Bursaries for Prep Schools - Eligibility?

[LittleMissTwix]

Hi all

First time poster here, please be gentle!

I'm just looking to hear others' experience to save me making a fool of myself.

I've started looking at Prep schools for my DD (only 10months old) and whilst I've found 2 that would be perfect for us/her... they are eye wateringly expensive (e.g. it would cost between £130-160K to school her there between the ages of 5-13). I've noticed that both schools offer means-tested bursaries... and I'm wondering if we'd be eligible for some help... or if it would be an embarrassment to ask.

We have a combined income of about £140K p.a. (£115K of this is my salary, £25K is my partners) so we could afford the fees but we would have very little left for anything else. We have fairly large outgoings (big mortgage, elderly parents who we subsidise etc) and we would potentially like to have another child.

Does anyone have experience of applying for school bursaries with similar/greater income? Were you offered any help with fees at all? Or were you made to feel guilty/silly for even asking?

Thank you!

£140K per annum is too much for a bursary. Even the big name schools who have bigger pots only offer bursary help up to about £100K income (and that would probably be 5% of fees or similar).

Also, I think things like the reason for the big mortgage might make a difference. If you live in London and have a big mortgage on a two bedroomed flat because all of them are expensive, that's different to having a five bedroomed house and a big mortgage when you only have one child. Unless you are subsidising your parents to a fairly significant degree I can't see that making much of a difference.

You won't get any bursary on 140k pa and very few schools would consider one on income even half that. They also take assets such as property, savings, cars etc into account. As your dc is so young you have time to invest a lump sum for the future fees.

I thought bursaries were for people in exceptional circumstances, not something that you plan in advance for. For example, I have known them be awarded for a child whose father died suddenly when the child was already at the school or where one child was already at the school and it was for a sibling. Why are you any different to all the other middle income parents out there who want the best for their child but can't afford it?

Why are you any different to all the other middle income parents out there who want the best for their child but can't afford it?

I wouldn't call £140K middle income, not even in London! But bursaries are absolutely aimed at low and middle income parents who would not be able to afford school fees otherwise. It doesn't have to be an emergency. If the child applying is bright enough and the parents can't afford it, there is money available. Amounts differ according to how much money the school has. Big name schools tend to have bigger pots (but generally harder to get into so swings and roundabouts).

@BonjourCrisette For bright kids or those with sporting or musical talent they are usually put forward for competitive scholarships. My DC won an academic scholarship but that was different to a means tested bursary.

I have awarded bursaries. We had a few applicants with incomes like yours they went firmly in the no pile. Many schools set max income some don’t but will really not look at incomes over £80k unless exceptional circumstances.

Lots of families live in smaller houses, downsize, no holidays, old cars. Looks like your partner could probably earn more £25k is below average wage.

personally I wouldn’t spend on private education without substantial savings and not be 100% reliant on income. Fees increase often more than wages, Illness and redundancy can hit.

I think when your DD is so young, you cannot know really what will be perfect for her. She may be musical/sporty/artistic/shy etc and some schools will handle those and other things better than others.

If you want to privately educate your child and it would be a stretch, but not impossible, you can choose not to have a second child, downsize, move to a cheaper area etc…

Many schools will give an indication on their website of thresholds; for example, DSD's prep say an income of more than £75k would be very unlikely to attract any support. Another school near me says £100k.

I think you would be very very unlikely to attract any support on your current income.

You’ve conflated the school fees i to one lump sum, but looked at your income annually.
Try comparing like with like?

Why not downsize, get better paid jobs, only have one child, save up....

Or go to a state school.

A bursary is for a disadvantaged child / child from a family with a below average income that would likely thrive at a particular school but has no financial backing from their parents.

And how do you what schooling will be perfect at ten months old?

Scholarships at most schools are usually just for the glory. They haven't much monetary worth. By bright, I just meant fulfilling the normal entrance requirements of the school as they are usually selective to some degree. The big name schools with lots of money that can afford to fund large bursaries for children tend to be insanely competitive for eg music scholarships and they also don't mean lots of money just free instrumental tuition or similar.

Agreed. £130-160k over 8 years where you will bring in £1,120,000 or around 10-15% of income.

If you want her to go private, you will have to put your hand in your own pocket.

FWIW, I would prioritise private secondary over private primary.

Thanks everyone - appreciate the candour of your replies.

@Solasum @chiickenandmayosandwich You're right of course... I have no real idea what school will suit our 10 month old in terms of her talents/aspirations/personality, which are all still unkown. I guess what I'm saying is I think the 2 schools we've fallen in love with would suit ANY child (small classes, warm nurturing environment, lots of opportunities to shine, whatever their academic prowess.)

@BonjourCrisette Our academic scholarship was for 50% of fees and there were two other similar awards for the same year group - one musical, one academic and one sports. This is common in schools in our area.

That's very interesting, and a hefty discount! Well done to your children. I guess it is different in different areas. Where I am, most of the schools only award token amounts for scholarships, eg a book allowance or tuition in a couple of musical instruments or similar.