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Education

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Original poster

school fees help

75 replies

stressystressed · 18/10/2009 18:49

is there a way to get help with school fees if you fall into the 'too well off for a bursary but can't afford full fees' gap???

OP posts:

CarGirl · 19/10/2009 20:10

you could consider CH

www.christs-hospital.org.uk/

our local school went into special measure, 7 years later it is finally improving though but yes it's taken 7 years 5 heads in 5 years and an awful lot of money before it's become a school people want to send their children to.

Original poster

stressystressed · 19/10/2009 20:16

MuminScotland - This school has 5 bursaries of up to 95% for new pupils. I would hope that my dc would contribute to the school (but i am biased of course). Can you blame me for having a go??? Why shouldn't I apply for one???
My OP states that I doubt we would get one from the school, and was asking for info on educational trusts, or other options. I would like to try all options available to try and afford this education.

OP posts:

amicissima · 19/10/2009 20:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

stressystressed · 19/10/2009 20:22

Thanks cargirl.
7 yrs to improve??????
That's worrying.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 19/10/2009 20:30

Fortunately the eldest of ours that will go there is in year 3 so another few years yet to continue improving.

Actually the first 4 heads only did a year each, I don't think they were committed to seeing it through and that was the issue?

alypaly · 19/10/2009 23:49

Some schools are charitable institutions and as such, put many thousands of pounds away to enable full and partial bursaries to be offered. A large percentage of DS2@s class are on partial bursaries.
The bursaries are made up from the PA organising school uniform sales,fayres,other events and donations from students who have left and want to make a repayment as a 'thankyou'.Other donations are from just very kind wealthy parents.

Neither of my children were at this school in their infancy. They came from a local feeder school, where we just about managed to pay the fees.That when my ex and i were together.

DS1 was granted a partial bursary..about 80% and DS1 has been fortunate in getting a full one. Alot of it is based on how well they perform in their entrance exams and their history from primary school.Also their behaviour throughout their school life has to be exemplary otherwise the bursary can be taken away from them.

The offering of a bursary is slightly biased towards those who perform better in the exams as it helps to give the school a good name when the stats come out.

Stressystressed....go for it..why shouldnt you try.........its well worth it. I cant fault the school and its generosity

thedolly · 20/10/2009 11:43

OurLady your response to me sounds a bit 'visceral'. The point I was making was a personal one.

We are indeed in the process of moving to the state sector and it is a huge relief to have the financial burden lifted. But it is so easy (for me) to fritter money away and whilst I might look better/eat better/holiday better I don't get the same feeling that I got when I made a financial investment in my children's future by sending them to private school.

I am sorry to have riled you, I did not mean to be snide or otherwise.

OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 20/10/2009 15:56

's okay.

But somehow I feel what you've given with one hand you've taken away with the other - or is that me being 'visceral' again?

I suppose for us it (private education) felt like a roller coaster we couldn't get off - until Ds1 decided he didn't want to be there any more.

thedolly · 20/10/2009 16:17

It hasn't felt like a roller coaster to us and the children have always been happy. Maybe that's why our views are different. My 'view' on this is evolving all the time. I'm not even sure if I had the money that I would use the Private Sector again nor even if I want to go down the Grammar School route.

Jajas · 20/10/2009 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thedolly · 20/10/2009 16:52

I suppose I have gotten over my irrational fear of the state system .

Jajas · 20/10/2009 16:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thedolly · 20/10/2009 17:12

Yes I think we are lucky wrt the state schools near us.

Even 'bad' schools have good teachers and a proportion of children who are willing to learn - no?

MarshaBrady · 20/10/2009 17:17

Thedolly that is good news, am glad it is working out (remember your other thread).
I shall keep it in mind when considering what we do at 7+

thedolly · 20/10/2009 17:22

Marsha - It is working out in my head at least. The DC have had 2 taster days and are happy to be making the move after Christmas.

What are your options for 7+? Are your DC at private school atm or state?

