Scholarship Offers - Are they negotiable?

[delillah247]

My dd1 has just been given a scholarship to a really good school, for year 9 entry. Obviously we are immensely proud of her achievement.
According to the schools prospectus, sent to us in oct 2010, the award she has been given is a 50% fee reduction, but they have only given her 25%. when i contacted the school to question why, they simply said, "oh, yes we've changed the award value, sorry".
I am gutted we can not afford 75% of the fees without involving grandparents etc. and I really didnt want to do that. But in DD1 eyes she has achieved what she was aiming for and now the school have moved the goal posts, she is quite rightly really disappointed.
My question is, do I have a leg to stand on?, this whole independent school thing is new to me, so any advise would be great. Thanks

That's fab news. You must be very proud of her and deservedly so.

If the school will not increase the scholarship and you decide it is not financially an option then I can almost guarantee you'll find a top independent to snap her up for a fraction of the fees.

I work in a prep school andthe scholarships that our kids win at 11 and 13 are usually a nominal 10% (some decline any assistance at all and just take the honour so that the assistance can be offered to another child) but can be added on to with bursary grants at the school's discretion.

It seems to be that if they really want a child they'll make the right offer. I know of a brother and a sister who got 85% off at a top Oxford public school (both v academic, sporting and dramatic) and a boy wh has been offered 75% and 65% respectively at 2 different schools who seem to be engaging in a bidding war over him.

Public schools want children who will do them credit. I've seen recently that what stops very bright or talented children accessing a private education is not money but simply that most people do not know it's an option.

Phone around some more lcal private school and explain your situation. The schol your daughter has got into will be a rival of theirs and I wouldn't be surprised if they bend over backwards to help you.

Oh, an massive congratulations to your daughter, these names scholarships are competitive and hard!

Thanks for the info, We have 4 private schools in the area, one I wouldn't touch with a barge pole, the other 2 are fabulous, but do not have a 13+ intake. Is it still worth my while contacting them?

Always worth a try, especially in this economic climate. If there are vacanices in the year group they'll be looking to fill them.

Anything is worth a try for a really good education. Your daughter has done fantastically well, and you are right to be very, very proud of her.

Many schools advertise scholarships up to 50% but that is generally only given to the top scholar. Maybe she wasn't the top scholar?

sorry, just read your post.