My children have all attended private school on a full bursary AMA

[Sienna57]

I see lots of threads on here with people asking for information on the bursary system. Having put four children through private school for more or less free, I know the system pretty well, ama.

In our case we do packed lunches rather than pay for school dinners, and the D.C. don't go on expensive trips abroad, although we do pay for some day trips (some are free). Most uniform is bought through the secondhand shop or passed down from friends, as it is for many pupils at the school. We don't pay for stationery or anything like that, but on the compulsory kit list is a tablet , which we have bought secondhand.

I have heard of some schools paying for uniform and school trips for bursary pupils.

Well done to you and especially to your children for being awarded bursaries. Mine had a bursary which was a great help.

DS’s only 1 + 1/2, but I have looked up the bursaries on offer for a local private school and unless our circumstances change dramatically I think we would be eligible. The start age for the school is 7, so we have a few years before we can apply. Is there anything we can do now to make DS more appealing to the school when the time comes? He seems to be at the higher end of average developmentally (good vocabulary, knows colours/numbers/animals etc), but obviously a lot can change at this age. Was thinking of trying to get him involved in a sport or club and maybe take up an instrument once he’s a bit older, but don’t want to put too much pressure on him.

Only slight worry is we do own a flat that we rent out (not planed, we just couldn’t sell it) but both that and our current house (also owned) are in a cheap area in the north, so combined value is still less than most people’s houses. Even with the rental income we are still quite far below the income threshold for bursary, so will they expect us to sell it? Even if we did it would only cover 2-3 years of fees, so should we consider trying to sell now and using the money to reduce the mortgage on our house instead?

Can I just add, for those who wish to apply for Pre-prep reception, that you can get the 30 hrs F.E.E.E funding until the term the child turns 5, thus reducing fees even further.

This post has really motivated me to apply, I’ve got nothing to loose and everything to gain. Dd1 was at a Pre-Prep until recently, STBX has refused to fund fees going forward and I’m not in a position to afford it, so they’ll both be in state come September.

Anyone else with experience of how they treat rental property? I’m thinking investing in a BTL for additional income to help with school fees.

Thank you OP. I intend to attempt this once my kids reach secondary age.

My guess is that they would expect you to sell a rental property to pay the fees on the first place, but you would have to talk to the bursar at the school(s) you are interested in to check.

My friend owned her house outright as part of a divorce settlement and they refused a bursary - she was expected to release equity.

I'm almost certain you would be expected to sell the flat. It will go down as a second home.

To make your son more appealing I would make him as good an allrounder as possible. Playing sport, music, drama etc are all good points. Ensure that he is confident and comfortable talking with adults he doesn't know.

heraldnowtoday - All private schools have a second hand shop which practically everyone uses (including those paying full fees). I never buy the school stationary, usually just go to Asda. Anything that isn't specific school uniform i.e. shirts, trousers etc I buy from Next, M&S. Lots of trips are free, the expensive ones you are given plenty notice off. For example all my kids have gone on one ski trip, which was paid up in £300 instalments every few months meaning I could budget. It can be a strain, but its absolutely worth it.

Wow sounds like you have done amazing for your children and turned things around. I haven't had anything to do with the private school system but you certainly sound clued up. You also sound a very good mum. Good on you.

Quangot - In my experience it makes no difference how many kids you have. At one school I didn't even have to apply for the younger sibling, on passing the entry assessments he automatically qualified for the same bursary as his sister.

One school I have only applied to once. Every other year since I have heard nothing and the bursary has continued. I get a yearly email asking if my circumstances have changed, I reply saying they haven't and the bursary continues. Every other school there is yearly checks, some want two months bank statements/mortgage statement etc.

Whatsforu - Thank you so much. I would really love to see more children from poorer back grounds in private school. It really can change their life.

@Bursary In that case that would be completely understandable to release equity. For me, I’d not only be downsizing hugely, mortgaged and working and hopefully a secondary income stream to fund the majority myself.

For arguments sake, if there’s only say 30k equity in a BTL, which would be equivalent to possibly two years school fees, It’d be a better long term strategy to use the additional income from the BTL to pay school fees for 10 years+.

I’m hugely impressed! Good for you.

So two parents, one child on £42000 pa combined wouldn't be eligible ?
The monthly fees are more than my take home wages per month and our bills get paid from DH wage. Is it worth applying ?

Just reread my post and it seems quite abrupt ! My apologies !! I'm also in awe of everything you've achieved

Op I really take my hat off to you.

One very determined woman. Amazing to achieve these opportunities for your dc.

Really random question.... I have one dc at private and her school calendar is manic. Especially end of term. Plays, concerts, boarding nights, speech days, afternoon teas, sport fixtures.

How on earth do you keep track at three separate schools, let alone attend any events

runsmidgeOMG - You would most definitely be entitled to some sort of support on that income with two children. You would be expected to pay something but not full fees.

MarthasGinYard - It can be very tricky especially towards the end of term. Sports days are the worst as there are often clashes but we work it out!

Hi OP thanks for responding, we only have the one presently. Would we be entitled to anything ? :)

On the other end of the spectrum, I paid for five children in the system for two years, diminishing down to the last one in sixth form now.

For every bursary child, there is a family paying over the odds.

This is why private schools have charitable status. They avoid taxation and in return are expected to provide bursaries for a certain number of children each year.

Blatantly following!

Had a horrendous time in a state school and definitely want better for my DS.

I remember visiting the primary school that we were in the catchment for. The class size was 30. We paid for a private prep school and the class size was 9.

I applied for a bursary for dc at age 7.

They knocked us back as I think they wanted just just give bursaries to the secondary aged kids.

How poor do you need to be to get full bursery?

I could t afford private but I desperately want my child to go

My friend went to a private boarding school on a bursary and had a terrible time. She got teased for being poor constantly. Everyone knew she was there for free. She's had to have a lot of counselling in adulthood to try and come to terms with the bullying and her abandonment issues.

There are two sides to every story. No way would I ever consider it for DD, not even if they paid us a lot of money.