6th form options for dd - boarding with scholarship/bursary or day or other?

30 replies

TRexHamster · 24/03/2025 16:14

Dd is currently in Y9 and already discussing A' Level options, largely because we are considering taking her out of private post VAT. We've agreed to see out GCSE's but would be short of funds for her to stay (boarder) for the last 2 years as most of the fees are coming from inheritance - we had planned for a max of 7% rise per year so now the inheritance won't cover boarding at 6th form.

She is currently taking 10 GCSE's, looking at 7-9 for all and interested (currently) in Psychology, Politics and Comp Sci or English. I am trying to decide whether we should ask for a bursary or try for a scholarship where she is or somewhere more local to home (she would prefer all girls but might be OK with co-ed if not chaotic) so we can negate boarding fees. Her current school is on a par academically with a local public school that is co-ed which would be do-able without the boarding fees.

I worry that if she goes for a bursary and scholarship where she is and fails it will hurt more than if we just move her. For context she is near top of set 2 of 6 but the girls in set 1 are getting 97-100% on end of term tests where she is getting 90-97% - and there are about 20 girls in set 1, so I would not be surprised if she is overlooked for an award of £.

I am worrying about moving her when she has a great circle of friends and knows her teachers. I moved for 6th form and wouldn't have chosen some subjects if I had known the teachers I would be having in the new school. I also felt everyone else already had friends and the social side took a lot of energy to build relationships from scratch. I think this would be much harder going to a state school from a private as we have a lot of reverse snobbery in this area (grammar area) where people see private schools as for Tim Nice But Dim types, which puts me off. The only grammar that does Comp Sci A' Level is the boys grammar school (some girls in 6th form), so going from all girls to a largely boys seems daunting.

Am I overthinking this? I feel like I have to plan it sooner rather than later so it isn't just rushed. Have I overlooked any other options? We are South East.

OP posts:

SheilaFentiman · 24/03/2025 16:54

I don't think CompSci is a waste of an A level (DS is doing it!) but to do it if her heart's not in it does seem a waste. Though obviously a bit soon to say in year 9.

How much of a scholarship would it bring and what is the process (eg is there a coding exam? would she be in competition with external applicants as well?)

Original poster

TRexHamster · 24/03/2025 16:49

SheilaFentiman · 24/03/2025 16:41

I worry that if she goes for a bursary and scholarship where she is and fails it will hurt more than if we just move her.

Surely it would just be a bursary? Scholarships are most usually granted on entry, aren't they? Unless the school has a scheme for 6th form open to current and new pupils.

There will be many parents struggling, OP - can you have a word with the school in the first instance to see what they suggest?

Have you already received the inheritance in question? If so, I imagine its size would be taken into account when assessing your finances for a bursary.

They have a 6th form one that covers computer science which she would take if it meant money off - another thing though is I keep seeing people saying it's a waste of an A Level, so she would be doing it to stay rather than something she might enjoy more.

State Boarding seems like a good option but also aware places are limited and many are harder to get to than where she is currently. She doesn't really have bells and whistles (no grade 8 instrument or sport).

OP posts:

SheilaFentiman · 24/03/2025 16:44

Nevergotdivorced · 24/03/2025 16:20

There are some excellent state boarding schools across England.

There are, but they (a) may not have any spaces (b) will probably prioritise internal candidates over external year 12 joiners and (c) quite often have a priority such as Armed Forces family. So it's not impossible but fairly unlikely.