Financial assistance at Cambridge private schools

[cherrysuv]

Hello! My daughter is 9 (Year 4) and does really well at her state primary, a school we've been very happy with. But we're not too sure about the secondary in our catchment (most likely Netherhall) and think she would benefit from going to a private secondary. We have another daughter who will start reception in September (also at the same state primary).

We are fortunate enough to do well financially but looking at the costs I think it would be a serious stretch for us to afford full fees at the Perse, Leys, St Mary's etc. The Heritage looks good too and is a little cheaper (probably attainable for us - just!) but it feels like a big risk to aim for just a single school that we can afford.

My question is whether anyone can share their experience with financial assistance/bursaries at private schools in Cambridge. I know this is all on a case-by-case basis but if I said to you that we had a household income of c.£120k (inc bonuses etc) and savings of around £60k do you think we would be eligible for any assistance? It feels absolutely ridiculous that this kind of financial privilege might mean we need support but when I do the maths it's hard to see how we might save £200k+ to cover both girls being privately educated and be left with anything to help support university, house deposits and our own 'rainy days'.

Any thoughts much appreciated - I feel like it's a decision we need to make soon because we will need to start prepping our daughter for entrance exams soon. I don't want to put her through that if we can't afford it!

In my experience your income is over the threshold for financial assistance. Bursary’s tend to go to children who would not be able to attend the school in any eventuality. Scholarships are generally a small incentive to say we appreciate you are good at something here’s a nod to that. Of the scholarships that were awarded at our school , the majority of the financial awards paid for the school lunch, nothing more. Obviously there are exceptions to bursaries and scholarships. Saying that though, with the effects of Covid 19 , private schools may well find themselves losing pupils over the coming months and some children won’t be returning in September as the family finances just won’t allow. So there maybe an opportunity there to explore. In your position I would think about which school would suit your child best and approach the admissions team. You have nothing to lose. Just be aware that financial assistance is reviewed, often yearly, and what would you do if this was no longer available. Also consider the cost of uniform, trips and extras that are always on the agenda.

I think the income limit for bursaries is around £70k for those schools, your income is way over. It’s also expected that parents use savings and house equity before any assistance is offered.

I very much doubt it.

10 years ago our household income was £60k and no significant savings. We got 1/3 off the fees until our salary went to £72k. At the time we had two children.

I find this question quite eye opening... do people who earn 120k and have savings of 60k really think they might be elligible for any kind of financial assistance? Just because it might be rather a stretch to save £200k for private education, multiple house deposits and 'rainy days'

Bursaries really are for those who absolutely cannot afford it. I know of a recent widow who got one for her very bright daughter following a complete crash in their finances after her DHs sad passing.

I also know of a family where he's a builder and she's a cleaner, and they investigated bursaries for their son, but they had too much savings and worried that even if they got one they'd worry about it being removed in the future.

If you want to send your DC to private school you'll need to decide if it's worth sacrificing other things like most people do.

My DC are at Cambs private schools and I doubt if many families have incomes over £120k. Some certainly do but I doubt the majority do.

No chance I'm afraid!

if I said to you that we had a household income of c.£120k (inc bonuses etc) and savings of around £60k do you think we would be eligible for any assistance?

No. Or at least, I would be utterly gobsmacked if you were. Bursary funds are not supposed to be available to support lifestyle choices. You apparently not only have an income several times the national average, but also a good chunk of savings. Any decent bursary office would want to know why you cannot pay fees from those two sources. (They would also assume you have, and would want evidence of, other assets, such as land or property - which could be converted into extra income.)

You are of course free to apply. But you may have better luck with non means tested scholarships.

Not a chance on such a high income.

Not a chance on such a high income.

I know it's nice to be able to help your kids with house deposits but why are you prioritising that now?

If you want to send them to private school prioritise that. Lots of people pay for their own house deposits, your children may not need assistance from you for a house when they're adults.

I used to manage bursaries and scholarships for a group of independent schools. In my experience you would be way over the threshold. Our bursaries went to families with pretty low incomes, and the whole process was extremely rigorous. 60k in savings would mean that you were immediately ineligible.

It should go to those who are high achieving on a very low income that couldn't otherwise afford it. You don't fall anywhere near that category.

Thanks a lot for all the guidance. Makes sense and is as expected. This kind of information isn't publicly available so it's always worth understanding what the rules are. Some London schools with similar fees now set the cut off for assistance at £150k! Until very recently our household income was under £70k which was still an amazing privilege. At that time I never would've considered going private and I still have a huge amount of discomfort (morally speaking) about doing it. Anyway, very much a first world problem! Thanks again.

