To ask if I should ask for scholarship to private school for DC?

[TableFlowerss]

Just reading a different thread and it got me thinking...

Im a long term user of MN but I’ve not changed my name (I can’t remember my email password or password for here 😩) so I’m trying to not out myself IRL so I may chop and change between DC, DD, DS.

I’ve just seen a thread about whether to take a scholarship to a private school, so my question is.... do you think it’s worth me asking for my DC?

DC 11 has always been very academic (I also have a child with SEN so it’s not easy and I often say, I’d given anything for my DC with SEN to find it as easy as their sibling, even in just one subject. I have suffered so much heartache, that believe me when I say this is not a ‘smug’ post. I’d much prefer them both to be ‘average’ academically, than one to excel and the other to have learning disabilities)

So (we’ll call them DS1/DS2) DS1 passed the grammar school assessment with no private tutoring and was offered a space, but it’s 50 miles away and I decided to not send him because DS2 needs so much support than I couldn’t get DS1 to and from grammar school.

I thought he’s bright enough so he’ll do well wherever he goes at secondary. He’s now been there since September and his report says that if he continues working at the level he currently works at, he will be on target to gain A*’s in every subject at GCSE.

Now I know this could change, but I believe that’s a true reflection of his ability. He doesn’t mess on in class and teachers are always saying he works so well in class but he doesn’t go over and above, in the sense it’s all natural and he’ll do his homework in the car on way home and still get an A. He doesn’t seek out extra work, he does what he’s been given and does it very well but wouldn’t actively ask for more work (if that makes sense)

So puts in the effort to get the A* but doesn’t go over and above out of school, it’s all done pretty fast. So during lockdown, he probably spent about 10 hours a week doing work because he finished it that fast. He didn’t join in on some of the maths lessons because he remembered if from yr6 and says it’s boring it’s so easy.

There are a few kids in the class that are disruptive and they haven’t put them in to sets yet (understandably due to covid) so I’m wondering if I should get in touch with the private school and explain? If they are on track for A*’s in a disruptive class of 30 and bored to a tear without being challenged, they could probably do better in a private school?

Is it worth asking for a scholarship or not?

You could ask about scholarships and bursaries but most schools only offer these at specific entry points such as Y7 and 12.
Also they may only be a small %, DD gets 25, which is the maximum at the school. Then you have to consider lunches and other extras too. These don’t have to be a huge amount but will be a few thousand a year I would imagine

@takemetomiami

How's he going to do better than all A*?

A** 😁 it’s crazy isn’t it, to be honest I lose concentration after A. I could have only dreamt of an A! Lol

Take that thread with a pinch of salt OP. It is more a fantasy than anything. I don’t mean it’s a troll by the way.

My teens had target grades based on SATs. The highest you can have as a target is 8 with full marks from the SATs so I guess that’s what OP means. However we’ve been told several times that target grades are not the same as predicted grades. Also, y6 children did not take SATs last year in any form, so I’m assuming he did some assessments in y7?

@Toomanymuslins

Take that thread with a pinch of salt OP. It is more a fantasy than anything. I don’t mean it’s a troll by the way.

What do you mean by that? (Genuinely)

@EnoughnowIthink

A? We lost A a few years ago now. Grade 9.

On wales we don’t have the 1-9 thing. It’s still grades. DCs school do a global grade that is their predicted grade across the board at GCSE. DS (year 9) has always had A* and DD (year 8) has A. Teachers have commented on how amazing it is at this age to get those grades so I know it’s not the average but yes it is possible for kids to get that sort of grade predicted.

@Karwomannghia

My teens had target grades based on SATs. The highest you can have as a target is 8 with full marks from the SATs so I guess that’s what OP means. However we’ve been told several times that target grades are not the same as predicted grades. Also, y6 children did not take SATs last year in any form, so I’m assuming he did some assessments in y7?

This is the problem- I have no idea how they came to these conclusions. They done mock SATS and I know DS got 118 and 111 (maths/English) but no other testing and as far as I’m aware, the hardly mark the work they do in class so I genuinely don’t understand what they base those predictions on....

I’ve emailed and heard nothing. You feel a bit of a dick for following up an email when clearly I know ds is doing well, so it’s as if I just want them to say that. Of course that’s nonsense. I now he’s doing well but I’m not sure that translates to GCSE predictions....

I mean that the OP of that thread is thinking in terms of if I get a job and if this and if that.

I don’t think the bursary is accurate at all.

They do do tests quite frequently I know. dS will say they done a maths test out of 20 and he normally scores say 17/18/19. It’s the same with science so perhaps they use these scores

I don’t know the details of the private school you’re interested in but try speaking to them again re admissions, they may have their own tests and/or interview they would do with him. They are normally keen to take pupils. I went to private school and have taught in one.