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Original poster

Scholarships, bursaries, am I living in cloud cuckoo land?

77 replies

Slapntickleothewenches · 13/02/2014 12:04

I will try and keep this short :)
DS is 9, in year 5 in middle school (3 tiers still) Originally he started in prep school and it was always my dream that he would be privately educated (having refused the opportunity of a very good scholarship myself because I didn't want to go to a "posh" school )
Unfortunately the school closed unexpectedly, taking our next years fees and deposit with it Hmm After much agonising, not least because of the financial situation, we decided to move DS to state school where he has been very happy and is thriving.
I still want him to be privately educated, now from 13+. However due to a failed business we are in no situation to pay more than a fractional amount of fees.
DS (and I am aware I sound very PFB here!) is smart. He's currently working at the level expected at the end of year 6 for maths, everything else is also above expectations for his age.
He plays sport regularly both in and out of school. He's committed and always tries his best but I would be lying if I said he was a natural sportsman :o
He plays two instruments, is also part of the school orchestra and woodwind group. He should be at around grade 5 in both by the start of yr9. Music is his passion and currently he wants to either play professionally or become a music teacher (subject to change should the world of Formula 1 come knocking on his door :o)
He also attends Latin club and music theory club as he enjoys the challenge and wants to better himself (I was a lazy child and I am in awe of his motivation)

Would we be laughed at for applying for a place? If he stays on target he could be eligible for a music scholarship at our favourite (ATM) school but if not I'm not sure his academic abilities are sufficient for a scholarship and top up bursary. He has no tutoring at the moment but we would be willing to look into this if it would improve his prospects.
I am sure (as I can be) that he is the sort of child who would put his all into private school and thrive under the challenges but I'm just not sure we have enough to offer to make it viable.
Any advice would be most hatefully received :)

OP posts:
middleclassonbursary · 13/02/2014 17:38

Not Milton Abbey that really is thick mans academy. Grovel I thought Eton had stopped offering funding for boys through prep. Harrow offers the Beckwith or something similar scholarship they definitely do fund the last two years of prep.
But surely Christ's is the one to seriously consider academic, and a massive bursary pot and they start at 11+. Your only problem is that Dorset to Horsham is a bit tedious.
You do need to ask them what is the biggest bursary they regularly do. If your serious about a bursary forgot about being uncomfortable discussing money, you will have to complete yearly extensive forms about your finances, you need to start learning to be 100% open with bursars, my advise read lots of on line prospectus find a few you like the look of, do realistic figures for what you can afford then get on the phone to the bursar and say you've looked at the school on line read about in Tatler GSG etc really like the look of it your DS is super bright, the next Yehudi Menuhin, Donald Bradman and you would like to send him to St Y but your going to need a bursary of X%. Assuming he hasn't choked on his morning digestive ask him if the school does bursaries and scholarships/means tested bursaries of this size, your not asking him to say he'll give you one just do they do them in general. Some never give more than 30% whatever the circumstances my DS's school only give 100% in exceptional circumstances (that's going to be parental death or something similar) the average is 60% but that 60% of 33k+ so still a lot to pay. Then if he says yes then pursue you application with visits etc. Basically to get a bursary you must be prepared to not be uncomfortable talking about these things.
If Im being honest there are schools out there who offer big stand alone bursaries but they're hard to find, a scholarship and means tested bursary might be your best route but you do need to be spot on with your preparation and it's not still not going to be easy of the fierce competition for them.
Finally in some schools music/sport/drama scholarships can often not be attached to bursaries you get free music lessons/training etc.

middleclassonbursary · 13/02/2014 17:42

Sorry meant to say If Im being honest there are few schools out there who offer big stand alone bursaries.

Original poster
Slapntickleothewenches · 13/02/2014 18:06

Yes grovel, quite close. Not been too badly affected so far but our pretty little cottage by the river is a dodgier prospect as time goes by Hmm
Thanks middle. With a failed business behind me I has no issue discussing my means (or lack of them) It's just asking for money that I find so, well, awkward :o

OP posts:
motherinferior · 13/02/2014 18:14

If he's only at grade 5 in Y9 I wouldn't have thought he'd be a candidate for a music scholarship, surely? My younger daughter is grade 4 on two instruments in Y6 and I think that's good but very far from outstanding.

middleclassonbursary · 13/02/2014 19:13

Certainly schools like Eton Win Coll would be looking for much higher grades than that but others won't. We know someone who went fairly recently to Stowe on a music scholarship with a grade 5.

motherinferior · 13/02/2014 19:14

At Y9, though?

