Bursaries and independent schooling

[AnxiousElephant]

Hi, please could someone give me some insight into the process for this. For example, is it possible to have a rough calculation done before applying?
We are looking into this as dd1 is becoming increasingly frustrated with the disruption in her classes within the current school and the girls who she works with (year ahead) are arguing lots, which she doesn't like. I know some children will not get on but I expect better behaviour in the classroom. I think she would benefit from smaller class sizes and a more flexible way of teaching.
My dh and I both have good prospects career wise, although we are not wealthy and hope that we could support this. We would intend for dd1 to board later on age 10/11/12 and would be entitled to CEA as it stands.
Thanks for any advice with this.

would you intend for her to board at the school she will day pupil at? If so then a lot of schools will give you a forces discount as they know they will get your boarding business later.

You need to talk to the individual school regarding their criteria as all schools differ.

We would consider her boarding later there but they only go to age 13.

All schools differ but at one of the independent schools local to me no one with a family income of over £40,000 is entitled to a bursary.

I looked into that for my DS - the school was able to give me a rough indication of what proportion of the fees I'd be expected to pay (around 10-20% on a household income of £25,000ish) - though the precise calculation they'd only carry out after applying. You'd need to contact the school you have in mind to ask.

All sorts of things are possible, but independent schools do not follow one set template for how they award bursaries.

You will need to identify and visit the schools that you think are possible, and then start discussions with the bursar about what sorts of awards they have and how they calculate your qualifying income (schools have differing thresholds and disregards). Then you can begin to work out whether there is a chance the place is affordable - and then you need to secure both the place and the bursary.

But as you are in mobile public service, is it likely that (before you can choose to board) you will actually be in one place for long enough for the expected benefits of school X to have begun to show their effect before you have to up sticks again? If one of you stays put whilst the other moves with the job, you may not automatically qualify for CEA as pattern of family life is taken into account.

bibbity where in the country are you? I think the ones locally take into account monthly outgoings as well as income?
Purple - was that for boarding or just for days and was it with CEA?

If dh job changes (likely in the next year) then we will possibly be posted. We are looking at boarding later but not yet, so we could not get CEA for approx 4 years. So we would need a bursary until then iyswim.

There's lots of stuff on MN talk about bursaries I think you can do a search. As a general principle preps are less generous; they simply have less money many preps attach their bursaries to scholarships and only offer 1-2 a year. Boarding preps might be more generous especially if your in the forces and they find it harder to fill their vacancies. The £40 000 rule does not apply to all especially as many boarding preps are now well over £20 000 PA.

well I say we would need a bursary until then but actually we could afford for dd1 to go, more of a problem when dd2 gets to 7 i.e. 3 years time!
Perhaps we would just do that, wait until dd2 is year 2 then apply for her

Just day school. No not forces

So you expect to move next year, then stay at that location for 3ish years, then be posted again, at which point you may have a boarding option on CEA?

Will the timings of your move allow you to register your DD for a standard entry point for the school you like? (Have you a short list yet?). Some have both 7+ and 8+ entry, and everything else is ad hoc. This matters because if a school has committed all its available bursary funds to families whose children joined in their main rounds, it may not have the money to support more. Another thing to remember to ask the bursar.

Finally, can you find the money elsewhere to pay for these years of day school? Where will you live? Do you have a main property you will be letting out whilst you live elsewhere for this posting (presumably rented and employer subsidised)?

Edith we do have our own house rented out at present and live in a married quarter with low rent. This will increase if dh gets his commission. We don't know where we will move to in the next 2 years but would ideally like to place dd1 in a school where she will board later in order to get her used to it before it is a neccessity. (Obviously for some there is never a neccessity but dd1 finds it difficult to make close friendships so I want her to have several years of day independent before needing to board, preferably in the same school).

anxious do remember that a day school that is suitable for your DD now might not be suitable as a boarding school if you are posted a long way away. Eg now you might want lots of day children with some weekly/full boarders but in the future you will want it to be predominantly boarding as it can be unsettling if most children go home each evening.

No I have looked at schools where most pupils board in the hope that dd will see that it is fun and ask to board, rather than me trying to suggest it iyswim? I have looked at Queen Ethelburgas because dd loves horses and wants to ride and most of the ones near our current location that have equestrian facilities.

If there is equity in your other house you are vvv unlikely to get any bursary.

Just to add that the independent school that our children go to has just sent out the Easter headmaster's letter. In it he says that they are cutting back hugely on the bursaries and 'community support' that they offer in order to invest money in the school's facilities. We don't have a bursary but if I did I would be worried! So do bear in mind that the bursary may not be forever, i think they are 'renewed' every year.

awinawin this is unnecessary scare mongering. We recently had conformation of out bursary for next year and in fact its been slightly increased. What goes on in your school does not reflect what goes on in others.

confirmation not conformation the spell check has decided to have a holiday!

All schools have different policies.
The only way to know is to ask.
Contact the school and ask how to apply. If poss speak to bursar to get an idea of amounts.
Also, whether the school has spaces in the year group you need.
Remember not all indie schools are better than state schools, so research and get opinions before making a move.
Good luck!!