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

[Slapntickleothewenches]

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 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 :)

For comparison- there is a state comprehensive school near us that offered (or used to offer- don't know if the scheme still exists) 10% of places on musical aptitude. As far as I am aware, everyone who got a place had grade 4 at least- at 11.

re music scholarships, I would think a good, promising oboist will be welcomed. Make sure he can sight read well, and has good aural skills. Most schools will offer a pre audition to give you an idea of what they think regarding scholarship potential.

Finances will vary from school to school as others have said, so do ask.

It's further away but have you considered Christ's Hospital? The majority of pupils pay less than full fees and they have an excellent music school, orchestra and school band.

You'd have a very good chance at Christ's hospital either from yr 7 or 9. Most pupils are on a bursery. To give an idea, £30k net take home will probably give you a 75% bursery. although it means finding £7K/yr, there is no uniform to pay for and a very good second hand shop for sports kit.

TBH I hadn't really considered much out of our general area. It seems such a big step to send DS properly "away" though on reflection, he would be 13 then rather than the 9yo he is now
I'm really grateful for all the advice, including the more negative posts which do really help with perspective :o

It’s a fallacy to think that the higher the music grade a child has, the better chance s(he) has in getting a music scholarship. As far as Eton music scholarship is concerned, the school is on record to say they are looking for quality and not quantity. So, all else being equal if two boys are applying for the same music scholarship at Eton, the child with a Grade 6 distinction will have an edge over the child with a Grade 8 pass.

Not if they're the same age. Kid who's just done grade 8 would waltz through grade 6, obviously. S/he would just be pushing themselves a bit to grade 8. Same as a child who would be struggling with a GCSE at 11 but would ace a SATS paper.

Please note: "all else being equal".

"The standard generally expected of candidates will be Grade V to VIII on their principal instrument, but though high grades in Associated Board examinations are often good indications of musicianship, we shall also be looking for a thorough grounding in technique and for musical potential. If Associated Board examinations are taken we shall look more for high marks than high grades." - Eton College

Dd2 is grade 4 violin and grade 2 piano (started in the summer) at 11 - she was only eligible for all-roundert scholarships not pure music

They do look kindly on violin and French horn though

And she aced the music parts of her scholarships

Motherinferior it depends what marks she got in her grade exams

The girl that got the top music scholarship 13+ at dd1s school was from state

Music and sport are usually well contested by state school students

Not so much academic, art, not sure why really

if you've got a good state option, or even an ok one probably, then I think you should really think hard about why you want to do this. if it's because you regret the decision you made as a child then please think again. I speak as someone who has/is privately educating their children when I say that i'm not completely convinced it's been worth the money for all of them. But I have the money to spare and it's not forced me to make choices, so i'll never have to regret or resent it. I've seen too many people live vicariously through their children and it doesn't always make for good relationships. sorry if this misreads your original post.

Mine both have 25percebt scholarships

And the fees aren't the most expensive around

And they are day girls and will remain so

It still takes every spare penny we have

Worth it though imo

I personally think you've got a chance for music schol. being on an oboe though.
I think talk to the schools you're interested in, and ask what standards they require.
I think the oboe is a strong card to play. :)

Some music scholarships are in the form of free lessons rather than a substantial fees discount. Be aware though that it may also require participation in multiple ensembles and regular concerts, so not a commitment to be taken lightly.

Craggyhollow, I have no intention of putting my darling daughter in for a scholarship - I have every confidence that the comp which is currently educating her sister (who is also bright as a button) will do her just fine.

In many schools though, winning a scholarship will open up access to the bursary pot.

Oh OK, sorry I thought this thread was about scholarships

I would have thought that a child who wants to be a musician at age 9 (particularly if parents are n't musicians) should be at an advantage over those who are doing well but do not love music as much. OP, if he is that keen and is putting the practice in then his progress may not be linear and his musicality should show. Fantastic combination of instruments, he can be the cool teenager on guitar in later life as well as enjoying the completely different oboe repertoire. Might be worth looking at the cor anglais at some point 1805 will know more but I think it is a possibility for an oboe player and a useful instrument to be able to offer.
I also know that at Eton (who does not have a boy choir) a very good treble (not necessarily a chorister) has an excellent chance of an award even if the other instruments are only grade 4/5.

Yes. Cor Anglais will come as he moves through orchestras.
One day, he'll come home from orchestra or lesson with an extra instrument!!!
OP, do you have a couple of schools you want to look at?
Can I repeat myself though, and stress the importance of being able to sight read please.

Yes 1805,a couple locally and I have also had a shifty peek at Christs Hospital (have not yet shown DS the uniform :o)
I think it's prospectuses and then open days as soon as possible and see where that leads- nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say :)

"Oh OK, sorry I thought this thread was about scholarships"

It is. But I think some of us with musical children are trying to give the OP a reality check as kindly as we can .

And in all honesty, I think from the evidence of this thread that a musical child would be given a more rigorous grounding in the state sector anyway

I wouldn't show your son anything, not eton website etc. you need to know what the realistic options are re bursaries etc. don't get his hopes up unrealistically

But givemeaclue the very essence of the kind of school the OP is interested in is that they are (in one way or another) selective. Even if she had oodles of spare money there is never a guaranteed place. Every child applying knows that there is a possibility of being unsuccessful. I don't think a child who couldn't cope with that knowledge would be at all suitable for boarding school life.

Thanks to all. It seems that there is a split in opinion here (which is good to see both sides)
I'm not sure it's as easy as saying that DS (or any child for that matter) would be better off in x or y type of school. My admittedly quite limited research has thrown up schools that DO offer music scholarships for grade 5 on first study. Clearly these are not elite music schools but the offers are there. I'm sure many children are at higher levels or generally more talented, I only speak for my own DS and was after advice as to whether applying with a certain knowledge that we would need an extensive bursary was the done thing or not.
I've also been pulled up several times as I mentioned Eton (to put it into context, as I said we were reading the Young Bond books and DS was asking about the uniform. We looked it up in the same way as we would anything else he asked about) It was never our intention to even consider Eton but it does seem to have struck a chord with some people :o
As I said earlier I have ordered some prospectuses and we will take DS to the open days of the schools we like the look of (and which suit our circumstances) DS is involved, knows his hard work is not the only factor that will be taken into account and is prepared for the fact that this could all have been in vain. To not give him the chance though seems wrong and we will do our best :)