Accessing private school with limited financial resources

[mumofcocoandlexi]

I'm looking into my daughter going into private education for her gcse years as she is very bright and is being stunted in her current school. Unfortunately we couldn't afford it without a full bursary. Has anyone been able to get one?

People do get them but 100% bursaries are rare. Some schools are talking of reducing their bursary offer if Labour get into government and bring in the VAT policy so it would be very unwise to put your child in on a 100% bursary.
They are means tested so you have to provide all financial details and prove that you have exhausted every option eg mortgage etc.

No experience, but since so many private schools are actually charities, I assume this should be possible?

If you can't aford it then have you considered other options. Is there another state school locally she could.move to that would suit her better, could you provide her with private tuition?

Private doesn't always mean better. Where we are the most you can get from the local private schools is a 50% bursary. Most of the teachers I know say private improves the grades of those students who are middle of the groups rather the the bright students who will often do well anywhere.

I'd be concerned that with a full bursary my child would be the poorest there. If that doesn't bother you, go ahead and apply. Your child might make friends with classmates who invite them skiing.

Hi OP so sorry that she is not being challenged as she would like.

Is there a specific private school you have identified that would for sure help her? As a pp says, private is not always better. If there is a school you know would help, then by all means approach them.

What year is she in? If she is in year 9 then I would chase it up asap. Some private schools start the GCSe curriculum in earnest in year 9.

Or is there another state school locally that may have a place? People move house and even the best state school may not be full in later years - you may get lucky.

Agree, support with tutors if needed. Remember online tutoring has made it much more accessible - a tutor could live anywhere and still support your DD.

If she is already in secondary you are dependant on an occasional place coming up and passing an assessment and interview. Majority of bursary funding is allocated at 11+ (and 13+ if that is an entry point) or sixth form.

Not all schools offer bursaries that large.

You need to ask the bursar what are the largest bursaries they offer. A couple of the schools here do offer 100%+ (the + being a uniform allowance, possibly a free place on the school coach, and consideration for financial support for optional trips (compulsory ones included in the bursary)).

Others rarely go above 30/50/60%

You also need to check whether bursaries can be offered to those joining ad hoc outside the main admission points - or are you thinking of 13+ entry?

The forms are very intrusive BTW, and may need to be re-done annually. Schools have different ways of assessing income, so you'll probably need to ask about that as well.

My Son has a 90% bursary at his current school and also got the same in previous school. He is the poorest in the school, he is fully aware of that. Doesn't seem to bother him, he has made good friends and I've also made some great 'Mun friends'

I know of a school that offers 110% bursaries. Covers fees, uniform and school trips but not things like the skiing trip as not all pupils are able to afford that. I think you have to live fairly locally though.

Can you say more about her "being stunted in her current school"?

What prompts you to think that this is the case?

Is she drawn to specific subjects?

Speaking from experience, not very nice being the poorest kid in the class, and even though you may shrug it off at the time, can impact the rest of your life (imposter syndrome). Sometimes better being a big fish in a little pond...

Really you have to bite the bullet and contact schools you're interested in and enquire about the levels of bursaries that they offer - no one here will be able to give any meaningful help as all schools vary in how much they can offer.

But as already said, it'll be harder to get a place outside of the usual entry points AND get a bursary at that point.

My son got a 90% bursary at both high school and for a boarding school and was on a 50% bursary at his prep.

For high school he passed the entrance exams and I made an appointment with the head on the first day of term and told him we could not afford the fees. He came back with 90%. I know this was a very bold move that could have ended in disaster but it worked for us.

You really don't know what the school will/ can offer until you ask. Don't be shy, the worst they can say is no.

Do people who go to state schools not going skiing?

My daughter got a bursary (75% due to our income, but she had friends who got 100%). In the case of her school, the bursaries were awarded on academic merit, but they're only available for year 7 and 12 entry as far as I'm aware. So you might be better off waiting until sixth form.

The school is reported as inadequate by ofsted but that is mostly to do with managing behaviour. We have only looked at one private school so far which has smaller class sizes and with children who want to learn.
my daughter is struggling in her current school with the social aspect and finds it so chaotic. They don't support her emotional needs either as we suspect she is autistic. She is very sponge like with her learning and seems to come easy to her. She already receives additional extra-curricular learning for English and maths which caters for her ability. She will be going into year 10.
we have two other schools to look at one private and one state. We are keeping open minds about it but just want her to have an equal opportunity to thrive and unlimited potential.

A while back someone did an AMA on this, after she got each of her kids onto full bursaries. It was very informative. I’ll see if I can find it.

Bursaries will be one of the first things to go if the VAT increase comes into force.

“My children have all attended private school on a full bursary AMA”

So many of them are set up via trusts that can only be used for bursaries, that this seems unlikely.

However it is likely that they will go to retaining current pupils rather than bringing more in.

If you do think that she might be autistic, have you spoken to your GP about a referral for her to the nearest team for assessment?

A positive diagnosis could help with decisions about the right school for her.

Chris Packham did a short series on autism a little while ago; one of the episodes featured a school for girls, which you may find interesting

https://limpsfieldgrange.co.uk/

I don’t know about 100% bursaries but just from my experience of attending a private girls school I honestly had no idea who had a bursary until one girl told me she did when we were 17. No one ever discussed it in my time at the school. No one ever directly discussed their parents’ finances either. So I appreciate that a child on a bursary might feel uncomfortable but it’s not inevitable that it will be an issue for anyone else.

Also, I know it’s often said, but I completely disagree with the idea that because a bright student will probably get good grades anywhere, the quality of education they get doesn’t matter. Imo that philosophy is a lot of what is wrong with parts of the state sector. Until I was 14 I was basically ignored at school because I did well and behaved well. I was very unhappy and eventually moved to the independent school - it pushed me way beyond the GCSE / A Level syllabus. Not all private schools do that but the very selective ones often do.

I hope your daughter does find a place somewhere. No harm in asking anyway.

We have already been through the process and they said she doesn't have it or tick enough boxes you might say but I feel we weren't given a fair assessment so I'm asking for another opinion.
the particular school we are looking as would support her whether she has a diagnosis or not so that's reassuring as she gets virtually no support currently with her social and emotional needs.

I work in an independent school. Our head teacher has told us this week that they are looking to have to increase fees by 25% if the Labour VAT thing comes in. Many schools work survive that, let alone be able to afford 100% bursaries.

I think it will potentially be hard to get her in somewhere for Y10. Most occasional places are more likely to be in Y8 and Y9. In Y10 they will be starting GCSEs and if your daughter hasn't done the subjects offered there may be a potential mismatch.

Re bursaries, you are more likely to get one at a well-known school that has the funds to be able to give proper support. I know that at my daughter's school, the majority of awards are for 100% (which includes things like one paid club, textbook allowance, allowance towards school trips etc). You will also have to be completely honest about your financial situation and prepared to disclose this in detail every year. I would suggest contacting any school that is a possibility and asking directly what you would be eligible for (they will want to see financial details at this point too). Any good school will be more than happy to help.

If you think she will do well in her GCSEs and can stick out another couple of years, there will be a natural entry point for sixth form and there will be plenty of new joiners then in most schools.