to bank on getting bursary whilst earning £70k?

[Leafysuburbia]

We have enrolled our child at a fabulous pre prep. We could afford the fees at the time but after job changes it just is no longer an option once the 15 free hours nursery provision finishes and DC has to enter Reception.

When I spoke to the head she was non committal but told me that all financial circumstaces are looked at and although salary figure is too high to normally consider bursary that things like excessive mortgage (tick), very high overheads including debt (tick) would all be taken into account. Tbh every month we are struggling, really struggling to save even £450. She also told me that generally once a child has started the school she considered it negative to their education to have to let them go so she would usually recommend a bursary be approved.

Said child has not yet started pre prep.

We have another younger child and my concerns are partly that if we can't afford one we certainly can't afford two.

How many people have managed to get bursaries while earning well in excess of the usual low income expected and has this continued to work when two children are in attendance?

Am I being ridiculous in even trying? Am very concerned as DC1 is considered exceptionally advanced in terms of development (genuine concern please do not flame) and needs a high level of attention/stimulation (no idea about DC2 yet, very very little indeed!). Local state schools said to be good but HUGE class sizes and very oversubscribed, hard to get into.

Anyone? Is it fantasy to start pre prep with no realistic hope of remaining? Or do we really have a hope - is it possible, is it reasonable to consider successfully claiming bursaries?

"Am I being ridiculous in even trying?" - yup

OP YABU
Swarski. I really don't accpet the 'if they're bright they'll do well anywhere' argument.
Having been state educated myself I honestly think some kids fell between the cracks.

Opinionated freak is right IMO. Use state primary and save like made ready for private secondary. That might make OP appreciate what she gets from both systems.

I think the OP has got the gist of everyone's opinions now!

OP, you say "Local state schools said to be good but HUGE class sizes and very oversubscribed, hard to get into." but it doesn't sound like you have researched this in detail. You really need to look around - you might be pleasantly surprised, but if your DC is going to start reception in Sep 11, you need to do this FAST as the deadline in a lot of places was last Saturday.

And yes, I agree with others - you'll struggle to afford private schooling on a family income of £70k a year, and you would be on a pretty sticky wicket hoping you'd get a bursary for both DCs, every year (sounds vanishingly unlikely to me!). Much better to find a state school you're happy with and put them in from Year R, than start in private and then have to try and find a state place later on when all the schools are full.

I agree that there are some awful state schools Jajas and would not send my child to one - but there are lots of very good ones too that bright children thrive at and learn a whole range of other social skills as well.

Agree that some children fall between the cracks at state school, but if you make sure that the teachers know that you are really interested in your childs progress and know that they are bright then it is unlikely nowadays..

If he's your dh now, I assume that was quite a long time ago though?

not a chance on 70k, we pay more than 2.5K per month for 2 at very good private school. No idea re bursary bit, but seems morally wrong to ask to me.

Dh and I used to earn £70k between us before career changes. We have sensible mortgage,no other debt. We would have struggled to afford 2 at any indy worth going to. Op,your child hasn't started yet from my understanding of your post, so there will be no disruption to them when you don't send them.

You can't afford private education.

In my opinion you will have little chance of a bursary based on financial need on this income.
You could think about a scholarship but these are very few and far between for children as young as yours; far more at 13 or 11.

THe school should have printed details of bursaries and scholarships so get those quickly.
I don't think a school would rush to help you out if your child was either v young, or had not been at the school for long.
School costs do vary hugely, have you looked at all your private options locally?
I agree with a previous poster about bringing you in at low fees and then they go up and up as the children get older; plusthey rise every year in an unpredictable fashion!!
You will really regret it if you start and have to withdraw your child/children; I think, review all options again ...