Apply for Bursary in Independent School (Year 3)

[HoneyB2025]

I am keen to get DD into independent school (Year 3) in my area, as I think she will benefit from the private school system, DD is quite sharp and studies better in a quieter ‘less noise’ environment (middle income and single parent). The school i am looking at website says you are able to apply for bursary and scholarship at the senior level but there is no mention of that at the junior level. However, I note that you are able to make an enquiry about bursary at any level (junior or senior). I have registered DD and has an assessment soon at the school. I need advise if:

(1) I should try my luck and apply for the bursary now with the hopes they will offer it on a means-tested basis or:
(2) wait for DD to get the offer and then apply for the bursary right after or;
(3) pay full year fees for year 3 and apply for the bursary the following year for (year 4) when the school has had DD for a year and become familiar with her educational capabilities.

I am confused at this point on what to do.

I am concened that if I apply for the bursary before the offer, the school can decide not to accept DD into the school. My neighbor advised me to wait until DD gets an offer before I apply for the bursary but I also see on the net that most schools would like you to be transparent from the get go.

Any advise please? or anyone been in a similar situation?

I think you need to have a chat with the school direct.

Discuss with the school up front. Most only offer bursaries at senior level.

I would imagine that paying for Year 3 indicates that a bursary is unnecessary.

Do you have a back up plan for if she doesn’t get a bursary or scholarship, especially since you’ve got potentially 10 years of school ahead of her?

Be up front with them about you needing a bursary. Each indy school is different, that's sort of the point, so each ond runs their admissions differently. The only one who can answer this is the bursar.
Be aware that with VAT some indy schools are reducing bursaries/scholarships. Some also require you to re-apply every year so what would the back up plan be if you were awarded one for prep but not senior?

In general schools are far less likely to offer bursaries to existing children unless there has been a significant change in circumstances. Why would they when the child is already in the system?

There is no point having her assessed unless they know you need a bursary and are willing to consider it.

Trouble is, they will almost certainly want your dd to do a taster day and a small interview type thing first before they offer a bursary. By that time your dd will love the school, then they'll offer a 15% bursary and you'll have to turn the place down.

We did this, admittedly 1990s/2000s..I wrote to prospective schools and asked, being honest about the amount we would need. We then visited schools that were potentially going to help. They then had interviews and assessments days at junior level and interview and exams at senior. We got between 95 and 100% fee reduction over 3 schools over a 10 year period. This was both day and boarding. We were on very low income. It was cheaper for us than my friends with DC at state grammar.

@Thommasina that’s thing, I thought for DD to do the assessment first and she spends a day with her potential peers to see if she will like it. Then I guess I will consider applying for the bursary after the assessment.

But then what happens if you don't get the bursary? She will have had a taster and you won't be able to afford it.
Much better to be up front with the school first to save everyone's time

@twistyizzy good point

You need to let them know up front. They won’t be impressed if they offer a place and then you ask about the bursary.
And definitely don’t pay for a year and then ask about a bursary. While it’s possible to get a bursary for existing children (a friend of mine did this), it’s not easy. I know several others who tried and failed (who had been at our school for years). Far better to try for a bursary straight away.

Do you need the bursary in order to send her? I would talk to the school first. Ideally, you don't want to be in a situation where your child has a place and is excited about going and then you don't get the bursary and can't afford to send her. However the school may not consider people for bursaries until they have issued them a place, because it might be a waste of their time to issue places to children whose parents then reject the offer because they can't afford to send the child.

Be upfront.

Also be realistic your DD might be bang average in a private school if you want an academically gifted scholarship/bursary. I know I sound harsh but DS’ prep school has incredibly high standards and almost all newcomers are taken aback by it (Yr3).

DD's school has had a fairly hefty bursary fund. It is a nursery-18 and I suspect the bulk of the funding goes into years 12/13, 30% years 7-10 and less than 10% to year 3-6.

The bursaries for younger ones are probably going to existing parents with life-limiting illnesses/temporary business hiccups rather than newbies but that might just be our school.

Don't let your child go to the taster day and fall in love with the place if you haven't had the fee discussion.

Also remember that schools will need to account for VAT on 100% fees, not just what parents pay, from 1 January (which will make a big dent in the bursary or parents' purses -I know our school can't/won't absorb it).

Ask the school. They may have a pretty firm policy of no bursaries until secondary. In which case, the taster day would be a waste of time.

As others have said, with VAT coming in, bursaries will get more restrictive- fewer, for a lower percentage, only for specific entry points etc.

It’s highly unlikely they actually offer bursaries for year 3.

And where bursaries are offered, the entire application, examination, award and entry process should be set out clearly on the school website.

It’s pointless to ask here how an unnamed school arranges its application process - they all differ. At some schools being awarded a scholarship is the only route to a bursary; at others they’re completely separate.

And at some schools you apply for entry and bursary at the same time, and they may be awarded based on exam placement. At others different procedures apply.

So, rather than inventing scenarios in your head, you need to read several more school websites for the sake of comparison, and then you need to speak to the bursar. Although I would be wary of any school whose procedures are not made clear at the outset.

Let’s say the school, by exception (as they mention bursaries for senior not junior) can offer 1-2 50% bursaries for junior per year.

If you let DD start on full fees, then any bursary “quota” for her year would be used up by other year 3 starters who would need their bursaries to continue. So definitely don’t do option 3

Agree . I think it is rare to offer to an existing pupil unless there is a significant change of circumstances and continuity is important such as death or life-changing injury of a parent.

Agree with others that you need to speak to the school first and be honest about the amount of bursary you would need. It would be wrong to let DD sit the assessment and go for a trial day if there really isn't a chance that she could go.

Unfortunately in Year 3 it's quite hard to identify pupils that are really, really talented and whether this will still be the case in 3 or 4 years time. Your DD may be very bright but only the school can decide whether they are so keen to have her and her talents to warrant such a significant investment.

Added to the mix is the VAT situation - school funds are being challenged and I suspect they will use their limited pots of bursary money to support existing pupils that they might risk losing.

I think in your situation I would focus on giving your DD as much support as possible to be in the best place possible to take the Y7 entrance exams and compete for a scholarship or a bursary.

In my experience, bursaries before senior school are usually only available when there is a drastic change of circumstances and the parents can no longer pay fees. Bursaries for new applicants tend to be for 11+ onwards

As many others have said, ask the school in advance so you know where you stand. They definitely wont accept you paying fees for one year then applying for bursary unless there has been a change which means you can no longer pay

Bursaries at primary stage are incredibly rare. As others have said, usually only on death or permanent incapacity of a parent. One school did offer a Bursary but only up until the next logical exit point ie the money covered 2 terms of year 5 and all year 6. The child then had to leave. Be very careful with this.

Sorry, I think you are wrong here. Schools won't be liable for VAT on full fees. If someone is on 60% bursary and is paying 40%. VAT will only be on the fee kids pay

I wouldn't be so sure. If you could escape the liability like that then the easy way out of the vat conundrum would be to charge £1k fees and then everyone has to make a payment/contribution to the school in some other way.

I haven't looked at it in detail though. We pre-paid.