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Original poster

What can a bursary family do / not do?

104 replies

JoDoeCalling · 12/12/2014 15:38

My children have bursaries to attend their independent school and part of the condition of this is that we live "a life at the standard worthy of a bursary".

I presume this means as a poor person, whatever that may be.

I was looking at a senior school and that said no extras such as: owning a second home (fine don't own first), going on multiple holidays a year (one holiday in uk every 3 years), owning a new car (car 15years old), owning a luxury car (now car is bmw but was a friend's who gave it to us 6mths ago for £250), or eating out (does McDonald's count?)

Now this is making me worry I'm not allowed to let other parents know we're on a bursary as signed when awarded but do I need to be concerned?

Secondly I feel that if I have any negative comment to make to school re children I can't in fear of bursary removal - does anyone else have this fear and is it irrational fear or a justified fear?

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 14/12/2014 17:50

I think the whole bursaries thing seems to be open to well I suppose it's a bit strong to call it corruption but it almost is. It more or less seems to be middle class people 'in the know' rather than genuinely disadvantaged children. It all makes me feel rather uncomfortable.

YorkshireAtHeart · 14/12/2014 18:05

middle
She's a girl who loves her makeup? What's wrong with that? And we're talking mac,benefit,Bobby brown rimmel and maybelliene. Mostly for Christmas and birthdays from me and family and she blogs and youtube so gets sent some samples from places. But if I do buy it anything it's because she's done something well at school or just a treat (she's an only child btw) she's not exactly a child she is 16. Her group of friends (one other is in reciept of a busary) have the same kinds of makeup. And the iphone I save £2 coins and my phone has broke so I will have her old phone

bursarylady · 14/12/2014 18:14

Viviennemary the bursary is supposed to help a child who cannot aford the school be him middle class or very disadvantaged. The school decided DS could benefit from the education they can offer and I cannot afford it. Simple. Just because I am not on benefits it doesn't mean it's corruption.

Hakluyt · 14/12/2014 18:15

"I'm sure you can have a mcdonalds and things even the working class on minuim wage have fast food."

Grin
middleclassonbursary · 14/12/2014 18:18

Yorkshire it's all down to parental choice I guess and of course family friends buy her things.
bursary the condition of our bursary is that it's confidential. Our DS's have told some friends over the years and if another parents were crass enough to ask "are you on a bursary?" I would say yes but no one has ever ever asked. Maybe this is because it's so obvious, people don't care or are just too polite to ask.
My DS's have never ever been excluded from a school trip away I think that's pretty mean to do that. What do they do if it's a compulsory part of a course?
I agree it's probably MC parents who apply for bursaries but just because your middle class doesn't mean you've a high income.
Our school charges in excess of 33k PA this is out of the reach of all but the exceptionally wealthy, so why shouldn't MC parents apply. Nothing stops WC parents applying by the way.

YorkshireAtHeart · 14/12/2014 18:22

middle
I agree there. When I signed the form for my dd busary there was no mention of if she can or can't mention if she's on a busary. My dd has told her close friends and that's all and that's only 2 girls. The working class do apply as there was a girl who boarded with my dd who has recently being 'asked to leave' who's parents were just cleaners at their local hospital and the girl had a full busary.

apotatoprintinapeartree · 14/12/2014 18:56

The fees for the school we are looking at are 31k or thereabouts, there are no stipulations or conditions on being awarded a bursary up to the full amount.
If your income is low, you don't pay a penny regardless of what you choose to do with your income.
Most of the dc who attend receive a bursary of some sort and 20% don't pay at all.
Anybody can apply whatever your background, income or employment status.

bursarylady · 14/12/2014 19:24

Middle
I am very impressed you have managed to keep it confidential for so many years. Maybe because it's boarding and there is less contact with other parents? In DS school most kids knew in the first year and I have been asked directly by a parent! Like I said it doesn't bother me at all.

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 14/12/2014 19:33

I think the point about confidentiality is that the school won't share the information but it's up to the parents whom they share what with.

"Standard worthy of a bursary" means to me not just the monetary side of things but also living as upstanding citizens of the community, and not bringing the name or reputation of the school into disrepute.

Greengrow · 14/12/2014 20:43

(Well I am a single full time working mother who pays school fees, no bursary and is self employed and with no savings).

bursarylady · 14/12/2014 21:37

If you earn below 50000 you can qualify for one Greengrow. Some schools set the threshold higher than that. The Whitgift foundation's scale starts at 70000

Viviennemary · 14/12/2014 21:38

I didn't mean to have a go at any individual but it does seem a bit strange that people with second homes are entitled to bursaries. Depends who is funding the bursaries I suppose. Means testing is always a bit of a minefield.

bursarylady · 14/12/2014 21:52

Second home and a bursary? That's a sure no at the shools I spoke to years ago.

middleclassonbursary · 14/12/2014 21:53

As I explained 2nd homes are counted as assets and at the very least 10% of their value is added onto you're earnings. I suspect most bursars look carefully at 2nd home etc. it's all about individual circumstances.
The threshold for bursaries for boarding is obviously higher than 70k on that sort of money you couldn't even consider the fees.

Hakluyt · 14/12/2014 22:02

This must be a candidate for the funniest/most tragic thread ever......

ReallyTired · 14/12/2014 22:02

To ban parents from ever eating out is ridiculous. So if your child is on bursery then you cannot celebrate your wedding anniversary or go to the office Christmas dinner.

moonrocket · 14/12/2014 22:05

So- you cannot own a 2nd (cheap) property, but you could have a pension pot worth millions?

Hardly seems equitable.

ANd to ban those receiving bursaries from school trips? Outrageous!

fruitloopsandfruitshoots · 14/12/2014 22:06

Sorry for the thread hijack- but can anyone clarify the difference between a bursary and a scholarship? I was given a scholarship to the independent school I attended, but wasn't aware at the time about bursaries? How do you qualify? I would really like for my DS to attend an independent school, but we could probably only afford about 40% of the fees (at a stretch!). I assumed this meant that independent school was out of the question unless DS gets a scholarship- is that not necessarily the case?

bursarylady · 14/12/2014 22:27

You can have a pension pot worth millions? Where? Who said that? I seriously doubt it!

FishWithABicycle · 14/12/2014 22:30

fruitloops a scholarship is given on the basis of academic merit, and can be given to someone rich. A bursary is given on the basis of financial need and is not necessarily given to the very brightest (though they will still meet entry criteria)

Taffeta · 14/12/2014 22:39

This thread has been really helpful and has prompted me to contact a school that has offered DS a sports scholarship. I assumed a bursary would be out of the question as we aren't on the breadline, but I am now wondering.

fruitloopsandfruitshoots · 14/12/2014 22:45

Thank you fish- that gives me hope! Definitely worth looking in to in any case.

moonrocket · 14/12/2014 22:48

How would they know about the pension?
Do you have to show your entire accounts?

YorkshireAtHeart · 14/12/2014 22:53

moon
I did I have to show a bank statement to show my outgoings and things and anything I own I had to show I had proof of etc..

1805 · 14/12/2014 23:13

yep - we showed mortgage statements, bank statements, P60's, accounts, had a home visit……
We work hard and earn relatively well, but not enough to afford two sets of fees. We could also show how dc would benefit from what the private schools offered as a contrast to what our local state schools offered.

You may as well apply - they can only say "no"!!!

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