Private schools - questions questions. Can anyone help?

[turkeyboots]

I'm in a situation where DD may not get into any local state school as they are oversubscribed (even with 90 new recpetion places for Sept entry!) and am considering the local private schools as a back up.

Do private schools have the after-school and holiday clubs that most state schools seem to have?

How do buserys etc work? Would we stand any chance of getting one? We've a household income of round £80K pa but a rough calulation of fees for pre-prep locally look to be about £12k a year. We're just getting to the end of paying about that in nursery fees, and was looking forward to having some spending/holiday money again!

On 80K I think you'll find a bursery is out of the question, you will have to fill out a 'Form of Finacial Need', stating your income your mortgage and outgoings. A scholorship is based on ability, or its just a case of paying up. Speak to the burser of the school to find out if they can help.
Some Preps and Pre-Preps are cheaper/more expensive than others. Holiday provision in our experience comes in the form of masterclasses, or PGL type holidays. Provision is made for boarders.

Sorry to hijack, but what would you say is the cut off point for being considered for a bursary? We've applied for a place at one of our local preps for DS, currently in Reception at our local primary and we are hoping we will be able to get a bursary contribution... (sorry, but I do not really want to disclose income online)

Thanks, thought that migh be the case!

Masterclasses and PGl stuff won't be enough for us, need 9 til 5 care. Best hope we get in locally then as the wrap round care seem best. Our catchments are measured in 0.1 of miles and last years reception classes were made up of 95% siblings....

It is very rare for schools to offer a bursary at 4yrs. Most not until 11yrs but some at 7yrs.
I have a friend who applied for one when her DD was 7yrs but didn't get it as others on lower income got it instead. At the time, their combined income was 38k.

As for holiday clubs/after school clubs. IME, almost all schools in the private sector offer these other than the very small ones. But they usually bus the kids to the nearest ones.

Bursaries vary from school to school although not many offered at pre-prep stage.

I think the average income would need to be less than £40k to qualify - often the school will look more kindly on existing pupils whose families run into financial difficulties.

We get 'free' late-care until 5pm included in the fees. And holiday clubs are fun by outside companies at an additional cost.

I think it's down to the charitable trustees of the individual school - they also interview you as parents and the child/ren. I think they see it as an 'investment' in not just the education, but the life of the child. A bursery child/scholor has to represent their school in the best possible light, all the time!
It's awarded in % and you have to sign to say that you will not reveal to other parents the % awarded!
Speak to the school, and the Head Master/Mistress, there is no stigma these days for charitable help with school fee's.

Hi, thanks for your answers, ladies!

After school activities run by teachers (like general sports clubs) are usually free, but expect a bill if they bring in a specialist coach (like martial arts). Some schools offer free homework clubs, some have after school provision included in the fees, others charge for using the late room. You need to ask school you are interested in what provision they have, and what it will cost you to use it - some are expensive.

Our school only does bursary's for secondary school and only if the household income is less that £44000.

We do have a breakfast club from 7.30am and afterschool until 5.45pm although you have to pay extra for these.

They do have a holiday club for two weeks in the summer holidays but as the summer holidays are 8 weeks long and the club runs from 9am to 3pm it is neither use nor ornament for working parents (however there are lots of other holiday clubs in the area)

Our school opens the doors at 8.25 for pre-prep and 8am for older ones. After school care until 6pm with a small charge (on par with a childminder).

Less by way of holiday cover but there are council run schemes and private providers in the areas.

at our school you can drop off at 8 and pick up at 5 at no extra cost
no holiday clubs though

Private schools are IME much more likely to have after school and holiday clubs than state. DDs was £5 per afternoon if used ad hoc, cheaper if you prebooked and there was some sort of sibs discount. Breakfast club had small charge. Holiday clubs didn't run all through, but were quite reasonably priced and while the main activities were 9:30 to 3:30 there was option of extended day for a bit more money.

I think you may find out of hours provision better in schools which also have their own nursery because they're geared to long days all year round anyway.

Thanks all. You've given me fodder for my growing list of questions for our tours!

NB has anyone said that there at least 4 weeks more holidays in private schools?

also a factor to consider

Your LA has a duty to offer your child a school place, and if not within a reasonable distance then transport as well. So is there only one state school you consider suitable?

No, any of the local schools would be fine. And there are 7 in the section of the town which we're considered in the catchement area for. And all are hard to get into. Outside that they get a bit hit or miss though.

But if I'm having to drive 5miles each way to school in dreadful traffic, would rather be doing it for an excellent school.

They all vary. Ds's prep offered no scholarships or bursaries at all, no holiday club, longer school holidays and an after school club until 4:30 but his secondary does all of this. Their cut off is 50k. They have an Ofsted registered holiday club, a breakfast club and the library is open until 6pm. It does vary from school to school so you need to do some research.

Don't get sucked in by the reception bursary places. A lot of prep school offer a bursary (in our case upto 90%) for reception places, you then have a settled child who wishes to remain at that school and no bursary after recpetion. If they do offfer bursaries take a good look at the rules applied to them.

Many will have asc( dc is 8-6) and holiday clubs/sports courses, the latter often available to non pupils too. On that income I don't think you have much hope of any bursary, £45k or less is the norm (payable on a sliding scale) in SE at least and many would expect you to be fully mortgaged and exhaust savings first, also very few offer anything below aged 7(Year 3).