Scholarship secrecy - is this normal?

[MargeSimpson]

My dd has been assessed for a Performing Arts scholarship to start in sept in yr 7 at a local independent school having been offered a place after entrance exams. She is currently in a state junior school and we are not familiar with the etiquette regarding scholarships. We had a letter today letting us know she had been awarded a 20% scholarship. That is great news but one of the criteria is that it must remain completely confidential and breaching this will mean immediate withdrawal of it! Here lies the problem - the entire family, various friends, and her current school teachers all know she was assessed for it! What do we say? Is it normal not to tell people if you have a scholarship? Nothing was said on the forms or on the day about confidentiality. She had to do various performances so obviously her dance, drama and music teacher were all involved. Anyone else had this issue? What shall we do?

I'd go back and ask them to clarify. Tell them you have been left in a difficult position because your family, friends and school are now asking if she was successful.

I think they probably mean that they don't want you to discuss it with the parents when you join the school.

That's odd. We know who has scholarships at the senior school linked to ds's. No secret at all. I don't understand the need for secrecy as surely having a scholarship is something to celebrate. On the other hand I could understand a requirement for discretion if you were in receipt of a bursary.

Congrats to Lisa your DD.
What are you being asked to be quiet about:
a) that she got a scholarship, or
b) that it is worth 20%

It's probably (b), not (a). Phone them up to confirm.

Congrats.
No idea I certainly know that DFs DD got offered scholarships by two different schools because she was in a total cluster about which to accept.

Fluster and general state befuddlement,
Ie. Business as usual for the DF in question.
She's another one for the could hold down a complex job, but family things cause chaos thread

Thank you for the replies. I have had another read of the letter. I think it is the amount of the scholarship that is secret. On the original form it says that scholarships are awarded up to a maximum of 50%. It also says it will be reviewed termly and is dependant of continued good work and behaviour.

Knew those saxophone lessons were worth it
Thankfully it does not relate to Bart!

Still can't understand the secrecy. Maybe they never give 50% and don't want anyone to know?

I was unsure the same as you whether it was a) the scholarship or b) the amount.

The next day, when the front page of the half term newsletter had my dc's name and the others awarded scholarships blazened over the front, I concluded it must be the amount

Hi, it will be the amount of your award and not the award itself. There may be 2 or 3 performing arts scholars and may possibly be awarded differing levels. I know at my sons school some students can be awarded 50% (and there are some) and some that only get 15% and different incremental levels up to the max (which is the 50%)
Congratulations to your daughter :)

Very unusual in my experience. At my DD's school the girls generally know who has a scholarship, and certainly for the sixth form scholarships as they all know who sat the exams and who auditioned - but they wouldn't discuss the amounts, I'm sure ( they're not that intestersted) and the parents wouldn't mention it - I've never known how much anyone's scholarship was worth- its just not the kind of thing you say to other parents but I wouldn't think that would include not telling family?

Yes, it must be the amount.

Where I work the internal scholars for 11+ are announced and awarded in assembly and the new external scholars are certainly not kept secret.