Bursery or Primary School Education

[wantthebestforhim]

I moved a long way to be with DP when DS was nearly 5, we got him in to the local village primary school. We picked the school as class sizes were small and thought he would do well there. Last year the intake was high and they have shuffled the classes round and as he moves up the years he will never be in a class smaller than 30. He is 6.5 now and in year 1 and his class is mixed in with 22 reception children so the teaching is more focussed on the little ones. He is doing well in his reading - we read alot a home and his writing was quite poor but we practice in the evenings and at weekends and the teacher has seen a difference.

I emailed a local private primary school and they have emailed to say they do have burseries available and to take a look around the school and go through some paperwork to see if we qualify for means tested bursery. They have a great rate of sending their pupils to the secondary school I would prfer DP to go to.

DS has been asking for a while if he could move schools as he says it is boring so I worry he isn't being pushed enough (but obviously I am aware he could just find learning boring).

Does anyone have any experience of means tested burseries? What is the income threshold normally? DP and I both work but in quite low paid jobs (I am in admin and he is a low-skilled manual worker). We do not get tax credits as we are just above the earnings limit due to DP working overtime to keep us afloat. As DS is intersted in moving schools, I worry that I could show him this amazing school that offer French classes and lots of sporting opportunities but then if they can only offer a small bursery then we wouldn't be able to afford to send him.

Also we are TTC at the moment, what happens if we do need to contribute towards the costs but then I go on mat leave and can't afford to keep him there?

Ring the bursar and be honest. Some thresholds can be very low , others much higher and take into account assets such as property.

We have no property, rent a housing association house. I earn £16.5k and DP earns around £19k. I didn't realise they would vary so much, just hate feeling so embarrassed by asking. Will ring then tomorrow. Was just wondering if others had any experience.

To be honest I think you should be talking to your current school about your concerns that DS is not being pushed.

Even if you got a 50% bursary would you then be able to pay 50% of fees for two children? Are you prepared to only have one child so you can buy him the education you want? DH and I have a combined income of over 100k and get a 30% discount for (YR) DS but still don't think we could afford senior school fees for two.

Without being harsh, I'm not sure why you think a private school should give you their product for free while you are off on maternity leave- if that is what you are suggesting they might do?

I would be asking the school for 80-100% bursery or we couldn't afford it at all. I don't expect anything but if you don't ask you don't get. It would only be for a primary school place not senior school. So by the time our second child is at that age we can hopefully pay the primary education ourselves or move to a better area with better state schools.

Just a gentle reminder that the spelling is 'bursary/bursaries'. Good luck.

Bursaries are not so common at primary level but the school you have identified obviously do offer them so that's one hurdle crossed. However, in order for them to offer a child a bursary they have to really want that child in their school so are looking for someone with sporting, musical or academic ability or potential. Do you think your son can offer any of that?

It is unusual for a 6 year old to independently ask to move school. Where has that idea come from in his mind?

I think you should initially ask his current school what they are doing to support him. Just being in a mixed age class shouldn't mean he is bored as the teacher should be able to cope with a range of abilities.

I think he has academic potential but obviously at such a young age it is difficult. He has been saying it for a couple of months now that he wants to move schools. He was saying he wasn't happy and every half term he pleads with me to 'Google another school' and send him there instead.

He has always questioned everything in life. His recent report at school put him at above his age level on his understanding of the world and language to communicate that.

Apologies for misspelling of bursary.

I agree with those who suggest talking to his current school about how he can be challenged and stimulated effectively within a mixed year classroom. The private school plans don't sound terribly realistic tbh. But good luck if you want to try!!

You just need to ask the school. Full bursaries in primary are rare - as most private schools are oversubscribed - but if that isn't the case, you never know. They will generally be reassessed yearly though so you need a backup plan.

When you say they have a good record of sending children to your preferred secondary school, is it state or independent? If independent can you afford it? If state, is the secondary school selective?

I'd definitely talk to his current school first. As much as anything, what happens if he starts asking you to google schools after a couple of months at the new school?

Bursaries can be reduced and fees can go up.. Ours have gone up again this year by 7%. When this happens you will only be given a terms notice to move your child.
Personally I would stay put and speak to your current school.

Bursaries can be reduced and fees can go up.. Ours have gone up again this year by 7%. When this happens you will only be given a terms notice to move your child.
Personally I would stay put and speak to your current school.

