Is it worth applying for a bursary for private school

[Theyneverknow]

My son (7) is a lovely, but unique boy. (On the waiting list for autism assessment through the schools suggestion)

He is struggling with his current school. He finds the noisy and hustle and bustle stressful and shuts down.

He is unmotivated and needs reminding and prodding every 5 minutes to get on with his work.

Being in such a large class, he certainly gets “lost”. He isn’t disruptive, but as such, it feels like he is left to his own devices as the school have low expectations of him and have 32 others in his class.

He sticks out like a sore thumb at school assemblies, sports day and events.

I know he is capable of more, but needs a push. Needs higher expectations. He would thrive in a less busy, quieter environment and so I would really like to move him to a private school.

I’ve been to visit and the school is very nurturing, I know he would really benefit from this environment.

I think we will apply for a scholarship certainly- as my boy is very skilled at maths- he may have a shot.

I’m a single parent, my earnings were £65k last year and £100k the year before.

Is it worth applying for a bursary? Or are my earnings too high?

What kind of bursary do private schools tend to offer? 25% off fees may be viable for me. However full fees is quite a risk (risky to commit to full fees for the rest of his school years) as I’m not financially secure following the divorce.

Please be kind with your replies. I’m feeling quite fragile with worry for him.

I earn a bit less than you. Ds was awarded a maths scholarship, we get half off fees but still quite a stretch for me.

Talk to the school. Things have changed for some schools since VAT, but it's worth trying.

Schools vary a lot in bursaries. Often they are not that high though so don’t get your hopes up but no harm in trying

There's no simple answer I'm afraid, @Theyneverknow . Schools want to secure pupils they think will enhance the student body, whether through academics, sport, music, arts etc. Then where they want someone enough, they may step in to make it affordable, if help is needed. A big, rich school with a large endowment can buy in lots of talent, while a more modest indy may be more limited and rely on other parents to pay a bursary premium to support less well-off families. So the amount they offer isn't necessarily reflective of absolute need but of what it would take to make it possible from a limited pot. My twin DS were accepted at a very top boys' public school but against strong competition the school decided not to give us the bursary we would have needed to afford places for both. A less selective school then gave us 30% off for both boys. Our household income was c£190k before tax.
Some schools may have charitable objectives to support single parent families or children with SEN- it's worth researching this.

Thank you all. Very helpful. The school have invited DS for an assessment day (they said it would be very informal). So I may take them up on this. It doesn’t harm to try and see where we get to.