What can a bursary family do / not do?

[JoDoeCalling]

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?

Does it really matter about what a parent chooses to give their child for Christmas or if they've managed to nab a cheap holiday now & again? Most schools accept parents may be frivolous on the odd occasion. As long as this isn't happening often or a parent isn't lying about how poor they really are, I don't see a problem!

My DC recieved bursaries & I am not ashamed to admit they recieved financial support. As far as I was concerned my voice was just as important as any parent who was paying the full amount & I was never made to feel any different by my childrens' schools.

I don't feel a school should be able to tell you how you can live your life... Your bursary is awarded having declared your financial situation to the school and how you spend that 'low income' is then your choice - assuming both parents work (or perhaps one parent can't work due to being a carer), you don't get money from other sources (grandparents etc) which you have 'hidden' from the school.
I personally don't think other parents/pupils/general staff members should know you are on a bursary - my own child was not aware until later on.
My DS had a bursary mainly due to our circumstances very suddenly changing and a very difficult period, without the bursary he otherwise couldn't have continued at the school.
During those years we lived incredibly cheaply with the exception of one holiday abroad. It was an incredibly miserable time and I budgeted to not be spending much on clothes/unnecessarily expensive food/going out and put every penny of spare money into a pot for a year or two to save up for a holiday which I knew we desperately needed. I am aware we didn't 'need' it for survival and could have done without but if I had saved that money I would not have been able to afford the full school fees by a long way still.
In experience of working for schools as well I know that sadly lots simply don't apply for bursaries who would be most deserving or obviously 'in need', instead they go to fairly middle class families who only just can't afford it.

Sorry to hijack the thread OP. I have a DD on a substantial bursary at a boarding prep school where she is a day girl. It just happened so that since the start of this school year she has become the only day girl in her class. She is desperate to board and does feel excluded from the rest of "the gang" now. Unfortunately, there is no way we could afford the extra cost of boarding and the bursary we have only covers the tuition cost. I have enquired with school regarding the possibility of getting a bursary on both tuition and boarding but haven't received a definitive answer :(

Does anyone have any experience with boarding bursaries at prep level please? Is this actually possible?

Hi Fullsteam. I'm sending you a private message, give me a few minutes though