Bursary question, second child

[Schools2023]

Hi, wondering if any bursary/ scholarship parents can help?

Our older dc has been offered a scholarship but this is only a small % off the fees, and the rest is a means tested bursary. We've been told we're at the income limit for this so would be paying almost full fees. This would be fine except we have a younger child and would be spending most of our disposable income on one child which wouldn't be fair.

It's my understanding that if we were paying school fees for the younger child then this would be taken into account and so we would be eligible for more of the bursary for the older child. So if we started them at the same time then we would be only paying for one.

Has anyone done this? Sorry if it's unclear. The school in question would offer both kids great opportunities and is one of the best in the country but all feels a bit precarious as we hadn't considered independent before.

Also question for bursary parents- are you allowed any savings? I hate the thought of not having fund for emergencies.

Thanks

Sounds like you can't afford to send either child. Why are you looking to private schools rather than state?

Good question and fair point. Older child is exceptional at music (and v good at a sport), state schools near us have very little provision. We can do lots outside of school but again leaves younger one out. This option would give both kids good opportunities.

The school I work at takes the position that if you can pay for your second child to go there then no bursary will be offered for the first child i.e. they expect you to use your money to pay fees for the first child rather than accept a bursary. Hence we often see only one child attending from a family at any time.

However, all schools are different so you would need to ask the school in question.

I have one kid at a fee paying school and although the school is great the financial commitment is eye watering. Don't do it if you think it's going to push you into a precarious position.

Thanks all, the school have said they discount other school fees from disposable income so I think it would work. I'm prepared for us to tighten our belts but not for just one to have the opportunities

It's my understanding that if we were paying school fees for the younger child then this would be taken into account and so we would be eligible for more of the bursary for the older child. So if we started them at the same time then we would be only paying for one.

This depends on your school, there is no universal way of distributing bursaries. You are better to speak to the bursar directly and get the details about the school you are considering.

But if you can afford one set of school fees, and starting both your children at the same time will mean you can educate two for the price of one, then that seems like the logical thing to do!

Also question for bursary parents- are you allowed any savings? I hate the thought of not having fund for emergencies.

This really depends on the school as well.

CPGyellowwallpaper, if you don’t understand the purpose of bursaries (which is exactly to assist families who cannot afford school fees!) - why comment?

It really does depend on the policies of each individual school, OP. But generally an older sibling would start at the school first - I’m sure it’s not absolutely necessary for both children to start at the same time.

Essentially, if they want your older child (in the first instance) they will make it possible for them to attend. And then adjust the bursary (or bursaries) as the situation changes.

It’s not really a question of only one having opportunities. You’d be doing a disservice to the older child if you don’t (in the absence of state provision) give them an opportunity to progress musically. Why not sort that out first, then focus on how you can develop your younger child’s skills or talents, whether at the same school, or not?

Thank you you've put it all really well. I do feel like I've got this talented child and we should give her the chance. If it was just one, no brainer. But say the fees end up being 2k per month, that's all our spare money gone on one child. Also the younger one is very bright and would enjoy the school but I don't think scholarship material, so I would want to be sure we could get them in too affordably.

It's an all through school so they can start any time.

I'm prepared to be skint but I want to be fair to both. It isn't fair to spend all our money on one but equally not fair to stop one from having opportunities because of the other!

Thanks again

Do you and your DP both work full time? And are you maximising your assets (whatever that means)?

You only mention one independent school. A child who is offered a schol at one may well be offered others if you apply. Perhaps at places with more generous bursary pots. (Unless this really is the only possible school.)

Have you also looked into junior conservatoire options?

Hiya yes we do both work full time. I could earn more if they were doing longer hours at school, but realistically it's 50k a year for two and we're never going to have that spare, just an ordinary family so we would always need help.

This school is the most generous in the area as it is v old and prestigious, the other ones wouldn't give us any bursary as we earn too much. I wouldn't be interested in boarding or a really long commute.

Yes we are considering JD too as not too far from one, although eldest is also really keen on her sport and drama too so a school that can support everything would be easier for us ( it's predominantly a boarding school so lots of extra curricular).

It's nice problems to have obviously! State school plus lots of extras will be fine for them too.

Hmm …

Trust me, if it’s predominantly boarding (and anything like decent) any child you send will pretty soon beg to board! It’s just so much more fun, and the school will be geared to those extra hours after day pupils have gone home. Frankly, with a musical, sporty child capable of being awarded scholarships - I would think seriously about applying for a bursary for a boarder.

(I have two generations’ experience of full boarding - and right now it’s a stupendous experience for the right child. You don’t need to live far away, and they’d be home a lot.)

Oh she'd love to board I'm sure!

If we were super rich we could just pick whatever and if we were super skint we could only go with what they got into on merit. But in the middle it's difficult to know how to spend our money wisely. We are happy in our house and not bothered by cars or clothes, we like a holiday but not 5* all inclusive so I don't mind focussing on education. 2x boarders would be 70k plus though lol!

It’s true, there is that one advantage to being super-skint - 100% bursaries through prep and senior boarding …

Yes I was obviously being flippant though, I realise how fortunate we are!