Private school bursary - how it’s decided?

What @Tobstar106 said! DCs school is massive (for a private school) and has a whole mix of families. I know from speaking to the bursar that only 25 or so students are offered bursaries each year and of the hundreds of kids there I don’t know how anyone would be able to tell. Everyone wears second hand uniform because the school encourage us to be more eco friendly & numbers on the expensive school trips are limited so sometimes even the wealthiest kids don’t get places. I think you’re over thinking this.

Agree, there is no shade for buying second hand uniform! In some of the more elite schools the older the uniform the longer the connections to the school so weirdly a status symbol 😂

@dragondrive trios I understand but don’t worry about second hand the most affluent are fighting over the gym socks at the second hand sale !

@dragondrive nobody but the headmaster and bursar should know you have a bursary . This is the first time I have ever heard that the parents are paying the fees for a bursary student . Like I said I am not sure what goes on in private schools that are not top tier , it is a different type of clientele, they actually donate above and beyond the school fees to help a child and family less fortunate. I am not sure how old your child is but I wouldn’t put her in that situation tbh try to get her in a top tier school Where you are a lot more appreciated !

I’m not sure how other students/parents would know who the bursary kid are. Is this somehow obvious? My DC doesn’t know they are a bursary kid; no one knows except me, DH & the school.

I very much doubt the kids would make your child feel any less included. What you might be picking up on is that fees are a big stretch for a lot of families so some parents are less enthusiastic about their full fees subsidising those on a “free ride” as they might see it. Most parents are more than happy though and will be welcoming of the bursary kids. It’s just a tough economic climate which maybe makes some feel less charitable.

@Treesinsummer this is not my problem it’s yours . I couldn’t care less if you are paying for other children’s education ! More fool you!
I could tell you how to get out of the situation you are in but I’m sure you wouldn’t want to put in the time and effort , like I said the top wealthy schools do not use school fees to give other children bursaries . They have incredibley wealthy donors that donate entire years worth of fees for children to attend these high flying schools . You know they get 100% bursaries not 25% off !

@MakeMineStrong i am not sure why this lady expected more bursary , whoever gave the 25 % obviously felt they only needed that amount that’s why they offered only that amount ! Or it’s a polite way of saying that’s what your child is worth instead of saying sorry they are not good enough for anymore !

@Treesinsummer what do you mean my child cares about other. Childrens bursaries. I have never heard a woman discuss school fees as you do ! Ask for a bursery they should help you if you have 3 children at the same school they couldn’t want to lose that income

@Tobstar106 i think you are getting rather emotional

I do not have a clue what you are talking about ! I really do not . You are clearly having problems . Like I said it’s up to the school you are attending what they do with their money it’s not your money anymore you are buying a service , your fees are decided before you start the school ! You sign a contract agree to the fees your child is then educated . It is not your business what the school does with the fees they are paid for a service they are providing . For all you know they could be giving half the fees you pay to children in need . You are not paying for other people’s children’s Fees you are paying for your own fees which you agreed to!
you know it’s a business and they can use their money on what they want .

Every school will have its own rules. Why do you expect more? Where do you think the money comes from? Why should our fees sub others?

@Tobstar106 you are so funny. I don’t know any child who cares what their school is spending on bursaries - apart from yours it seems hence my comment he must have skin in the game. And yes children on bursaries have talent but to equate that with everyone else must be mediocre means you don’t put your child in that category. Again. Your child is on a bursary which is fine but don’t therefore pretend you don’t have an angle.

My entire comment was about not finding joy in having people who are on bursaries wittering on about not getting enough. I could afford my kids and yours but I have no interest in spending money on other parents children.

@Treesinsummer not everyone but most ! It’s a business they need to except full fee paying children to the private schools to pay the outgoings , I am not talking about the likes of the top public schools . I am talking about the hundreds of private schools that need to keep afloat .

@Treesinsummer what are you actually saying ?
if you cannot afford your fees and you are finding it tough why don’t you apply to your school for a bursary ? If you are not struggling you accepted the cost of the fees so as long as your school are coming up with the goods you shouldn’t worry what the school spends their income on that’s their money you are paying for a service if you are not happy and you are not getting a good service you need to take it up with your school . Don’t get upset with the children on burseries . You never know one day it could be you knocking on the bursers door .

@Treesinsummer sorry I’m not really understanding what you are saying. My sons school tells doesn’t have a say in the matter .

@Tobstar106 so does your child have a bursary? Or is he just mediocre? I am guessing bursary or he’s not going to care what’s allocated in that way.

@nearlylovemyusername
the schools I am talking about have a few million pound funds only for bursaries ! it is set aside for very bright children who will bring kudos to the school . My sons school tells us excactly what they have for bursaries , they fund raise solely for children in need of a bursery

@Tobstar106 assumption everyone else who pays the full fees is mediocre. Bitter much?

@Tobstar106 I get it thanks and yes there are those who do exactly that but I can think of the majority of my DC’s compatriots, and DS who take the school to the various national championships and beyond who funnily enough pay the fees. As has been mentioned before 4% get these scholarship. That doesn’t make a hockey, rugby, football or hockey team.

@Treesinsummer you know what it is the bursary children that are getting the scholarships for their schools or getting into the top unis . They only take very able children on full bursaries. Top sports man , top musicians, high flying academics not the full fee paying kids that are mediocre . These children are worth every penny the school invests in them . The top schools need them children
for the majority of full fee paying clients to see they feed into top schools and unis ! You just don’t get it .

This is incorrect.

Google your schools accounts - you'll find they expenditure items and there is usually some amount allocated to bursaries.

Bursaries are normally funded by charitable donations but there is some shortfall paid out of school's income which is fees paid by parents.

When my DC were at private I actually checked this - bursary spend out of school budget divided by number of pupils gave me about £600 of my annual fees went for other kids bursaries without me donating to this explicitly.

@Tobstar106 DC go to a school where it is officially the foundation that pays it forward and all that. The point still stands. Money, from whatever source that goes to people who are on bursaries, can’t be allocated to other things. And there will be those who chose not to contribute to the foundation on the grounds that they paid £25k a term per child which we do now and so are just less inclined to have people at the school who’s parents can’t afford the fees. It’s just human nature so stop trying to bait that this is somehow unreasonable or the school can’t cope. Thats the stupid thing about this policy - schools like DC’s will always survive. Those schools this vat policy is looking to destroy but close ranks we will.