Can anyone suggest an independent school that...

Bootham in York sport is a very minor role in school life, more music and arts orientated. Don't know about bursaries but I know they are avaliable but may only be for students from quaker backgrounds.

"Every time a bursary is given out, parents who pay full fees, including the vast majority who struggle to do this are asked to take on a further burden.

Someone looking for a substantial bursary should ask themselves why they deserve it."

Or, every time a bursary is given out it validates the school's VAT position as a charity, saving parents money every time. And some schools offer bursaries supported by endowments laid down by grateful alumni to help ensure that children from less fortunate backgrounds can have a chance. Are you saying the beneficiaries don't deserve that?

Once money is given to a charity for a particular use it cannot be diverted.

King Edward School, in Edgbaston, by Birmingham Uni.

This year the head has managed to increase number of bursary places greatly. 25% of the intake this year, and next year, will have a bursary - some full, some partial, depends on your household income.

My youngest DS is a pupil there, on a full bursary, I cannot praise the school highly enough. Has lots of sports - all private schools do - but my not sporty son doesn't seem to have missed out at all: he does some sports (volleyball and athletics and swimming, just not in teams), martial arts, school choir, chess, book club, debating society, history society, maths society.

The KES website gives some details of the bursary scheme, and if you phone you will be given plenty more information; I found the school to be very helpful when I applied on behalf of ds a few years ago.

There is an entrance exam, held in Jan, I think; also think final date for submission has already passed for this years exam though. How old is your ds?

First XV are well endowed and not typical of the sector.

Every time a bursary is given out, parents who pay full fees, including the vast majority who struggle to do this are asked to take on a further burden.

Someone looking for a substantial bursary should ask themselves why they deserve it.

Winchester offer generous bursaries. My DS is in year 9 football was compulsory for the first half of term then he could opt out they do have to participate in regular sporting activities but there are lots of choice for the non team players. They interview boys in yr 6 for yr 8 entry and it is academically very selective it also has a reputation for taking the more quirky. They only have full boarders.

Try the Dragon School in Oxford? I always understood it's not sports-obsessed (could be wrong, just my impression) and that it has unusually good bursaries.

A caveat about bursaries - if a school is 'generous', then they may be desperate for pupils and actually in financial difficulties.

Some top public schools have large endowments, but most schools just operate, year in-year out, on current fee income.

For a healthy school in this category, bursaries really shouldn't exceed 5 - 10% of total fee income, with senior school fees in the region of £3500 - 4500.

where? day? boarding? mixed? single sex? how selective? how old is your DC?