Sports Scholarship

[Ineedsleeprightnow]

My son is an excellent sportsman, plays Rugby at Academy level and we’ve recently been invited to a sports scholarship trial at a private school for 6th Form (he’s currently in Y11). I didn’t approach the school, they approached us after seeing him play at a Rugby tournament hosted at their school.

My issue is that I’m a single parent, working full time, my income that is just about keeping us afloat. I go without myself to ensure my sons have opportunities to attend their various sports. Finding any additional funds for school fees is not going to happen. Would l be foolish to take him along to the trials without first informing the school about this?

l know absolutely nothing about how the system works so l wouldn’t want to waste anyone’s time.

First of all find out if the scholarship covers all fees or just a %. Definitely speak to the Bursar before attending the trials and explain the situation.
Our school does a sports scholarship which is only 10% off the annual fees so you would need to make up the remaining fees however they do churn out many top level rugby players and I believe they have funding links with one of the big local teams.

Your mention of a sports scholarship prompted me to think of Millfield; for some reason, that is the school which sprang to mind.

The scholarship page for Millfield says the following:

"Scholarships carry a maximum fee reduction of up to 10%. Parents can apply to have a Scholarship augmented by a bursary, subject to a means test.

Bursaries may be available for entry to Millfield in cases where a student does not meet the requirements for a scholarship and where there is genuine financial need.

Bursaries take the form of a fee reduction (of up to 100% in exceptional circumstances) to a level dependent on the parents’ financial resources.

Parents applying for a bursary will be asked to complete a confidential financial circumstances form, available from the Admissions Department."

Could it be that a similar arrangement would be made available to you?

https://www.millfieldschool.com/admissions/scholarship-bursaries

Bursaries are the way to go as they are means tested. If you don’t ask you don’t get. Scholarships are not worth much in most schools. They want him so that’s a good start.

If the school really, really want him, they will give him a bursary of 100% - if it's in their own best interests (ie he raises the standards of their sports dept and therefore their reputation as a school). I would think he'd have to be truly exceptional though, not just normal scholarship standard.

Scholarships are worth nominal amounts these days but some schools still require a child to have a scholarship in order to be eligible for a bursary (I don't think they're supposed to but it happens).

This also explains why most rugby players are privately educated.

I know a rugby player with England caps who was spotted at a random state school and transferred to a private boarding school (not Millfield) all expenses covered. I’d just be up front with the school- say you’d love to give your son this opportunity but you don’t think you’d be able to cover the fees, are they proposing you apply for a bursary? These people are human- just talk to them!

Talk to the Bursarr scholarships can be anything for 5% to 100%. No use going to the trial if you definitely can't make up the difference. And tours come expensive as well.

That's not true any more, in fact. Historically, you are correct but since rugby went professional and is therefore now a viable career choice, the percentage has been gradually reducing. Last year it was around one-third of the England rugby squad who had been privately educated.

That’s way higher than those in society though. What’s the percentage for Scotland? @thing47

For sure, but it isn't 'most'. And of course that will include people whose parents wouldn't have chosen, or been able to afford, private education. So not perhaps your 'typical' private school parents, if there is such a thing.

It's an interesting question, but I'm afraid I don't know the answer because DH doesn't work with the SRU.

Anyway, it wasn't a major point, just explaining that the situation has changed a little bit.

My son is an excellent sportsman, plays Rugby at Academy level and we’ve recently been invited to a sports scholarship trial at a private school for 6th Form
It might be an idea to find out about the interaction between the Academy and the school - who is going to demand to have first dibs on him?

Hello

I'm interested what the outcome was of your son's scholarship. My son is a National Champion rower and he was approached at the British Championships last week to go and view a strong rowing specialist boarding school. We are not in a position to pay for this.

Best wishes