Advice about second application to fee paying school please

[spiritmum]

Hello,

Some time ago I posted about our application for bursaries for our dc, which got turned down.

Today a relation contacted me and said that they would like to help pay fees, which means we can now afford to pay without any bursaries.

Is the fact that we had previously applied for a bursary likely to count against us?

Many thanks!

If someone other than the dc's parents are going to pay the fees I assume the school will want something in writing from the relative confirming this. Personally I wouldn't do this unless I could be sure that the offer to pay wouldn't be withdrawn and would continue for the length of school.

IME many children at independent schools have fee paid for by relatives or other sources. i sometimes feel like an odd one out for paying them ourselves, lol.

Of you can say you can pay I am sure it won;t go against you.

Me too!!

Many I know get the relative to put the money up front in an account in the childs name and then it looks to the school like the parent is paying in which case I don't see why they would care where the money comes from.

Hi, everyone,

Thanks for all your replies. I gather the plan is to invest/transfer a lump sum so that we are effectively paying them (need to see a financial advisor about this).

What I'm wondering is if the school might be a bit that one minute we are applying fro bursaries for all three dc and probably large ones at that, and then barely a year later a 'rich' relation appears with funds? (actually they're not really rich in the truest sense of the word, just very generous )

Might they not think we were trying to pull a fast one?

don't think so , circumstances can change

No, and certainly at DS's school, you get a hefty discount for paying a year or more in advance, so worth looking at that too

When my parents were thinking of giving us some money for ds we spoke to a specialist school fees ifa who was excellent

think that wd be fine - contact the school bursar and have a chat.

some schools offer a dicsount if you lodge a lump sumn with them at the beginnign of your child's school career - means you save paying tax on the interest on your lump sum so everyone's a winner.

school would also have no cause for concern as you would have prepaid.

Lovely, thank you everyone. I feel much better. Yes, the school do offer a discount for fees in advance, that is worth looking at.

CMO, as your IFA was excellent do you think you could please PM me with the details? It'd be doing me a massive favour as I'd much rather go on a recommendation. Thank you so much.

I think I will contact the bursar and tell him what the situation is. I guess we need to think about applying as well. (that's an excited , btw )