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Original poster

Which independent secondary schools have scholarships which have real monetary value?

61 replies

stealthsquiggle · 06/06/2011 16:40

This is pure research at the moment as we are a year or so off making decisions, but I am interested to know which schools have academic scholarships (note, not bursaries - non-means tested merit based is what I am interested in) which make any real impact on the fees? We are told that DS has the capability to win such a scholarship, but I am concerned that the head of his current school is focused on the ones which look good (i.e. are prestigious) and there is not much point him taking exams if we still wouldn't be able to afford the fees because the scholarship has no (or nominal) monetary value. We would be unlikely to qualify for means-tested bursaries.

All comments/opinions welcome. TIA.

OP posts:
thepartyinquisition · 06/06/2011 17:33

My son goes to City of London School and has a 25% academic scholarship - from what I gather, it's about the norm. I think he's one of two in his form class (one of four forms) that have a scholarship and I'm guessing but pretty sure the other boy's is substantially larger.

I'm sure you can talk to them about it; they have been absolutely lovely about everything are very upfront about these sorts of things. They want to get the boys they want (if that makes sense) regardless of their ability to pay.

LadyPeterWimsey · 06/06/2011 17:28

RGS Guildford has one academic scholarship worth 50% and a number of others worth lesser amounts, e.g. 20%. these can be combined with other scholarships such as music ones to give quite a significant amount off the fees. But it is a day school. IME if they want your child enough, many schools will sort out your fees accordingly.

diabolo · 06/06/2011 17:24

School N of Bury St Edmunds offers 25% off termly fees for several academic, sport, or all-rounder scholarships at 11+ and 13+

1 in Ipswich (there may be more but I haven't researched them) offers 50% off termly fees again for several academic, sport, specialist sport and all-rounder scholarships, again both at 11+ and 13+.

These schools do offer means-tested bursaries as well, but the scholarships themselves go to whoever performs best in the tests on the day. I know some of the children who've earned them and and am certain that it is fair.

Original poster
stealthsquiggle · 06/06/2011 17:22

LondonMother - we are in a very rural area so the day options are limited by practicalities - so those I can (and will) research directly. I am interested to know what 'normal' practice is (I was aware that the emphasis recently has been on bursaries), but in terms of real opportunities for DS it would (realistically) be boarding schools. This is one factor in a complicated decision process, but if we decide that none of the few local options are right, then boarding it will be and geography is less of a factor.

Your DS's school's approach, if it were the norm, would really work for us - I think 1/3 fee reduction would make a lot of schools viable (if still painful) for us.

OP posts:
crazycarol · 06/06/2011 17:19

At dd's school scholarships are around £1000 per year but it isn't deducted from fees. It is put into an account and given to the student when they leave the school at the age of 18, or if they leave before that it is given on what would have been their leaving date.

LondonMother · 06/06/2011 17:17

Stealth, are you interested in finding out about varying practice across the UK or are you trying to factfind about a particular area?

My son goes to a school in SE London which has academic scholarships worth anything between 10% and 33 1/3 % off fees. I know of two other schools in the area which had 50% scholarships a few years back but fewer scholarships in total than my son's school. They also had less generous bursary funding. So just on that very small sample it seems to vary a lot, and in any case may have changed in recent years because in response to the Charities Commisssion crackdown many schools are switching emphasis to bursary funding from non-means-tested scholarships.

Original poster
stealthsquiggle · 06/06/2011 17:02

There is the whole 'how long is a piece of string' question about what the threshold is for means tested bursaries - I know it varies hugely and depends on how many people apply and (whisper who dares) how much the school want the child in question, but all in all I doubt we would qualify. If there were such a thing as the ideal school for DS, with a 30% scholarship available, then decisions about applications (which are a while off as yet) would be a lot easier Grin

OP posts:
pinkhebe · 06/06/2011 16:58

Christ's Hospital is a means tested school, which I suppose could mean you pay the full 25k (although if you could afford that I doubt if you'd be bothered by scholarships!)
They do have 20% sholarships available too

goinggetstough · 06/06/2011 16:53

Some of them are "stacked" in name only. Others though are a maximum of 10% and then bursaries can be added. I know you asked about merit based scholarships only, but it doesn't have to be either or.

Original poster
stealthsquiggle · 06/06/2011 16:51

That's what worries me - a scholarship which would be wonderful for the prep school's reputation, and gives us 10% (or less) off sky-high fees. Interesting that they can be 'stacked' - that hadn't occurred to me [ignoramus]

OP posts:
LIZS · 06/06/2011 16:48

Schools round here vary from £1k pa up to 20-30%. If you get awarded more than one ie. academic and music or sports, or all-rounder, then they can be of greater value together, although music often means free lessons rather than a fee discount. Even at the most prestigious it could "only" be a 10% reduction (and they may even ask that you donate it back if not required !)

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