Anyway, very much a first world problem!

No, it's not.

Parents all over the world care about, worry about, and strive to get the best they can in terms of their children's education. (Why would anyone assume otherwise?)

And private schools are extraordinarily important outside what pleases to call itself the "first world".

I think OP means 'a rich person's problem'

Maybe you should listen to your huge moral discomfort a little more closely, OP? Just a thought. Netherhall is a perfectly good school AFAIK.

You can care about your child's education without being part of a system that contributes to the massive educational disadvantage in this country. I'm always a bit shocked by the amount of parents in Cambridge who choose private school, despite their professed political leanings, and despite the fact that the vast majority of schools are good.

This is so entitled that your point about your moral conundrum came as no surprise. To be blunt don’t you think it’s more important to actually pay for the children you chose to have than to save up money for them to buy a house later on? You’re basically abusing the system, stop being so tight. Bursaries are generally reserved for children from families that genuinely can’t afford the fees.

I have a couple of kids at Netherhall. IMO, it has improved dramatically since the new management team took over five years ago and is now genuinely a good school I think it's worth taking a look at it.

I'm not abusing the system. I'm not even in the system! I'm trying to understand where we stand financially in Cambridge. I earn extremely well and I'm but there are many hundreds, probably thousands who earn a lot me than me in my company. And in Cambridge as a whole the number is even higher. That has an inflationary effect on everything from the cost of housing to the cost of schools so I think it's reasonable to try to understand affordability in that context. As I say, I'm not really that keen on the idea but I think it's prudent to understand the options that we are fortunate enough to have. What I find uncomfortable about the very existence of private schooling is that for those who can afford it it becomes a draw away from the state sector which then becomes further impoverished. My husband and his family were privately educated so there is some expectation from that side of the family. It's not a balancing act I ever expected to find myself dealing with (it had never occurred to me that I would ever pay for my kids' education) but here I am. I don't feel at all entitled to this for myself or my children, I just want to understand our relative position in Cambridge so we can work out our finances accordingly. My argument with my husband is that spending all our savings on education might end up being less valuable to them than saving up a similar amount to help with housing or university later. Again, it's a massively privileged position but not one, I'm sorry to say, that's particularly unusual in Cambridge.

@Neolara

I have a couple of kids at Netherhall. IMO, it has improved dramatically since the new management team took over five years ago and is now genuinely a good school I think it's worth taking a look at it.

That's great to hear, thanks.

Out of all the schools (i've worked/visited them all) the Perse is incredibly down to earth - some people worry that going private also means paying £££ for their kids to be 'keeping up with the jones'.

if I had the money i'd be sending my DD to the Perse school.

Honestly? I’d go and look round Netherhall and three or four of the other local schools, if you can face it. Try Parkside and Chesterton Community College, day, or head a bit further out and look at Comberton, impington, Sawston, Linton or Swavesey Village Colleges.

You’ll like at least one of them. And you have enough money to move into catchment for it if necessary.

(My kids have been to three of these. Schools differ. But most round here are fine.)

Oh, and they’ve been at Sixth Form with kids from pretty much every school in Cambridgeshire. According to DD, ‘you can spot an ex Mary’s girl at 20 paces’ but other than that, they all seem to come out much the same in the wash.

@Tingalingle - yes agree! A huge number of private school kids go to Hills Road, which is where most of the academic kids from the state schools go too so... not sure if I see the point of private school in Cambs (or ever, but that’s another thread ).

Well, we have friends who went private for various reasons and mostly seem happy with that (especially if it was a grandparent's money rather than their own!). One, though, has since moved a child TO Netherhall from a small private school. Another has moved one to a village college.

Hills doesn't suit everyone, either, which is why I mentioned a few schools with their own 6th form -- though as your little girl is only 9, that probably looks a very long way away. (Beware of picking a school just because it looks cosy enough for a small child. They grow up. DD's only 'Heritage' friend was getting a bit desperate for wider company by 14 or so!)

Cambridge salaries are completely bonkers though, a family with both parents being consultants at Addenbrookes will be well over 200k household income, and that’s before you get started on tech and biotech companies.

No chance of fee reductions with that kind of household income. The state schools tend to be good, probably because there are an awful lot of parents like you - who care deeply about their child’s education but can’t spring for £6k a term.