MarshaBrady · 20/10/2009 17:26

At a pre-prep in SE London. I am really enjoying being able to pick ds up at 3.30 and have another due in Dec.

In the next 3 years I should really go back to work if we are to continue with private (or dh should find a new job when market starts moving again).

But I do love being around - not sure if that feeling will change over time.

So moving to be near a good state is something we would consider.

thedolly · 20/10/2009 17:34

It is difficult making long term plans isn't it? What is/was your job? Does it come with child friendly hours?

I can't imagine not being around and it is so nice to not have the pressure of finding the 'perfect' job.

MarshaBrady · 20/10/2009 17:42

I sort of have two careers.

One with horrendous hours (not back until 7pm), not really flexible, client facing 'strategy' stuff. Loads of meetings, projects and being available. I don't miss this one much at all. I suppose I could get back into it, and try and bend it to my needs (more consultancy than project running, but my heart isn't in it).

The other is lovely, work from home doing some work that goes into exhibitions which are worth more than my car(!). So if that continues to goes well I could fund private with that quite easily. But I get very very nervous about a career that has no fixed prospects and the longer I am out of the other one the bigger the gap on the ol' CV.

So second lovely, but riskier.

So many factors, like living near dh's work in centre of London, so he can cycle rather than commute. All that sort of stuff. Thankfully 3 years is a bit of time to ponder things.

Be great to hear how the state school is for your family after a while.

lemonmuffin · 20/10/2009 17:55

Can i just ask, what is a bursary? Is it like a scholarship when you don't have to pay any fees or is it reduced fees? sorry for ignorance, new to this school thing

thedolly · 20/10/2009 19:28

I will keep you posted Marsha .

I like the sound of your risky work. Are you being deliberately vague about the exact nature of it? You've got me curious now . Working from home is a great option especially if you're not stuck to office hours.

Best of luck with baby number 2 - have you got any names picked?

thedolly · 20/10/2009 19:31

A bursary is (means tested) financial aid towards the cost of fees.

MarshaBrady · 20/10/2009 19:46

No names yet. Should start thinking about it really .

The riskier work is just big paintings, albeit ones that have had enough good luck to go on in museums round the world (which ups their value a bit).

I would dearly love to keep this one going, but need to put alot of energy into it and keep upping the ante and momentum. I will do when the next is here, but sometimes I just want to float around.

I do like it, but am also rather drawn to having three children and get a bit distracted!

OurLadyOfPerpetualSupper · 20/10/2009 20:15

Marsha, you're living my dream life! And so off-hand about it - 'just big paintings...that have been on in museums around the world' !!!! I'm deeply impressed and would love to know how you got where you are. (sorry hijack).

Ledolly, I'm curious as to why you're moving to the state system, considering your children have always been happy and you haven't considered it a 'roller coaster.'
< nosey >

Ours were happy too, but after DS1 requested a move into grammar school and he was clearly doing well, we entered DD for the 11+, and moved DS2 to the local village school.

The younger ones weren't keen to move, but now, a term later, are really happy and doing well.

thedolly · 20/10/2009 20:33

OurLady - We have enough money for another 3 years and then I would have to go back to work to continue to afford the fees and even then we would be hoping for scholarships etc. As we were going to 'hit the buffers' at some stage we decided to make the move sooner rather than later.

We are currently thinking about DS2 who will be ready for nursery this time next year. Do we give him the same start as the other two or do we go 'state' from the beginning?

Marsha - what sort of paintings do you do? Have you got a website? I'd love to see some stuff .

I love having 3 children .

MarshaBrady · 20/10/2009 20:46

Sorry to hijack too

I got lucky (and pg with ds at same time which was interesting!). An o/s gallerist liked my work and did all the organising. It has shown me I have little control over the career, no trying or contacting can help me (might help others). All I can do is keep doing good work and hope for the best.

It used to dominate whole life, but I didn't forsee how strong desire to have another dc would be! Fingers crossed it will be ok, have had break due to pg and fumes and need to start work again.

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