Bursary

[Mayana1]

I would like to find out more about bursaries.
We are on the low income, but would really like to send my child to independent school as state schools in my area are all on low ratings. The problem is, he is only starting, means he will be going to reception class or Year 1 and most bursaries starts from 11+ or similar. The school I considered starts at that age too, so can not apply with them. Does anyone know if there are some charities, I know there are plenty who helps with education fees, but didn't find any so far, that would start from that age? Much appreciated any advise.

I understand, but they are not in my catchment. And second thing I prefer small school instead of big one. Plus majority of outstanding are secondary anyway. Been through that list at least 20 times already.

I do know of some schools offering bursaries from Y4, but they tend to be schools with attached/through secondaries. Unfortunately, since the imposition of VAT, business rate hikes and NIC etc, many independent schools have significantly cut back on their bursary offerings and are focussing on existing pupils. Some schools have scrapped bursaries altogether.

I think you’ve answered your own question. There are no bursaries or scholarships for
prep schools and an increasingly small handful for senior schools. You would need a child with an exception academic or extra curricular talent to get any kind of financial assistance.

tbf themajority of schools on that list that are outstanding are primaries or infant/junior, if you exclude special schools and private schools – 17 vs 7 by my calculation.

If you are not in the right area to get in tho, I agree it’s moot. Which schools are you in catchment for? I don’t think Ofsted rating is that key, especially at primary level tbh. It’s much more about things like the feel of the school, is it local, what are the staff like.

Sorry @Mayana1 but much as you might like small classes in a small school for your DC, if you don’t have the money for private (as most of us don’t) then I suggest exploring some of your likely state options as a better use of your time.

@Mayana1 , many top grammar schools are rated Good by Ofsted including Tiffin School in Kingston. Big state schools often have better funding.

Small prep schools with a small roll are at the biggest risk of closure, for example Ashton House school in Isleworth is closing in July.

I did understand, but at this moment moving is not an option.

I reseached states schools before I started looking for private ones.

@Mayana1are you saying the only schools you are in the catchment for are the 3 that “require improvement”?

With kindness, I feel that you want ‘a champagne lifestyle on a lemonade income’ for your child’s education.

We all have things we would love to do / have if we had enough money. Some people might want a big house rather than the house they can afford; others a high spec car rather than the small runaround they can afford; yet others a long holiday abroad rather than the self-catering week in Wales they can afford. You would like - rather than needing - a pre-prep / private primary experience for your child’s education rather than the state primary that you can afford. In none of the above cases is it likely that you will find ‘someone else’ to pay for what you cannot afford.

In Reception / KS1, the private / state gap is quite small, and many state schools have a higher Ofsted grade for EYFS than they do for the school overall. Spend your time and effort identifying the best of your realistic options (through visits, not grades) and also research how to fill any gaps you feel your child could develop eg sports clubs; drama activities and visits; subscriptions to magazines or resources like Reading Eggs.

Thank you, I have A, B and C plan. But I am not closing options, nobody should, regardless the current situation.

I think you need to readjust your expectations. Plenty of parents will feel the same as you, but why should others pay for your child to attend a private school just because you don't like what is available? I ask this honestly as a child who went to a local school for primary but was privately educated for secondary...and my parents both worked hard to achieve that. Financially private primary wasn't an option and wasn't for many of my school friends who didn't join until later as well.
For now...you need to visit your available schools and select the best option for your child. (This is what many other parents, including myself, have to do).
The reason many bursaries are from 11+ are because schools only want to offer bursary's to students who meet certain criteria and it likely can take to that point for children to develop. Many bursaries will be academic and based on the 11+ but others may be linked to extra curriculars like sport/music. I would warn you, in many schools, the first part of their budget to be cut due to the VAT introduction was bursaries.
Take your time now, pick the best option you have, offer your child a well rounded education outside of the home and set up tutoring for the 11+.

What research have you done? Because you've solely mentioned Ofsted rankings, which are really not the be all and end all. It's quite possible for an Ofsted Outstanding school to not suit your child at all (or to be a rating from years ago).

