Has anyone received a second bursary? For second child.

[oberstocto]

Private school question; I know this is a hot topic but this isn't about VAT or politics so please try to refrain from commenting re that.

My dc12 is at a private school, he receives a bursary. This is not going to be reduced by much next year.

Dc2 is starting at the nursery this September for 3 days, with the 15 hours funded. They will be starting reception next September.

My question is, has anyone been in a similar position where one child has received a bursary, and then they have gotten one for their second child who is starting school?

I am unsure how they work this out or if it's even possible. Our financial situation will be slightly better next year, but we will still need a bursary.

Curious if anyone has any information on this please before I contact the bursar?

Thank you!

Is it a school that offers bursaries to reception age children?

That in itself would be much rarer than a second bursary in one family.

(I’m not personally aware of bursaries being offered before year 5 or 6, alongside a scholarship, at prep schools - but obviously don’t know how other schools organise things.)

I have known a few cases where families have bursaries for siblings, but these tend to be Secondary aged children. I don't know of any schools that offer bursaries for reception pupils, but I assume you've checked your younger child would be eligable?

One thing I would say is I would worry that a family who need to rely on a bursary to pay school fees for the cheaper years* would struggle to keep up with the costs as the child moves through the school. Especially as your older child's fees will also increase.

*Not that any year is particularly cheap, but infants is always going to be less than juniors / senior school.

Edited - Spelling errors

Yes you're right, it might be that we send her to local primary school and then once she is at seniors look into it then. My eldest is going into Year 8 in September. So he would have left school by then.

We are hoping our financial position will improve, as it has been slowly. Partner owns his business but it was a slow starter, doing well still.

Luckily the only increase with my son will be the interest they apply yearly which has been manageable so far.

Good point. It doesn't state on their website.

Curious if they'd let us stay with eldest bursary, if we pay for youngest but I am guessing that would raise eyebrows. I would seek further employment either way when youngest is at school next year so financially we will be better.

I worry if she is at the local primary, when it came to seniors she'd not want to go to the private school as she'd want to be with her friends

Ah there we go, they only offer from Year 7! So I have my answer. Thank you.

We received bursaries for both of our dc. One started at Prep in year 4 on no bursary and at the same time the other started in their pre-prep on a super one. Over the years they changed the arrangement to both being on something. So, it does happen.

In year 9, the children decided to go to different senior schools and both received a considerable, but comparable bursary offering from their chosen school.

It helps enormously if the schools want the children. But, that given, speak to the bursar, they are used to dealing with families with more than one child and realise funds are finite and will need to stretch.

I have a friend who has several children (i.e. more than 2) with good bursaries for each child, but they all went to different private schools. (And yes, this was from Y7.) I'm not sure if that helps answer your question or not.

I would think that they may feel that if you can afford to pay for your youngest then you should be paying for the oldest instead.

Having said that - it's all money in their bank.

Is the oldests bursary not means tested every year? If you have more money he might not get it anymore.

It was a sliding scale for us.

@oberstocto - it’s none of my business I know - but you seem a bit vague about the school your child attends? How did you not know their bursary policy before you applied for one for your elder child?

(Or perhaps I was just unnaturally obsessive about it all while it was relevant to my family?)

Contrary to @MrsWimpy I would have assumed that the increased likelihood of your younger child also joining the school would have been a factor in the awarding of the bursary to your elder child. Clearly they wanted your son there - that’s why he has a bursary; any other children joining from your family are a bonus.