Private schools bursaries

[sandrinha1]

Hi. We have enrolled our son into a secondary private school next year, September, with the condition of him having a bursary because we are just working class parents. For this, he did 2 online assessments ( VR and NVR) in which he had excellent grades ( above average ) and today we got this reply:

"Unfortunately, we are not able to take his application further at this present time. As I am sure you will understand with the current Covid-19 crisis we are hesitant to allocate further bursarial funds as it is likely that there will be considerable hardship experienced by our current parents and for now that must be our focus, in order that current pupils to have consistency in their education.

I am sorry we cannot offer a more positive outcome and should anything change I will of course be in touch."
Just would like to know if it is make any sense, having into consideration that my son scored above average or does it sound only as an "excuse"...

Would like to have some views about it. Thank you

Also, my son before applying to this particular school he had a very good offer from other private school and it feels like the "other" private school doesn't want to "Release" him and this is like a plan...:(

Read some of the fee threads in the education and Corona topics. Lots of parents are currently very worried about how they're going to pay their fees, and lots will already have contacted bursars.
Of course schools are going to prioritise children that are already pupils- wouldn't you expect them to do that for your child if you experienced a change in circumstances?

I'm afraid I don't understand your second post. Do you mean it feels like the second school have been told to back off by the first?

Its not an excuse. Its a reason.

Peoples incomes have literally been pulled from under their feet. Some get better help than others from the Government but very few wont feel the shock and aftershock at all and many will still suffer badly. So the school need to keep bursary funding to support the children already on the role. Its a good reason.

Im really sorry that its had this affect on you but everyone is suffering in some way at the moment.

None of this takes away the fact your son is clever. He is as clever today as he was when he sat those exams.

In your second post you appear to think this is a conspiracy theory.

Why go for the difficult explanation when the likely truth is there, and clear, in writing?

It sounds like a totally sensible reason to me. I understand your disappointment but of course schools have to prioritise current students for any fee help they can offer. Our (Aus private) school sent out a message today saying that parents who find themselves struggling with fees should contact the Burser and insisting that they want to ensure that no child will have to leave the school for financial reasons related to the current crisis. As a fee paying parent that is what I want to hear, I would not be impressed if they were offering financial help to children not yet attending right now. No school has unlimited funds.

They will be using their money to help support existing students so they don't have to leave part way through their education. Yes it is hugely disappointing (and we were very nearly in a similar situation) but didn't pursue entrance testing in the end. Are you really expecting that students in Y10/Y12 particularly, who've done half their exam courses should be forced to move schools so new entrants can have bursaries?

I think I would move on and get yourselves sorted for a different September plan. Do you have a state school place (presuming UK)? What do you need to do next?

Thank you everybody for all the answers. My son has a place aswell in a local grammar school, we just thought that private education is better..but anyway this is a problem we have to face now, COVID 19, unfortunately no one was expecting this...:(