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...

They are means tested in some cases my dd won an academic scolarship but was given a book beacause we earned over 18k.

So people who earn £30 can afford private school. I must need some financial planning advice.

DC1 and 2's old prep school did scholarships from year 3 but they were pretty small ones. DS got a 10% one as that year they handed out lots of smaller ones rather than fewer larger ones. In any event, the maximum is normally about 30% but they do give some bursuries on top of that.

DS1 won an academic scholarship for his 6th form which is approximately 30% of the fees.

Lighteningbugs, earnings over 18k . That's a ridiculously low threshold!

Thats what we said PlanetEarth, pants huh ! So now dd is the proud owner of a book with the name of a private school stamped in the front. However, she is doing brilliantly at her supposedly bad secondary school. My fault I should have read the small print.

A book would be an example of an Academic Exhibition, not a scholarship. Scholarships are worth money off fees, eg 10, 25 or 50% (minor and major scholarships).

A bursary is means-tested.

There are usually a fixed number of scholarships available, which may or may not be awarded. Bursaries may be promoted, eg one full-fees place to a girl/boy living in xxxx who would not otherwise be able to take up a place, or reductions for army/clergy. Or they may be secret, with only a small number of people knowing how they work and how much money is on offer.

No it was a scholarship. You do not know the details. Following people around mumsnet because they refuse to rise to your bait is bad form.

Oh, please don't flatter yourself.

but a scholarship IS money off school fees. Scholarships are not means tested, if they were, half of the scholars at DS's school wouldn't have them judging by the cars their parents have

They are means tested in many schools. The money off can be as little as £200 for the period of one year or nothing at all if you earn above a certain amount.

Not all schools are the same.

Scholarships are not means tested - they are gained by the ability/performance of the child. Bursaries are means tested.

Traditionally they are not. However, at many schools they are these days. You can still say that your child got the "academic scholarship" which means they achieved highly in the test but they do not give you any reduction or award. As I said before not all schools are the same.

Charities Commission is putting pressure on independent schools to offer more means-tested bursaries.

Because few schools have access to infinte resources, many are choosing to shift funds from academic scholarships into bursary schemes. Thereby they keep the CC happy and keep their charitable status.

Are bursaries based on gross household income, or do they allow for living expenses etc... first?

bursaries are on household income - often they want to know how much your car, house and savings are too! I have even heard about wanting to know how much jewellery and other capital assets you have!

check out the channel 4 documentary Too Poor for Posh School on Thursday (March 11)it's all about scholarships to Harrow School for families who can't afford the fees.