Directory of Funding available at Independent Schools

[LIZS]

I seem to recall in the past someone cited a directory and/or website which would give details of what financial support might be on offer by school and the qualifying criteria. Can anyone remember what is is ? Not all independent schools are transparent on their websites !

I'm sure Chris Woodhead answered a question about this in the Sunday Times today - will see if I can dig out the reference.

Hmmmm - this is the reference he made, but I'm not sure it's what you are looking for. Sorry.

I think I know what you are looking for, it doesn't exist, I've been looking for it for years. Your best bet is to approach the school and see what they have in place. Some have nothing, some do 100% bursaries depending on the parents income (or lack of), some school's consider less then 25K as in need of support, some less so it really is different for every school. Scholarships also vary, some offer 10%, some slightly more, these are for the duration of the child's education at that school wheras bursaries have to be applied for each year. In many schools the bursaries are offered to children who have been preped at their previous school for the entrance exam so they have done very well, it should IMO, be based on need aswell as academic perfofmance.

They are not transparant on their web sites, you have to ask about it. I strongly recommend that you wait until you have an offer before you ask for the form though, I had a very stern, rude bursar almost throw a form at me ("can't you afford any of the fees?", I was told by the previous headmaster who had only just left that the fees were negotiable and to ask for the bursary form when ds had his taster day, it didn't go down too well and he was not offered a place although I think this was down to something else). Do ask what they have availiable though and what the criteria is. Good luck!

Thanks, it is more speculative looking at secondaries for dc who already are in an independent school. Might open up a wider range than considering at present.

thanks to piprabbit's suggestion, I found this link to Chris Woodhead answering a question about financial support back in 2002
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article825773.ece
It looks like the Independent Schools Council have a guide for this
www.isc.co.uk/

this gives more info on the Educational Grants Directory
www.dsc.org.uk/Publications/Fundraisingsources/@2647