I should have said - I've spoken to his current school many times. They seem to be happy to have children reaching their age expected level and not pushing then to exceed in anything! I have to remind them to move him up a book bands when he finds the books too easy. They don't always mark homework when it is done. They don't address the bad behaviour of other pupils etc I am constantly on the phone about one thing or another!

The private school have sent me the forms, they have offered up to 75% off in the past but have no upper limit. They have invited us to look around and complete the forms

We can only ask and see!

Jeee the preferred secondary school is a state one with a very good reputation. There are 2 good ones and one failing one - over 90% of the students in his current primary go to the failing one.

Oops missed a question - one of the good schools has an exam and interview process yes.

I don't think it is realistic for your to send your child to a private school on your income. I don't mean to sound harsh, but there will be lots of additional costs involved. If you have a bit of spare money you could use that for some enrichment at home - music lessons, a tutor to do additional work with him, Etc.

If it's a non. Selective secondary state school, admission will mostly be linked to distance, surely?

We've been investigating bursaries at private primaries near us. You may find schools won't offer bursaries until year 3 or older. Like a pp has said, while most schools don't have rigorous formulae for allocating bursaries (and are rather coy when you ask direct question about income levels etc), they do actually have to want your child particularly, and at age 6 academic potential or other talents not always easy to assess.

YonicScrewdriver, the preferred school is a selective one, with an exam and interview.

AuntieUrsula I have spoken to the bursar who said they have offered parents up to 75% off the fees but do not have a policy which disallows bursaries of 100% and were encouraged to look around and have posted me the paperwork for the means tested bursary and have no test for ability but I guess can taken an opinion of behaviour on meeting myself and DS. The class DS would go into has 10 pupils so are not oversubscribed.

my ds is on a 75% bursary. He started at his school in Yr 5, he's now Yr 8.
Each school is different, fill in the forms and see what their written offer is. Check out the schools financial situation (10 in a class is quite small, how many children in each year group?)
Write down every single cost - uniform is the obvious one, games kit is always expensive, find out if lunches are a seperate cost. Find out whether they pass on the cost of visiting speakers, plays etc (our school charged £18 for a 1/2 hour talk!)
Check what their fee rise are, ours has gone up £700 a term in those 4 school years, can you afford this?
Means tested bursaries are done each academic year, so they won't suddenly raise the bursary simply because you go on maternity leave.
Lastly don't assume that private = better, it doesn't always work that way

And what about considering going on the waiting list of some better state primaries? You never know, places might become available or even be available now.

Before going private you really do need a long term plan, that factors in any changes in your income, fee increases, additional costs, extra children etc. if you emabark on it, you really don't want to be having to pull out mid-way through - so do your homework thoroughly and be realistic about what you can and can't afford.

I wonder about this school that you are looking at. Why are they offering bursaries to 6 year olds (unusual) mid year, why are there only 10 in the class? How big is the school overall? It rings alarm bells to me - is it really that good?

Questions to ask;

• is there any chance of the bursary being reduced over time (I knew one family who saw their significantly reduce despite their own circumstances worsening - school simply said they were hard up and were reducing what they gave to all those on bursaries - a terms notice!)
• if your income drops further due to maternity leave, will they be able to increase the bursary?
• what have been the fee increases over the last 5 years.
• the cost of lunches, trips, uniforms etc.
• the attainment levels of leavers - if SATs not used, ask how they quantify the attainment and ask to know that information.
• exactly where all the leavers from the last 3 years have gone.

Do not feel like a pest asking these questions. Ensure you get full answers and that anything financial is in writing (at least an email).

And I wouldn't even go to look round (certainly not with child) until I knew if it was financially viable. Once you see these places, it is harder than ever to be objective about the costs and to walk away. They rely on you seeing the shiny facilities and being drawn in.
As you go round, ask to see some of the work of the children who are the age of your DC. Does it look very different to what he is doing now.

ChocolateWombat thank you for your helpful answers, I have written theses down and will ask at a meeting with the school.

TravelinColour we socialise outside of school alot and live on a street full of families - as he is currently in a village school there are only 8 children in his year at the moment - nearly 30 in a class but they are all in the year below - and as he is the oldest in his class they are up to 2 years younger than him anyway.