What do bursaries consider?

[ebo1]

We're looking at a couple of private schools in southeast London for 11+. Is a bit of a long shot both academically and financially but trying to get my head round the chance of a bursary if he did get a place. I've looked at the schools websites re bursaries but am still unclear on the criteria. One says household income below £75k gross, which we would be below - assume the degree below impacts on how much you might get. What I don't know is...

1. Do they take outgoings into account?
2. Do they take savings into account?
3. Do they take house equity or other assets into account?

We have relatively large 'savings' due to a generous relative, and the same generous relative might well contribute if we do get in so could potentially afford without bursary but obviously would be nice not to be dependent on relative,and would also struggle to afford to send second child purely out of current savings.

Final question, do you think it makes any difference whether you apply while asking for a bursary or not? Our son is currently in state education if that makes any difference. Any guidance gratefully received :)

@lolo99 I'm sorry you find the comment offensive. I stand by it though. I don't think parents do begrudge their fees being used to support children from low income families, generally. But if you have (for example) a family who are living in a flat and really reining in their lifestyle so that they can afford full fees, they may nor be terribly happy about paying a percentage of their fees to subsidise a child whose parents are sitting on a million in equity.

Well as a parent fortunate enough to be in a position to pay such fees, you just have to trust the process and believe that the due process has been done in order to award those fees. Those who fraudulently got away with it that you have alluded to, is probably the minority. Going through this process myself and it is very thorough. I would also be very disappointed if my DC was begrudged his place. One school explicitly stated that the bursary fees are paid by donors / charity and not parent’s fees.

I'm not really talking about fraudulent applications or the system not being followed properly (you're right, the checks are pretty throrough). And I'm sorry if you inferred in any way that your DC should be begrudged his place - I'm a huge fan of the bursary system and I absolutely don't feel like that. The only point I wa making was in response to the OP's original question, which was about whether a large pot of savings or equity would be taken into account when assessing a family for a bursary, and whether this was fair. I was just commenting that yes it normally would, and that IMO it's quite fair that it should be considered, as well as income.

Hello I have a bursary interview on Thursday as well, does this mean my child probably got a good result and they are considering her ?

Totally depends on their process, I'm afraid. Some schools will do a full bursary assessment on every family who applies for a bursary, regardless of the likelihood of an offer. Others will only do bursary interviews for families of kids on the likely offer list. So it may be a good sign, but it may not mean anything - depends whether they're a school who interview all bursary applicants. It might say in their bursary policy?

Depends on the school, some do discounts for incomes up to 100/110k etc.

@Anxiousx it depends on the school - my sibling had the full check before the results. Child did well but bursary wouldnt cover the fees/enough of the fees so they had to let the place go.

Thank you

it’s JAGS , so not sure if it’s the same

they had the entrance exam on 8th January and then had the interview appointment email last week so may also be a coincidence

Hi did you get the bursary?

Payments into pensions is frowned upon unfortunately. Disposable income apparently.

This isn't always true. It is school dependent.

Yes agreed. I suppose we are all only able to comment on our own schools. Apart from if there's a bursar on this thread which would be handy!

Even bursars can only comment on the schools they have worked for! I'd always recommend contacting the schools that prospective applicants are interested in for a proper in depth chat about what might be possible. Any good school will be happy to accommodate this.

Many years ago my DD won a 50 percent scholarship but we were unsure if we could afford for her to go and headteacher told us to apply for bursary top up. We had to supply school with both our salary P60's, bank statements showing g all our ongoing salary and outgoings, details of any siblings, and any savings. My DD was given 25 percent bursary for 5 years to end of Key Stage 4 then she got further scholarship of 50 percent and a further 15 percent in the Sixth Form. She had to be at every School Open Day showing groups of parents and potential students around and at Parents Evening helping hand out drinks and refreshments to parents, though she didn't mind doing that at all. One parent asked what she wanted to do and she said she was interested in accountancy and he offered her work experience in Year 10 and later a holiday job in the accountants reception.