Independent school bursaries

[sickofturkey]

I know each school is different but if anyone has been awarded a bursary for private school what % reduction did you get and what is your income ?

I am in the process of applying for one for y4 with a household income of 35k- not a homeowner just wanted to gauge what the outcome may be as I believe the process could take a few months
Thanks

We are in similar circumstances- household income of around 30k, not a homeowner and we also have no assets. Our DC got a bursary of 95 per cent at first and then they changed upped it to 100 per cent. So i think you're in with a good chance from a financial perspective as long as you don't have any savings or saleable assets. Just be aware though whatever earnings you make on top of 35k now would be essentially capped as once you earn a certain amount they'll reduce the bursary. That's my understanding of it anyway. Good luck!

I really don’t think you can gauge what the outcome may be beyond what’s on a school’s website and any conversations you may have had with them.

I’m intrigued that anywhere is offering a bursary for yr 4 - I’ve only ever seen them start from yr 5 or 6 (boarding prep) and then at 13+. (But I’m entirely ignorant about the London schools market.)

Do you have more than one possible school to apply to? That would take done if the pressure off. But really, all you can do is fill in the forms honestly, with as much detail as possible, and then cross your fingers. With an older child there’s the element of a school really wanting to give this particular child a place, but that’s less likely when they’re too young to have defined themselves much, yet.

I’d say the higher the fees, the more likely you are to receive a bursary offer …

‘some of’ the pressure …

It very much depends on the individual school and what their policy is and how much money they have already committed to bursaries. Some will give more than 100% to cover the cost of uniforms, trips etc. Impossible to predict, I'm afraid!

Also, whatever the schools say, I’m positive they only give bursaries to those who score at the very top. Worth remembering that.

What someone mentioned upthread about bursaries possibly not being given in lower years isn't necessarily true for all independent schools. Our eldest is going into reception next September and we have been having discussions with a couple of local prep schools regarding bursaries and they are very much a possibility.

Just be careful those school are financially thriving, not failing. Are the bursaries you speak of clearly outlined on the school websites for everyone to see, well established and relatively transparent?

Schools that are in financial difficulty are not above handing out reckless bursaries simply to keep up their intake. (I’ve seen a few instances of that on MN over the past decade.)

The reason most don’t offer these awards for children below yr 5 or 6 is that it’s hard to reliably judge a child’s potential before that age.