Bursary experts, please help?

[Bursarymum]

My two dds get bursaries at a local prep school. The older one gets 50% and the younger one gets 25% plus a sibling discount. When they were given the bursaries I was told that they would be very unlikely to be reduced unless our circumstances changed, which they haven't.

I have just had a letter from the school which says that my older dds bursary will be 25% for next year and the younger one's will also be 25%. I am panicking because I don't have time to find another school for them - and will not be able to keep them there unless they continue to receive the same level of support.

The school is not oversubscribed - in fact the class numbers are low. And my older dds class has dropped from 12 to 10 last term. She is doing well academically so there is no reason for them to find any problem with her that I know of. The school also advertises it the fact that you can apply for bursaries on its home page.

I am just wondering if you experts have ever heard of this happening? I cannot get hold of the person in finance as he is not there today. The person I spoke to on the phone said it may be a mistake. But I am very worried. Any advice?

Yes you are right. If I move her at least I will only have one child to worry about who is left there than two.

Can anyone tell me how to interpret the information about accounts and how to tell what would indicate a healthy looking financial situation?

I now recall that the school has sold some of its antiques and started charging £5 a person to attend the school nativity!

I've come back here just to let you know that in the end, the school did unfortunately close. It's been a very sad time for all the children and parents. I have been able to deal with it better though, because of the help that I received on this thread - who knows what any of would do without mumsnet? I was prepared for what would happen.

I guess the reason I'm updating is to advise people to watch out for the signs that things are about to go very wrong in independent schools. Luckily, my dds both have places in schools where I'm really happy they are going. My older dd was lucky because she did well in all the entrance tests that she took for new schools and was offered places in all. She had never had to do this before and there certainly was a scramble for places in her year group (year 6).

Nobody could believe that a school that has been around for 100 years could close in such sad circumstances but there we are...

Sorry to hear that. It must have been hard even with the advance signs. How much notice did they give you? Have you managed to get bursaries for both children at the new school?

I hope your children settle in well to the new schools.

Thanks Liberty - they only gave us 2 weeks notice. My older dd got a bursary in a very good school. She's at a time in her life where I feel she needs something more and I think the experience could be the making of her. I had looked at this school for her a long time ago and it's a short bus journey but I think it will be worth her going out if town and she's old enough to do it now. I've decided to send my younger dd to a state school which has quite small class sizes and also links with the school that closed. This school has an excellent reputation and I feel it's the right fit for her. I looked at the alternative prep in our town and there was only 2 girls in what would have been her class so not ideal for me personally.

With all that said and knowing things were bad, I still feel kind of traumatised by the closure of the school and I was a student there myself. All the children are going off in different directions and there have been plenty of tears. But I guess moving on is the only thing we can do and I couldn't be more happy with the alternatives for my dds.

That sounds like you have made good provision for them both. You were lucky to get a bursary straight into a new school too. Is the school that closed a convent school in W?

It is.

Interesting that the signs were there from some months back then. Did RG offer places at fees to match the closing school? Is that where most are going? I knew a family from the closing school from working with the Mum last year. She also had a bursary/discount!

Just read this thread with interest, mainly because it reminded me of a school I'd recently read about that isn't too far from me and turns out it is the same one.

I work at a private swim school not a million miles away and a lot of our swimmers go to where your dd will be going and they all rave about it. Very pleased that both of your dds have got a place somewhere!

You are a step ahead of me Louise if you've worked out where the children are moving to or were you assuming RG? Funny that we all recognised the closing school!