What's the point in applying for a bursary if you can't afford the added extras anyway?

[LightsOnNobodyHome]

There's a great independent school near to us that offers generous bursaries for bright kids from low-income families. I've had a look on the website and it seems - from the info on there - I'd probably be eligible for a pretty large amount off the fees (assuming ds passes well, of course).

My question is - is there any point? Because even I did only have to pay minimal fees, I wouldn't be able to afford all the extras - school trips to far-flung places etc, kits for all the gazillions of different sports they play, etc. Even the cost of the school meals looks like it might add up to a fair whack!

The school is a v good one, no question. If I won the Lottery tonight I'd send ds there without a second thought. But I don't want him to be the 'poor one'. I'm scraping by as it is - significant extra expenses just aren't feasible. Anyone got any experience or words of wisdom?

DD's indie has a thriving second hand uniform 'shop' run by the mums. The uniform is of good quality so when the girls grow out of them they are still in a decent resale state. I have bought items from the shop and I have detected no sense of stigma for doing so.

As for school trips, there are the one day history trips for eg which cost about £45. There is usually 2 a year and most/all kids seem to go. The big ones, eg skiing, has about 20% of the kids going.

Basically, a lot of the parents are well off as opposed to rich and with 2-3 kids at Indies they too have to watch their pennies as well. Ok, they have more pennies than you or I :) but they aren't throwing their money around.

As for lunch, some of the kids bring in packed lunches because of religious/dietary requirements so it's no big deal if yours did the same. Having said that, yes DD has sushi on the menu at £5 but he also has pizza or burgers at normal canteen prices.

Private school is do-able if you are on a limited income. You be surprised how many parents are in the same position.