Cor.

craggyhollow · 14/02/2014 13:32

Music scholarship for entry in year 9 here is at least grade 5 on first instrument and grade 3 on second at time of applying (so year 8)

Some instruments rated higher than others

craggyhollow · 14/02/2014 13:33

Grade 4 on 2 instruments in year 6 is very good mother inferior. Are there many with higher grades and more instruments?

motherinferior · 14/02/2014 14:00

Don't know about more instruments; but she's not the best musician there. And she isn't a properly driven musician, the sort that really will go far. Which is fine - I was the same, but I do know what proper musicians are like as kids.

1805 · 14/02/2014 14:01

OP - what instruments does he play? Are they the rarer instruments?
Round here, the bigger/richer schools are looking for grade 7 on main instrument, plus grade 3+ on second instrument at y9. Also, singing experience is expected too.
You say he wants to be a pro musician?? Then I would recommend really going for it on one instrument and make sure his sight reading is good.
He is young yet, so has time to blossom, but which one does he enjoy the most?
Good luck to him.

motherinferior · 14/02/2014 14:03

I'd expect a really good musician to be at around grade 8 by the time they were 16, surely? You'd never get into music college with less.

craggyhollow · 14/02/2014 14:19

Yes grade 8 at 16 but if grade 5 in year 8 then you are deffo on track for that

craggyhollow · 14/02/2014 14:20

Plus another instrument plus singing

spikeyiscool · 14/02/2014 14:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

motherinferior · 14/02/2014 14:30

He is aged nine, but the OP says he should be on track for grade 5 in Y9. Which is fine, absolutely. I was just surprised it was considered scholarship material.

1805 · 14/02/2014 14:34

Op said ds is on track to be grade 5 by year 9 though, not what he is now.

1805 · 14/02/2014 14:34

X post. Sorry for repetition!!!!!

motherinferior · 14/02/2014 14:35

Even to audition for classes at the junior bit of the RNCM you need to have grade 5 with distinction by 11, I think. Which is seriously big time, admittedly.

grovel · 14/02/2014 14:39

The music scholar in my son's year/house was Grade 8 in violin and piano at 13. He also sang.

Martorana · 14/02/2014 14:39

I hate to say this- but you do sound a bit cloud cuckoo landish- with the Young Bond, and natural private school boy stuff. There are very few substantial bursaries. And scholaships generally would need more than level 5 in year 5 and the potential for grade 5 in year 9. I don't mean to be unkind, and obviously give it a go- but please be realistic, both for his sake and your own.

Original poster
Slapntickleothewenches · 14/02/2014 14:42

He plays the oboe and guitar, hard to tell which is the favourite. At the moment it's definitely the guitar, so much cooler, easy to pick up and strum for 10 minutes and then put back down.
However the oboe is his first love, the item he says he would grab in a fire after his iPad I think it's just altogether a harder instrument and one he experiences peaks and troughs at rather than the guitar which he seems a natural at.
The schools we looked at emphasised talent and passion as well as results. We were advised that it is very rare to begin the oboe before 8 or 9 due to hand size and the delicate nature of the reeds. Therefore a young oboist will be significantly further behind in grades than a child who started piano at 4 or 5- I guess they take that into account :)

OP posts:
1805 · 14/02/2014 14:43

It depends on what instruments though. Lets wait and find out if OP's ds plays oboe and french horn, or violin and piano.

1805 · 14/02/2014 14:45

X posts AGAIN!!!!!!

motherinferior · 14/02/2014 14:47

DD2 plays sax and trumpet. I'm still not convinced she'd get anything but a benign smile Grin

God I sound like such a tiger mother - I'm honestly not: I just have realistic expectations of my beloved child.

motherinferior · 14/02/2014 14:49

Mind you DD2 is a comp girl. As is her sister. And her mum.

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