Look there are bursaries for certain circumstances. So if people are donating for that, you are saying that somebody is 'paying for it?' Charity is for a good cause and I am happy for everyone who gets is, any kind of if they in need. I am not thinking that I paid something for someone, cause I donated money.

There is a way you can access a decent education completely for free.

It's called state education.

Then at the time he is around 11 if he is clever enough or otherwise talented in say drama, music, sport or art he may be able to access scholarships and bursaries for an independent school.

Private school is not a “need”!
Are all the 3 “require improvement” schools in your catchment?

If your income is genuinely very low (as opposed to ‘too low for private schooling from 4’) then you may fall within the criteria for Pupil Premium funding in a state school. This money must be spent on opportunities that benefit Pupil Premium children and give them ways to further their interests (e.g. music; small group tutoring; free extracurricular clubs; first access to particular events etc) and thus may be another way to ‘fill gaps’ for your child that may arise due to very low household income.

I think you have taken the tone of my post far too far.
But yes, unless there are some mitigating circumstances you haven't mentioned here I was advising that many schools will not offer this type of charity at the age you are talking. I advised that the best chance you have of achieving a bursary will be when you child is older and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It is a school and their donors choice to do this.
If you are insistent it must be earlier then you will struggle to find that type of charity...all told in kindness by many users, including myself.

I give plenty to charity....ironically my old school where it will likely be partially be put towards the hardship or bursary fund.

You'd be much better augmenting your DC's education with extracurricular classes, lots of reading and fun, creative, enriching activities at home and out and about going to museums and such, maybe some tutoring later on if needed.

State schools can be great places for DCs to mix with a cross-section of society instead of the bubble of private school. Bigger classes/schools can give more choices of friendships groups. Top uni's are better at widening participation than ever and actively seek out state school kids. There's lots of positives if you can get past your assumptions and sense that your DC deserves special treatment. I know it's the worst bit when they're very little and you're trying to cosset them, but let them go to the local primary and you might very well see them thrive and stop worrying about bursaries and elite education. Bottom line is that loads of much wealthier folk can't even afford private now so you're not gonna get it just because you prefer it. You can't change what you can afford, and won't move, so you're better off changing your world view and educational preferences.

Possibly worth saying that I am the other end of this process now, where my DC and their peers are at university or beyond.

Looking across the wide group of young people, the most obvious predictor of success is involved, interested parents. It is genuinely absolutely impossible to tell which of them were at private school at 4, and increasingly impossible to tell who was at private school at all (barring some differences in accent, though those are more parent-linked than school-determined).

If someone is giving away money, why should OP be any less entitled to it than anyone else? They're merely asking if you happen to know some organization which is giving away money to children in that area. If the answer is no, then they'll move on to Plan B or C.

The majority of the (very helpful) links provided by Steelworks are for specific circumstances e.g. children of Navy or Army families, or those who could have expected to afford the fees but circumstances changed. Some also specify for 11+ or for exam years.

It would be a huge commitment for any charity to cover 100% of the fees for one child for all primary school years, and I think you are unlikely to find anything, OP.

One of my kids got a 98% bursary at the age 8 at a prep school. Unfortunately the school closed due to falling numbers and I think a lot of smaller schools will go the same way.
For now your best bet is to develop your child yourself. Gym, martial arts, theatre, music etc and read, read and read some more with them. Expose your child to experiences that spark any talents.
There are charities around the country that help with activities for low income children but I'm not aware of school fees help.

Oh..and when looking at schools, older schools tend to have bigger/ protected funds to draw on, but again these tend to be bigger schools and they also tend to be for senior years.

OP, my DC’s prep offers means-tested bursaries at Year 3 (age 7). Whether the discount is still as high as the figure they advertise, I don’t know. But you can always check with the schools that you are interested in to see what, if anything, they could offer. But, if you are fortunate to secure a bursary it will not cover the full fees so you will have to contribute. I don’t know any school that provides assistance for reception age children.
Also, if I were you I wouldn’t dismiss a school solely because of their Ofsted rating. There are better indicators.
Good luck.

Yes you are. Because you don't know the circumstances. This was not the answer on my question. Looks like you don't have an advise for me anyway. And why I have to go where you are telling me to?