Private school scholarships...

[Strix]

I was talking to someone the other day about about private school and he suggested that scholarships are avaiab=lable if you know where to look for them. And this has me wondering if I have missed a trick. Are there available scholarships for primary/prep and if so where would I look for them.

This is probably a pie in the sky. But, I was just wondering...

Each school will differ but ime most preps have dropped scholarships in favour of means tested bursaries. If it isn't clear from its website email the bursar of the school for details.

Check the websites of the schools in your area/you are interested in. Phone the schools and ask. You can't lose anything by doing this.

Read the small print. Many of them offer only up to 50% off fees and only then if you are on a very low income. This means that no one can really accept them unless they already come from a wealthy family eg wealthy grandparents but are currently struggling.

hmmm... doesn't sound very promising. Pitty I'm not stinking rich.

50% would be generous for a scholarship . Most locally (SE) are 30% or less and only at secondary. Income ceiling for bursaries is often less than 40k ish gross.

A few prep schools offer scholarships usually from Year 3 onwards, but they are a small amount off fees. All the schools I know award them by competetive exam.

There are sometimes more available in Senior School.

I think maybe I should be thinking about senior school. DD is in year 2 now and sadly private school really is well out of reach.

So, how would one research available scholarships for private school. Probably a 50% scholarship at that point would make it affordable. But, what would she need to do to qualify for one?

And, of course, thank you for your answers. I know nothing on this subject. Have looked into grammar schools a bit. But, I need to formulate a bak up plan as well. Am really not keen on state senior school so will have to sort something out.

Have a look at the iscis site to start with . Some schools have better funding available than others - Bluecoat schools for example. Most use academic criteria as the initial selection, they would have an entrance exam and interview and maybe later sit a specific paper for a scholarship if eligible. Usually a state school child would need some practice in these papers as otherwise they could get thrown by the style and format if not the level required. There are also often Art/Music/Sport/Allround scholarships for those who pass the entrance exam and excel in one or more areas. ie for music, 2 instruments one at minimum Grade 4 might be expected at 11 and an audition.

My friend's son has just got a 100% scholarship for Eton. They were not in the position to pay anything towards fees etc. Check with various schools as a starting point? Good luck!

I've only heard of scholarships at secondary schools. Round here, some don't do them at all (have means-tested bursaries instead); some its pretty much a token gesture (literally, a book token!). Another one does sports and music scholarships (don't know how much, the kids have to turn up and perform) and academic scholarships maxing at 50%. Those are awarded on the basis of the entrance exam result. My DD (who is pretty bright, passed grammar school 11+) was offered 35%. But TBH its a somewhat mediocre private school so that's only the backup if she doesn't get the grammar out-of-catchment place.

The thing about private schools is that you're the potential customer, so IME they are more than happy to give you as much information as you ask for. So, start looking, ring up and talk to them, arrange to see them in due course. At year 2 its probably too early to tell if your DD is likely to be in the running for a significant scholarship or not, but there's no harm starting to examine the possibilities.

Where abouts are you?

Wow, Cortina, he must have worked really hard.

We are in West London / Middlesex. But senior school is years away so nothing to stop us from living elsewhere.

Would love for DD to go to Tiffin. But, of course, need a back-up plan since as you say it's a bit early to say if she is private scholarship / Tiffin material.

What would one need to do over the years to prepare a state educated child for Senior private school? Are their subjects which are not taught at state? Levels not achieved? Any information / advice would be very much appreciated.

their there

Oh - I imagine that's just about the most expensive and most competitive area for privates and grammar.

The one thing we noticed was the French. Both my children moved to the private sector after year 5 and French was the only thing they had to work hard to catch up with. Literacy and numeracy were fine. But their state primary was pretty good.

I'd tutor her. THat's what I'll do for dd.

Tutor her in what though?

Interesting about French. Hadn't really thought of that. Id French the core language at private schools as well as state schools. I always think there is probably a more useful language, but there is no choice for us. I can't really think of much use for French apart from hiring nice food on hols.

Tutor her for entrance exams for TIffins.

Oh, yes, of course. She is on a list. But, that doesn't happen until year 5. She is in year 2 now and I just wondered if there are other subjects I should drop in the mix in the meantime that wil be covered at privates school but not at state schools.

How about a bursary? On of our private schools offers 50 - 95% bursaries.

Most (not all) prep schools only give up to 20% and then only from year 3 onwards.

Secondary schools tend to be more generous. Also there are more options available to you if you are from state to secondary. Take Eton/Harrow esq schools, they have about 5 different scholarship/bursary fee reducing methods. But they each have at least one more for children coming from state.

But to get a decent amount for secondary school, the child would normally have to be a true all rounder, exceptionally academic, or sound academic ability and excelling in either music, sport, art or drama.

would echo that the Bluecoat schools have very generous bursaries - my niece was awarded 100% plus help with uniform, trips and books (entry at 7+). this was based on performance in an academic test at 7 years old and interview (looking for potential). At 11 the situation was a little different - mostly 'part-scholarship' awards which could be topped up by a bursary to 100% mostly depending again on academic/specialist performance.
this may not apply to your area - my dh attended Tiffin (albeit many moons ago) and it is tough to get into so would tutor I'm afraid.

What are Bluecoat schools?

And can someone explain how a bursary differs from a scholarship?

Scholarship is usually given on the basis of academic excellence (perhaps just a few a year to the very top students), and is a reduction on fees awarded no matter what the parents' income. It won't be 100% of fees - usually between 30-60% off. A bursary will be means tested and can be up to 100% in some schools. If there's an entrance exam, you still have to pass - the aim is to fund students who meet the requirements but can't afford the school.

Scholarships are given by schools to award academic, music, sporting etc excellence. Web sites set out what's on offer. But be warned these are not means tested, anyone no matter how rich can sit for them. They are often only worth a small % of fees.They are for kudos, not assistance.

Bursaries are different. This is where you are means tested and the school decides how much, if anything, you should pay. Most schools have money ring fenced for bursaries, but you do have to ask the bursar.