Bursaries for private schools-any real chance???

We did a covering letter explaining why we couldn't offer to pay much towards it, family health issues ect. I think it helped

I would have added a covering letter detailing my DC's illness what she can and cant do why the school is so suitable for her, also is it likely to worsen obviously a big worry for schools if they thought they would need to put in ramps etc and clearly stating if she can participate in all activities obviously sport but school trips etc as well. IME experience schools are either completely blaze about illness/medication etc or go completely over the top. Perhaps you could drop them a line now, especially as the head might mention your daughter is ill but as she may not remember or have the full details it is probably better if give them as honest picture without scarring them.

Have you and your daughter looked at other options? When we failed to get a bursary for one of my DC's I wished we'd had a back up plan already in situ because although we had a year to find an alternative when we found out we hadn't got it was a bit unsettling. Would you consider boarding often bursaries are more available at boarding schools.

OP, have you tried this website www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/11plus/index.php
It sometimes comes in for a bit of stick on Mumsnet! But I found it so helpful when preparing my DS for his 11+ without a tutor. They have a section on Independent schools and you may well find someone who knows about the school you're applying for and can give you some tips on the best practice materials. Good luck!

OP I will keep my fingers crossed for you how long before you hear?

OP what does the school website say? Some make it very clear that bursaries are available only to those who win scholarships, others clearly state that bursaries are available to all whose financial circumstances meet the criteria, some will tell you how many bursaries are available many are ambiguous. In my experience many schools make grandiose claims but the reality is fail to live up to them. The ones that do deliver especially large bursaries usually have their committment to bursaries written very clearly on their website and often on their home/about us page although even those who slap promising comments on their home page dont always deliver.
When you met the head were you quite clear to her that you would have to have a 100% bursary? Heads ultimately don't control finances but you said its a small school and they do know appproximately much money is in the bursary pot so hopefully she should have some idea about current bursaries and may even know who else is applying in particular existing pupils. I would like to think that no head would encourage your DD to look round the school, sit the exam, apply for a 100% bursary knowing you hadn't got a cats hope in hell of getting one because they either don't have sufficient money for bursaries of that size or its already been earmarked for another child. Secondly did you explain on you bursary application form about you DD's illness detailing all the things you listed above? I would have thought that this could influence their decision from the schools point of veiw it feels good to offer a generous bursary to an ill child.
Applying for bursaries is always fraught. No one wants to raise a child's hopes by showing them a school putting them through an exam only too find that the much hoped for bursary is not available. But there is no other way only a few schools make provisional offers before you start the application process. Therefore assuming you have been completely honest with your daughter then hopefully she will understand that nothing is guaranteed if she doesn't get it then obviously she will be disappointed this happened to one of my DC's but we did find a viable alternative my DC learnt that disappointment is part of life and that we have to learn to move on and make the best of what we can have.
Good luck keep us all informed of how you get on.

We have a bursary for dd1, she is very bright and lovely but the school we applied to doesn't have scholarship.
It's not all on the best minds, but personality and whether they like you too.
Don't give up yet

My son got into a selective school with no tutoring, I think that the school gives 100% burseries to families with an income under 9k

Schools tend to be well aware of the tutoring effect, and will take it into account when assessing test results.

It really is in the luck of the draw and who else is applying for a share of this year's pot. I don't envy the committee who will have to decide.

Good luck

There is hope!
She may get in and it will help her if you are being positive about it. My dd has recently got into a v good state school via exam. (It is a a highly competitive faith school where 12 places are given through academic achievement). She had no tutoring other than what we did together at home and did some Bond practice papers, she is also on the gifted and talented register.
Your daughter may do it - just keep positive and if she doesn't get in you can cross that bridge when you get to it. It seems like there are lots of people who can give you advice on here.

LIZS - you don't need a statement to get help in state schools for children with health issues , my DD has never had a statement . Most schools are very accommodating but the one thing we found they couldn't help with was the actual getting around the school , my DD had short days etc before finally being referred to the HNFE service .

Does she have a statement ? If so you could ask that she needs timetabling to avoid unnecessary walking, stairs etc in larger school environment

If she's exceptionally bright then she wouldn't need tutoring, especially if she's coming from a state primary as most independent schools are looking for potential, not just achievement, and would be expecting a higher standard from the prep school pupils.

I think your friend is mistaken. Tutoring can nudge an average child's achievement up a bit and give them practice of doing timed tests but to be honest you can do all that yourself at home.

However if your dd is not exceptionally bright and doesn't have anything else to 'offer' the school i.e. sporting ability, musical ability etc then I suspect getting 100% bursary is unlikely, regardless of how many practice papers she's been doing - and regardless of whether or not she'd been tutored.

Personally I think it's unwise to show a child a school if it's not a genuine possibility - and if you can only send her there with 100% bursary then it is really a pipe dream. Much better to be talking up her realistic options with her and working with your current school to get her a good transition plan for secondary. By all means let her take the independent school test as well but don't get her hopes up too much.

but have those girls pretty much got guaranteed places ? If so that is fewer for external candidates and statistically lessens your dd's chances of getting a place at all let alone with a bursary. Will she get access arrangements (extra time ,breaks and so on) for her condition ? Forget scholarships for now, those are going to be difficult to get without tutoring. Have you also applied elsewhere as a backup ?

Do bear in mind that bursaries generally do not cover the extras involved in independent education e.g. uniform, sports kit, music lessons, school meals, school trips (often abroad) and also books etc as everything has to be paid for! So you need to factor that in to the affordability as well as any bursary support. Many schools also require an up front deposit to secure the place of £100-£800 which may not be covered by the bursary scheme and which is held against extras and repaid when they leave the school at 18. The general wisdom is to budget about 10% on top of the full fees per year.

I wouldn't get too stressed about it . My DD has health issues and dropped out of school due to the issues in year 8 , the school were extremely helpful and now she is under the health needs for education service , she is now thriving . It's obviously not ideal but she is getting a decent education .

Hard to say, have you asked for practice papers? What do they test and is she used to writing to time ? Is there a junior/prep school feeding the senior or open competition at 11+. dd's entry last year there were at least 3 applicants for every place and half came form the prep school. so for external candidates it was nearer 5 applicants per place. Depends on the school really.