Sixth form boarding for international student

6th form bursaries are open to any child and even existing ones at the school where circumstances have changed. They nearly always go to the brightest who need the money though.

I don’t think the SA curriculum is likelybto
prepare DD for an academic bursary. Just isn’t the same! Dance scholarships are available but that’s not the same as a bursary. When paying very low fees in SA, with a bursary, surely keep that position? The school has an exchange with Gordonstoun so it’s not any old SA school! Only a few premiere schools do these exchanges. SA has a very decent education system but a different curriculum. It’s difficult to change to A levels unless DD is doing igcses. A few SA schools do. Otherwise it’s matriculation before leaving.

Ah, I see! I was thinking of full boarding schools.

If a school is day/boarding it would take very specific circumstances to qualify for a bursary for a boarding place rather than day. Full boarding may differ but even so they are more about improving opportunities for UK students than overseas. Ukranian refugees might be an exception, for example.

@LIZS - could you clarify what you mean by Unusual for overseas or boarding pupils to qualify since of course English boarding schools offer extremely valuable bursaries up to 100%. (I’m not saying an international pupil would qualify!) A very small proportion of children get them - but they’re not ‘unusual’ as a concept.

@mondaytosunday So no Dance and no bursary. Plus stuck on Isle of Wight! Overseas students really benefit from a wider cultural experience I think. Everyone I’ve met from SA craves London!

Many overseas (particularly Chinese) student board at Ryde School on the Isle of Wight. No dance extracurricular as far as I know. It is non selective but I imagine for sixth form they'd have some sort of exam. They offer IB.
Burseries are another thing all together - boarding is expensive and your child would have to be bringing something to warrant it - otherwise everyone would get one. They go through your finances with forensic detail. Not even sure they offer it fir sixth form.

Peter Symonds in Winchester is a state boarding 6th form college which takes a lot of students from St Swithuns and local fee paying schools, as the A level results are better.

I don’t think boarding school will make her eligible for home university fees anyway.

where are you in SA? I think there are some very rigorous schools in SA, if her current school really isn’t doing it you could move within SA?

have you looked at UWC?

The Cathedral School in Hereford possibly? They have a boarding house for international students; a friend has DC attending and they're happy.

D’overbroecks

@Lizs Some of these schools are in SA and that’s the schools that probably do the exchanges. So that’s the SA/UK link. £1500 a YEAR in SA, is a total bargain. I don’t see why you wouldn’t stay there! It’s not necessarily better here although I know some rich South Africans really want to here. Given the money difference it’s a no brainer to stay in SA. The curriculum is very different.

Both my two went to Millfield in Somerset. Like many BS in UK, very international and they do have dance as an intramural. As per previous posters you are unlikely to get a bursary unless she's very talented and from a low income family. Scholarships only really given if very talented or academic.
You're best off to identify a few schools and get in touch with them.

Tbh most private boarding schools are struggling with an uneven balance of genuine British pupils and international ones. There's less and less families that can afford a British boarding school so when they do offer bursaries, it's to attract bright UK candidates that helps balance out that ratio. UK parents tend to avoid schools with too many international students.

Hockerill Anglo-European College in Hertfordshire is a state day and boarding school which offers the IB and has lots of international students. It's not that difficult to get into the sixth form (much harder in year 7).

To qualify for free fees for Scottish unis and for the rUK fee rates you’d have to be ordinarily resident in the UK for 3 years, and you’d also need to be ordinarily resident in Scotland or rUK on the relevant date, which is something like the 1st August before the course starts - this can’t be just for the purposes of education.

You might like to look at the schools related to Gordonstoun www.roundsquare.org/our-schools/ They tend to actively attract international students and may offer funding to some, although fees tend to be steep anyway. They are also variable in terms of academic rigour if that is what you are seeking and have an ethos which differs to most traditional independent schools. Also be aware that you may find living in UK for schooling is insufficient for her to qualify for uni Home Fee status, even with a British Passport.

Also there are South African schools following the “Cambridge “ curriculum of i GCSEs and A levels. Are they worth looking at? I would not look the gift horse in the mouth you already have though. What a fantastic reduction in fees!

@southafricansixthformer
I think you are not being fair to South African education. My DDs did a swap with a girls boarding schooL in KZN. The curriculum is not the same but obviously very bright Dc stay in the SA system and go to first class universities in SA. I know some who have come here with their SA qualifications and have gone to RG universities. However I see residence here is your prime issue for uni fee reduction, as opposed to wanting a SA university and education. Plus the school is expected to waive fees for you to achieve this.

its going to be hard to find what you want. When DDs went to SA, one year in SA was 1 term fees here. I really would stay as you are. Also dance scholarships. As rare as hens teeth. Bradfield used to have them. I don’t know of others. Or try Tring Park. They are a specialist performing arts school. I think you won’t get academics, high level dance and a bursary. Almost impossible, but good luck.

Have you tried phoning the admissions team at Gordonstoun? If you have an existing relationship with them, they might be more amenable? Otherwise, unless you are resident in the UK at the time of application I’d think it highly unlikely you would qualify for a means tested bursary. UK school Bursaries are designed to help UK pupils gain access to an education which they couldn’t normally access without funds. She may well get a scholarship award as others have said but these are usually in the order of 5-10% or free lessons for the discipline. You’ll also have to factor in flights/trips/uniform/travel and a guardianship service. All in all, it won’t be a low cost option. Could you consider moving to the uk so she can attend a regular sixth form or attend a dance school?

You're not going to get a bursary in the UK as an international applicant, especially an academically weak one. You're probably better off reaching out to boarding high schools in the USA.

What do you mean by "bursary" though? Those are normally reserved for those children from low income homes who would benefit from and be an asset to the school but could not otherwise access such an education. They may not cover full costs. Unusual for overseas or boarding pupils to qualify. Scholarships are awarded to candidates who excel academically, or in sport, music, drama, art etc but are often of little financial value,

Extra mural usually means “outside study”
or in addition. However depends whether it’s ballet, modern, tap etc ISTD, Cecchetti or what method/syllabus? You tend to study a precise syllabus and you cannot just swap. Easier for modern but not always.

Some schools have good dance provision. Uppingham snd Heathfield for example. The bursary is the big issue. They do often follow good academics and the SA system isn’t helpful. Doing A levels is a real stretch as the syllabi don’t match.

I know of girls at Bradfield, weekly boarder, and Bruton, full time boarder. Both very happy.

Can you clarify if she wants to study dance as a subject. I took “extra mural” to be extra curricular ie a hobby offered after school but others are talking about studying dance so I could well be wrong?