Do private schools really want kids who depend on bursaries?

[Lavenderfowl]

We live near a prestigious independent school, and I think it might suit DD perfectly. Our local state options are woeful.

From the website it looks like we might stand a chance of a bursary, but we’d need a big one (single mum, currently part-time work only). But would we forever be marked out as the poor relations, and do these sorts of schools REALLY want us ordinary folk?

Massively in my experience. They often pull up the school’s academic results.

DS is on a substantial bursary at an indie. Our average income hasn't made any difference. Indies have to offer bursaries to keep their tax status. Go for it.

No one would know. They have assisted places at the DC school, but I wouldn’t know who has them.

Also, uniform isn’t that expensive. Everyone buys the second hand kit. I think the international children buy new, but otherwise everyone uses the second hand dept in the school shop.

If they are bright or can add to school life in sport, music etc then yes. But fully funded places are exceptional and funds finite so you need to be realistic about if a place were offered which you still cannot afford.

And some of them have large bequests which are specifically for the purpose of providing bursaries. So yes, they'll want able students applying for these places.

We were on benefits and DC all got bursaries. It was cheaper than my friends kids going to local state school.

Yes! Our school has a fund for bursaries and it can’t be used for anything else. Competition for bursaries is high, but always worth a shot.

Go for it.

Don’t be put off by posters who will tell you that lunch and uniform and trips will add up - bursaries usually cover lunch, EVERYONE uses the 2nd hand uniform shop & if your PTA don’t have a fund for educational trips for children in receipt of a bursary, join the PTA & suggest they set one up. That’s what I’ve done.

Yes. DD has 95% bursary. No one would know. Not even the staff.

Things a little tighter for bursaries since Covid as I think a lot of the funds went to existing pupils who fell on hard times. However still worth a try.

DDs school even pay for all her school trips - including a trip to Spain and a theatre trip.

And I should say - yes uniform is a little more than the state school uniform but barely and most schools have a thriving second hand market.

Some want them for their sporting prowess - so paying parents will be impressed by the results their sports teams get 😉

That’s scholarships usually.

scholarships are usually academic, sports, drama, music or art. anyone can be awarded one and the ‘reward’ is the prestige and sometimes 5-10% off fees. Sometimes a bit more.

bursaries are where you get the money off but your child doesn’t necessarily have to be a sporting/academic wonder. Just a good all rounder who will co tribute to the school community.

Only for the "we're a charity" tick box.

Not all families with kids at independent school are rich. A lot of us, for various reasons, have decided we want to spend our money in our kids' education. There are just as many second hand cars and cheap and cheerful birthday cakes at our school as there are Teslas and bespoke sugar confections.

Also I run the second hand online store. It's absolutely jumping with people right across the financial spectrum.

I can't say for all schools, but at ours you would be considered part of the gang for sending your child private, not judged for the cost of your summer holiday.

I think this depends. I suspect that if 1) your family is not well off, and 2) your child is offered a scholarship for academics or sport or whatever, they will have a much better chance of getting a bursary than a child who simply applies for a bursary, without being scholarship material. Schools want children who can bring good publicity, lead by example, etc, rather than just children who are all round okay but not great at anything. In fact some schools clearly state in writing that they only offer bursaries to children who qualify for a scholarship.

If your child is exceptionally bright!

Dd is on a bursary
Be aware the paperwork is very thorough and quite invasive. We have to provide 3 months of bank statements etc. Dc is very able and particularly good at a sport that the school likes.

Also remember your dc would have to go to a scholarship day or an induction day so they can meet them. This means they often end up loving the school before the amount of bursary is disclosed.

You're not suggesting that most people could afford private school if only they drove a second hand car and made their own birthday cakes now are you Belena?

Yes they do. Because they want to maintain their charitable status and therefore have to actually do something vaguely charitable!

Yes - I just did our paperwork for a grant and I spent over 30 hours on it. It was all paper based and wanted statements from random months over the year. Never seen one like that before.

our DC are going for a sports scholarship, academic scholarship, bursary and a grant. It’s very full on.

I thought independent schools charitable status for tax relies on them providing bursaries. Which is probably the main reason they do it.

No she’s not. She’s saying that you find a very broad spectrum of families. There are the multi millionaires (2 in DC class) & then families like ours - public sector workers doing extra shifts & with a side hustle (11 in DC class).

I'd say we are one of the most obviously "poor" - shite car, bursary, no boarding, local. And even so we are far better off than a lot of people! The fees are vast nowadays. Even with an 80% bursary its expensive.

DD is at an old school, which has a hefty bursary fund. It is selective, so loves mathematicians (some of whom have 100% bursaries). They were very sympathetic when lockdowns shut peoples businesses. Not all schools are as financially well endowed.

If it isn't obvious from the prospectus you can probably get a feel for things from looking at the accounts. Or just ask the bursar. You won't be the first person to do so.

Maybe at some
Dcs school is 12k a term for boarding, 8k for day. Many people have more than one child there. That's 36k a year per child after tax!