Bursary waiting list-any chance?

No school in UK is rich enough to give bursaries to every applicant on a low income. There are 30 or so which are publicly aiming for full 'needs blind' admissions, but none has managed it (though Manchester Grammar is coming close)

Yes, you have to prove to the school's satisfaction what your income is. But that's only half the process. They are also deciding which of the bursary candidates they most want to take and this are the ones to whom they make offers. This might be highest score on entrance exam, but is probable also combined with interview performance and other achievement/aptitude. You will drive yourself mad if you try to second guess the performance of other applicants.

The criteria for bursaries depends on the school.

I was at 2 different schools over secondary who had places on the "Assisted places" scheme.
The first took all the people who had passed and had said that they wanted to be considered for a bursary. Then it gave the offer to the children who needed it most. So most getting it would be 100% of fees, and often uniform and lunch too.

The second took the children who had passed and gave the bursaries to the top 20. Meaning often the bursaries were not as valuable generally.

My dm worked in a school that claimed about 30 bursaries available. However 20-25 were tied up with where you lived. I think at least 20 you had to live in the town it was officially in (despite it being nearer to another town). Some were even tied up with which road you lived in. So if you lived in certain roads you would get offered one as long as you passed.

So that is different ways you may not have met the criteria.

ariane5, good luck, and try not to beat yourself up. As others have said, you have to go for the long shots otherwise you never know. If it had worked out, you would have done the right thing - and it might have done. If they say she is on the bursary waiting list then you can't have been far off - if the (I suspect very few) people above her had not applied, or passed the exam.

I am no expert but I would now do two things I think: get some specialist advice on what sort of provision the allocated school can and should make, and contact them as soon as possible to get the ball rolling (maybe post on the SEN board for advice about any organisations that could help you); and talk to the bursar or registrar of the independent for your own peace of mind, and so that you know the situation if you decide to have another go - it is also worth asking f they have any advice (you never know).

Even on a small site, there can be a lot of walking around depending on how the timetabling is done, and how the routine of school life pans out for a particular individual (if they happen to choose clubs at opposite ends of the site for example!). And schools seem to vary massively in how they organise the timetable - some keep yr 7/8 in one classroom or small block of them, and teachers come to them.

As your dd's problems will be apparent (presumably to her classmates), I think I would also approach the school about this, ask how they manage it, what information the other kids will be given, how they deal with name-calling, the detail of the bullying policy, and so on.

You sound like a wonderful mother. Good luck to you all.

I suspect part of your problem was that it was a "small school" in my now nearly 10 years of experience of getting bursaries for my DC's "small schools" generally have small bursary pots.
I too don't know why they offer a place but no bursary knowing you need one fortuneately this has never happened to us we've failed to get bursaries from some schools but not been offeredw place and no bursary it does seem particularly cruel. I just want to add to anyone who might be readying this that large bursaries are not for those who come in the top 4-5% in the entrance exams especially those who select 11 for 13-+ entry. In these schools bursaries are generally offered before entrance exams are even sat because they are often sat in June.
There is a very simple approach to take when it comes to bursaries identify a school you like work out how large a bursary you are going to realistically need and approach the bursar especially if it's a large one to see whether or not they have or are able to consider bursaries of this size. Try and do this if posdible before going to far down the admissions process and if possible before showing your DC the school.

The landscape is not so dire, there are more than three or four schools offering full fee assistance. But those bursaries will always go first to the children who have scored in the top 4 or 5% in the exam. And waiting lists for bursaries do exist because those top scorers get offered more than one and thus turn down others - we have turned down three and hopefully made some other family happy. However, one school has put us on the waiting list for the bursary, just like you, and offered a full paying fee which of course we can't afford to accept. The advice you got here is right, talk to the bursar. Find out your chances. But start being positive about the SS, it's the best you can do now for your DD.

"Its just so difficult as she has done well enough for the school to offer a place but only a full fee place which we cannot afford."
I feel for you. But unfortunately passing the exams are not enough. You want a large bursary and they may simply not be enough money. Big names schools have more money (although even many of them aren't offering 100%) I only know of about three or four who are guaranteeing bursaries of this size.

"with my daughter and I cant let her keep hoping that a place might become available if its a no hoper
Arrgghh meant to say be honest with him my daughter is desperately hoping she'll get a place and I cant let her keep hoping that a place might become available if its a no hoper!

"I just can't see how we didn't meet the criteria."
"how poor we are coupled with how bright she is that we would get her a place especially given her other problems."
You may have met the criteria your daughter may have done very well in the exam she might even have doe better with a tutor but you want a 100% bursary and these are basically are few and far between, the bottom line is that few schools even the really wealthy ones like Eton are dishing many of those out. The size of bursaries offered hangs on how big the bursary pot is and how many apply for the money. Logic would tell you that most schools would rather offer 33% bursaries to three children than a 100% bursary to one. There is no point going over what you should have done you need to get on the phone to the bursar and have an up front and open conversation. I sure he has absolutely no doubt how much you need to send your DD but you need to simply say I need to be honest with my daughter and I cant let her keep hoping that a place might become available if its a no hoper, I need 100% and need to know if this is even remotely possible what are the chances of enough dropping out for this too happen before the deadline people?
Frankly I'm sorry to have to say this but I've been in the bursary game in a variety of independent schools for many years I think your chances are pretty slim.

I really don't think anything will change unless you speak to the school's Bursar direct. If you just wait I fear nothing will happen, the offer will lapse and you will be none the wiser. iirc you have a younger dd who you hoped might also got here so you need to know one way or another if a future application is worthwhile.

You need to ask the Bursar. There is also the possibility that even a full bursary might stretch you with ongoing extras. Sorry but I am doubtful this will become a reality and you seem to have invested an awful lot into this one option. What is your dh and dd's opinion ? Please follow advice on other thread re statement so you can get the best out of the ss , just in case.