year. So I was not impressed and not sending my child there. I think it's an awful system.

[1805]

Yay - goes to show how different schools can be. You had an awful experience, but we had a great experience.

OP - do your research first about the particular school!