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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Bursary advice - when and how to ask independents...

23 replies

linklight · 26/02/2015 16:32

Hello, I wondered if anyone had any experience with bursaries. I am about to start to go on open days/tours of a few independents with my just-three year old daughter. I am unexpectedly alone with her so on a low wage, as I have no one to care for her while I go to work. Is it best to come straight out with the bursary question now, to the admissions people, as I am setting up these visits, or to wait until I have met with them and the Head, and they've met my daughter and I? Is it best to email them or call them? Any other tips on approach much appreciated. x

OP posts:

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Duchess1983 · 26/02/2015 17:04

We booked a meeting with the head so we could discuss it. The will want to know your employment status and they make ask if relatives could help contribute ? Good luck

Duchess1983 · 26/02/2015 17:05

Just to add we decided not to apply for it after weighing up all our options

Original poster

linklight · 26/02/2015 17:06

thankyou x as we are going to meet the head on our tour/visit in a few weeks, do you think it appropriate to bring it up with him while meeting him fairly informally, or to book a separate meeting in his office on a separate day? the school is quite far away from where we live. best, l

OP posts:

BrieAndChilli · 26/02/2015 17:07

It's very rare to get a 100% bursary so you need to work out how much you you can afford to pay

LIZS · 26/02/2015 17:07

You need to really do your homework looking at websites and speaking to bursar/registrar as to your chances and criteria. There are very limited funds at infant age and you may find they go to families with older children at same school whose circumstances have changed or only to over 7s. If you need a bursary from the start bear in mind it is a long term commitment and fees and costs will rise substantially over time. Have you looked around the state schools ?

Toastandsympathy · 26/02/2015 17:11

I agree with LIZS. They are limited at this age

Original poster

linklight · 26/02/2015 17:11

yes i am looking at both state and indeps. thanks for advice

OP posts:

SoupDragon · 26/02/2015 17:12

I also think there is very little financial aid at infant level

ZeroFunDame · 26/02/2015 17:20

OP Are you actually hoping for a bursary for your 3 year old now?

Do you have schools in mind where you know this is a possibility?

If not I strongly suggest you ring the admissions staff at every school you're interested in and ask them about their bursary policy. (Don't just ring one - every school is different.)

I may have misunderstood your post - but I have never heard of schools offering bursaries for this age group. (The reason being that bursarys are only given to children who are likely - through a particular talent or general braininess - to bring extra kudos to the school. As they can't judge that in such a young child there's no benefit to the school.)

I'm not saying it is impossible for you to find some financial help - but it would be highly unusual through this route.

Duchess1983 · 26/02/2015 17:21

I would book a separate meeting with them as they may want to ask questions about your current situation

Original poster

linklight · 26/02/2015 17:23

no. a bursary for when she would be 4 and three-quarters/five years old.

OP posts:

ZeroFunDame · 26/02/2015 17:24

Do you know of schools that offer bursaries to children of this age?

Duchess1983 · 26/02/2015 17:24

I have PM'd you

Original poster

linklight · 26/02/2015 17:32

hi zero fun. thanks for your message. i do know a few yes.

OP posts:

letsplayscrabble · 26/02/2015 17:33

Where I am (N London) no schools offer bursaries in primary, they are all secondary only. I'd say some phone calls first might save you some potentially wasted time.

ZeroFunDame · 26/02/2015 17:45

Phew! I was afraid you were getting your hopes up for nothing.

I guess if the bursary process isn't made clear on the websites they will outline it when you visit. Good luck!

TheBlessedCheesemaker · 26/02/2015 17:48

You really need to check that bursaries are genuinely offered at this age range - I've never heard of it. If a prep says it offers bursaries you'll find them generally restricted to yrs 7/8 (maybe lower when parents circumstances change, or to unoffiically support siblings through).

Notcontent · 26/02/2015 19:56

It sounds very unusual - otherwise everyone would be applying for them....

PrimalLass · 26/02/2015 20:14

Every school I have looked at has been for secondary or late primary once they know where your child ranks academically

yoyo1234 · 27/02/2015 18:47

Anything is worth a try.

fluffymouse · 28/02/2015 01:07

I only know of one school in London that offers bursaries at age 4.

Even when bursaries are offered, not is rare for them to cover all the fees.

You are probably best looking at state schools.

inthename · 01/03/2015 15:40

Ring each school before you visit and ask them what their typical % is for bursaries in the 4.5/5 age group. When I was looking for ds (though he started on a bursary in yr 5 and is now yr 8) it was unusual to find school websites boasting about 100% bursaries and to discover the truth after discussing with the bursar was actually typically 10% and very occasionally 25%.
Bear in mind most schools will expect you to fund at least 1/3 of the fees + uniform and other costs, and that is typically from age 7+ as younger children have no evidence of academic ability etc and ultimately the schools want bursary recipients to bring some kind of advertisable achievement to the school by the time they leave.

inthename · 01/03/2015 15:42

sorry *wasn't unusual

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