Prep school Bursary

[kerrygrey]

We have applied for one for ds for next Sept - filled in enormously detailed form about our finances and another about 'why this school'. There are 2 bursaries on offer and last year there were 8 applicants. Sometime later this term we should hear whether ds is invited to 'spend a day at the school', having passed the first hurdle.
My question is - is there anything we can do to prepare him? There's no exam, and anyway he is quite bright. What are they going to be looking for? What questions are there likely to be? Has anyone else gone along this route?
Any advice very gratefully received.

Just let him go along relaxed and let him be himself. Don't try to prep him or second-guess what they will ask him.

Rest assured that if you try to feed him prepared answers he will tell the teacher "my mum said I should say that"

Present the day to him as a day for him to enjoy and to see ih he likes the school.

As there is no exam they seem to be taking a relaxed approach, which is good, and will not be doing any high presure assessment.

Good luck with the application, hope you get the funding.

I don't think you can do much to prepare for a taster day, and do remember this is also about finding out whether your DS likes the school.

At ours, each new child is put into a class from his year group and one child is assigned to look after him for an ordinary day. My DS has been the "mentor" child twice and he says his job is to be friendly, to make sure the visitor can find his way round he school (including the nearest loo!), to sit next to him in class, to make sure he's included in the playground, to take him to lunch, to show him any parts of the school he may not have seen yet and to answer any questions (frankly and with no staff input).

The new boy joined in lessons as normal, except for maths (when he did a separate worksheet in the classroom - presumably a form of assessment).

DS didn't know what the teachers might have been looking for. My guess is they want an inquisitive child with a positive attitude, who is nice to have in the classroom. Obviously he should try to join in as much as possible, or if it's a new topic to be keen on it. They are looking for a child who will fit in - and what that means may vary.

And remind him to be polite to everyone on the day.

Thanks to you all for your input. I know there's no way one can really "prep" a 7 y.o. but it's good to get suggestions from those who have been in a similar situation, and especially those who administer the system from the other side!

At DS's school I think they would look for children who had a good range of other interests - music, sport etc. They like children who will contribute to the life of the school and get involved in at least some of the plays, concerts, sports teams and choirs etc.

Don't worry if your DS hasn't done these things before, I'm sure they will just want a boy who is enthusiastic and keen to try new things.

Good luck, I wish you success!

OMG! Obviously he performed well enough - but now WE are invited to an interview with the "selection panel".
This is worse than any job interview - at least with a job you usually know, more or less, what you're talking about! What are they likely to ask? Help, anyone??

Most Prep schools will interview ANY prospective parents, whether you are applying for a bursary, scholarship or normal entry.

Be yourselves, show support for the ethos of the school and its rules (mayble do some research about its history, traditions etc). Explain that you support your child, have a good work ethic, expect good manners and behaviour from your child and you should be fine.

Good luck.

Really diabolo?

Been through the prep school selection process twice now (that is, with 2 DCs) and no suggestion of an interview for parents at any of the preps we considered. Nor have any friends who have gone through the process been interviewed.

TBH, it would make me a bit uneasy - on what criteria are the parents "judged"?

Perhaps it is different in your area - where are you?

Lots of luck. Make sure you reference the core values of the school, express enthusiasm for involvement and excitement about their unique features.

fingers crossed!

Agree what everyone above says, have had to go in with DD when she was younger for a small part of interview for yr7 entry for a fairly prestigious girls school. She was put on reserve in the end and we ended up going co-ed but hey ho I'll give you my tips for what they are worth, basically just what everyone has said, maybe read the website for the school very carefully make sure you know about what they've been up to recently with trips, shows etc so you can honestly say you like what they do with the kids, want your child to be a part of that. Also get to grips with their ethos so you're on the same wavelength, and make sure you are YOURSELVES..you don't need to put on a front, just be honest and forthright and chatty and upbeat for your child's education. Best of luck!

Carrots - I live in Suffolk. Standard joining practice at the three local Preps we looked at for my DS, for any child joining mid-year. The children also have to do a "taster day".

I don't for one moment think we were being judged though!

It was to show us around the school, ask about DS's previous schooling, go through his reports, find our why we were moving schools and explain what the school could offer DS and us, and what they expected from DS in return, in respect of attitude, committment to extra curricular activities, etc.

I'd be worried if a prospective Head didnt want to meet new parents before they joined.

I work in a state school and we do it for mid-year admissions there too (with a Year Leader, not the Head).

When my son was 10 I ran through some role playing with him regarding interviews at senior schools. Also, some parents asked me to to do the same with their sons, these boys were down for Eton, Harrow, Charterhouse etc. It is amazing how a practise run can sharpen things up.

For example, I asked one boy why he wanted to go to Wellington College and he said because his parents told him so! Also, things like holding out your hand for a handshake and not making it too limp. I think those things are worth trying although perhaps 7 is a little young.

And I do think that schools like to see the parents. It is a two way street and I think they like to see what you are like, are you going to be supportive and easy to work with. We have a younger son who is at a very snazzy prep school (but fab, the making of our older son!), one of his friends parents are constantly trying to take the school on, they dont agree with certain things, try and get things changed just for them.

This school is not for everyone, it prepares the boys for the big boarding schools and knows what it is doing, perhaps these parents slipped through the net and didnt meet the head..... They are a complete pain tbh, often writing emails to the other parents trying to drum up support for their latest issue.

Think before you apply to a prep school for a bursary I have one still on a bursary at a top boarding prep and one just left. The problem arises with the next school. The next time round the fees will be significantly higher and despite what many of these schools say on their web sites in my experience bursaries are not that readily available. In my very extensive experience bursaries are another word for scholorship some schools are quite up front and you will see this on their websites if you read it very carefully but other are more vague. Also many offer only 20 - 30% which if fees are £10,000 a term still means you have to find £7000 a considerable amount. My older son failed to get one because he on paper he is not hugely academic/sporty/musical and thus the schools had no incentive to ofer him a place in contrast my younger son with a IQ of 140+ is able to get one quite easily.