London 13+ on this income possible?

[leonthedeion]

DS goes to a London prep school that caters to the 13+ and loves it there. The school does not support 11+ exits. Unfortunately I had to leave my full time job recently and take up a low income role at a startup and our household income has dropped to around £100K. We can just about afford the prep school fees on this but having sleepless nights thinking about the fees (which are significantly higher) for 13+ London day schools and boarding schools!!

Is there anyone here who has managed to send their DC to a public school or boarding school on a household income of £80-130K? Do any of these schools (the ones that have a 13+ intake) offer significant scholarships (50% or so!) or bursaries for this income? I am really struggling with decisions for DS and any experience/insights would be welcome!

I think it depends how much your other outgoings are - mortgage, debt servicing, other DC etc.

How clever is your DS? Is he likely to get a scholarship? Any other outstanding talents? DN had a VERY generous scholarship at Dulwich College - academic, plus sport which meant that fees were affordable without a bursary. Other schools - Whitgift/Trinty offer good bursaries, but on that income you may be too rich to qualify.

I believe Eton is more or less needs blind these days so if you get a place the fees will be means tested.

Other schools are more cash strapped and are unlikely to offer much help to someone on your income. Is your salary likely to increase in the near future? Some schools will help with a charge against your home if it is jut a short term cash flow problem.

It’s worth while phoning round and chattingwith the bursars.

And don’t forget there are lots of really good state schools in London now. Some of our DC went to boarding schools because we were abroad during their secondary years. Two went to state schools. And the outcomes for all were very similar.

Thanks for the response, really helpful. Our other big outgoing is only mortgage, but there's still no way we can afford a £2500+ fee as at most of these schools. Only one DC, academically top of his class but an all-rounder with no single area of excellence. Unlikely to get a sports or music scholarship (I think).

I think we may be borderline if means-tested at Eton, but something definitely worth checking. Good to know DC has strong scholarships, and we may be able to afford Whitgift/Trinity with some help. I will start talking to the bursars too.

The backup option is to move and try for a grammar at 11+, against the school's plans, but that seems a bit extreme and want to explore all other options first!

I'd look at Christs, Eton, Winchester and SPS all are either needs blind or moving to a needs blind admissions policy.
You don't say how old your DS is i.e. if you've missed registration dates or how academic. If he's a strong candidate for the last three then he's a pretty good candidate for a scholarship and means tested bursary into a less selective but well regarded boarding schools. What does your prep school head say? if you explain the situation then he'll hopefully be able to advise you as to what your best bet is. Winchester encourage you to submit a bursary application form very early even before they pre test/interview so that you can get a rough idea what they'll offer you so that you can decide if you want to continue with the admissions process.

Sorry you say in your second post your DS is "top of his class" where is your prep school head suggesting you look at if money were no issue? He really is the best person to advise you re the chances of a place at Eton/Winchester etc who offer bursaries to non scholars (although no head would say it was a done deal especially for Eton) or if your better to try getting an academic scholarship and means tested bursary at a less academic school.Again no head would say any scholarship is a done deal but I was one told by the prep school head at DS2's school if you're a very strong candidate for Eton SPS Winchester etc then you a very strong candidate for an academic scholarship into a less selective school

Take a look at City Of London Boys School. The fees are very much lower than many others as subsidised by the City Corporation. Plus I think they give significant fee reductions with their scholarships which most other schools don't.
I was really impressed by it when I visited it when researching for my now year 8 prep school boy.

Thanks happygardening I am increasingly becoming aware thanks to the posts here that some schools are better at scholarships/bursaries than others. Also I might think DS is academic but SPSS or Eton may not think he is :) And that just adds to the uncertainty. Anyway, it definitely seems like I need to start talking to the schools and the prep Head about scholarships and bursaries!

Michaelahpurple I hadn't been to see City (can't believe I missed it!), it seemed very difficult to get into. But you are right, the fees are not as bad as the others.

Unless you have your mortgage paid and very low outgoings, I wouldn't go private at 13+ with your salary in London unless you expect your earnings to increase quickly.

I also wouldn't bet on scholarships which are few and far between. In fact, I wouldn't wait for 13+ at all - the best state schools won't have any places at that time and you really are stuck with the independent sector then.

I'd make arrangements to take him out at 11, either by preparing him for selective states or the local comprehensives which tend to be good in London.

As for bursaries, you need to have exhausted equity in your home and I doubt your income is low enough.

Where are you so we can suggest state schools?

Maybe have a look at state grammar boarding schools.

To be clear, I am not against independent schools at all but do think that the hype about scholarships and bursaries are rarely matched in reality, unless one's child is outstanding academically, or plays tennis for England, or both!

and take up a low income role at a startup and our household income has dropped to around £100K
Leaves threads and has a cry on a pillow

If you can afford the fees from 13-16 there's other options for 6th form and not all kids want to remain in private school. £100k is a very substantial income and means tested bursaries would be very unlikely, or would be small (10% at my DD's school)

Dulwich College full fees are lower in yrs 7&8 than in quite a number of London preps for the same ages.

Bursaries for day schools for those with an income of c£100k pa just don't exist (apologies in advance if I've misunderstood your income). Does your current school,think DS is scholarship calibre?

I also wouldn't bet on scholarships which are few and far between. In fact, I wouldn't wait for 13+ at all - the best state schools won't have any places at that time and you really are stuck with the independent sector then.

That's exactly my worst fear :(

AnotherNewt The Head thinks he could be scholarship material but told us to expect it to be nominal at 0-10%. I never discussed affordability with them though, probably should.

Your income is still very high and private school fees should certainly be doable with that, I would have thought.

If you want to stay in the independent sector you need to look at boarding £100k ps is not enough to pay boarding fees of £40k pa. talk to you head first to establish what schools he’d recommend then I’d start talking bursars to get a feel for what their reaction is with regard to a scholarship and a means tested bursary and a stand alone bursary.
Depending on your prep school you head 1. might know which schools are worth talk too and also may put a good word in for you. You need to establish where he thinks you’ll DS stands a good chance of getting a scholarship. Where do most pupils go? It’s likely that these are the schools where he’ll have the most influence.

I would def prepare for a plan b scenario which would be a grammar school. Prepare him for the 11 + and entry in yr 7. To be frank it sounds like the schools you seem to be aiming for may be out of reach. How old is your son - have you still got time to go down the 11+ route.

I would also look to the 11+ but nail down a place for 13+ and prep for common entrance privately to buy you some time? Or 11+ Grammar to sixth form and move to day/boarding. Or, from what knowledgable posters on mn say, boarding offers far more generous fee remissions.

I doubt you would get a bursary on that income (or very little), particularly if you have substantial equity in your home. We were bursary candidates for some the top London schools. I have an academic ds and the bursaries offered to us, on a much lower joint salary than you are, were in the region of 25-30% all means tested. Most of the schools topped up to 80% remission with a scholarship. Off the top of my head re; scholarships, Alleyns offer the equivalent of a terms fees off, Dulwich, top scholarship 30%, City - not much I don't think, Westminster, nothing unless musical, Eltham 50%. I think for many of the schools, scholarships are just a nominal value (St Paul's ?).

The reason I mentioned scholarship calibre, is not because there are plenty of large ones about (quite the contrary - indeed that MNers can name the handful of (usually older) schools within a few posts shows how few how well known they are).

It is because when schools are awarding bursaries, they invariably go for those candidates they want to see in the school. This means (often but not inevitably) high academic performance, or excellent acting, sport, art, music etc, or some other high level talent which does not fit tidily into a scholarship category.

No school is rich enough to be fully means blind (several are close).