Any good schools in SE London offering bursaries for 7 years old?

[myexcitinglife]

I'm starting to look into private schools, as I think DS (5yo) might have better results in a more structured, academic school. He goes to Reception in a great local primary, but I don't see it working in the long term (for several reasons including his behaviour).

However, we hardly have any spare cash at the end of the month (understatement) so no way we could put a few thousands away per term for a school...

So far I've seen some schools offer bursaries from Y8. Is there any school with bursaries from Y4 or something like that?

Thank you very much for that!

Yes, if your ds is musical he could have a heavily subsidised education at a number of choir schools in the South East. Most start from y4 but St. Paul's cathedral school takes in choristers in y3.

Flagon, thanks a lot! I'll have a look for that. I have no idea what is a "choir school"... (I told you I have just started researching... And I'm - obviously - not from the UK). I'll google it :)

Very few independent schools offer financial help in year 4. The main point of entry into independent prep school is year 3 when your child would sit 7+. Have you considered sitting him for 7+? And I think a very few schools offer limited places at 8+.
If you don't see the local primary school 'working in the long term ( for several reasons including his behaviour)' I am interested to know what these reasons are and why these reasons would suit an independent school better.
If your son is rather clever and has a lot to offer the schools that can afford to offer financial assistance try him for 7+ at Colet Court or Kings College Wimbledon.

Children

Thanks for the suggestions, sharks! I'm completely new to all this and haven't yet figured out the UK system...

I would like DS to go to a school where the families of most (or all) children prioritize education (not the case for all the families in a comprehensive - which is obvious, as a comprehensive will comprehend people with all sorts of priorities) and where he is not the "clever" child. I think he would work harder in an environment where he is average.

(I know this is a very unpopular opinion on MN, where it is believed that studying your whole life in whatever school is at the end of your road is guaranteed to make you develop all the skills that are important in life. I've considered this opinion carefully before deciding I don't agree :) )

I have a DD in an independent junior in SE London. None of her friends brothers who are in nearby preps get bursaries as as someone else has already said the norm is for these at y7 or y9. Some do get scholarships for Y3 if they passed the entrance in the top few but these are usually nominal sums rather than substantial ones. Bursaries also take into account assets not just income so if you have a lot of equity in your main home this is usually taken into account.

Also if you are thinking of grammar for secondary many private schools don't tutor for it. Braeside does but Dulwich etc will expect boys to stay on for seniors at their own school.

I'm not sure yiu have thought this through OP

IF you get a bursary there's no guarantee it will continue throughout your son's education. What happens if it is withdrawn or reduced? What happens when you move from prep to senior school- what if he doesn't qualify academically?

You say you want a school where parents value education. There is no guarantee that by paying for school that means the parents are In any way more involved than in a state school. There are a zillion reasons why parents choose private schools!

Schools are not going to be giving out substantial bursaries for 'average' (to them) children. Maybe if they excel at something else eg the choir school as previously mentioned.

petts we are thinking of grammar school OR bursary (if he can get it). I don't feel he has that many options, so we'll take what we can (which is a bit depressing...)

homeby thanks for illustrating brilliantly the mn opinion on that. In the first case, if he gets a bursary and loses it, I think it's still better than never having had the opportunity.

tinker excellent point! ;) I think I mean that in a selective school DS will have to work hard to be on top, which is better than what is going on now.

If you're in South East London, move down the road to Kent where there are grammar schools and cross your fingers he gets a place at 11+. It's a gamble, but less risky than going all out for bursaries at private schools. And you know what, apart from some very prestigious ones, private schools are not full of the academic elite. They are full of kids of all abilities, whose parents happen to have the wherewithal to pay. Don't be fooled by 'entrance tests'. In many cases the school uses the results to place the child in the correct set/establish grade predictions etc, but only rarely do they turn people away on the basis of the results. Obviously that's not true of the truly 'selective' schools, or which I know there are several around SE London, but there are plenty more who will be happy to take your money and even give you a 5% discount if your DS is bright - but it's no guarantee of anything. If you haven't got pots of cash and you definitely believe your DS will be better served by being 'average' in a class of able children, then state grammar will suit you better.

If your child is poorly behaved then it is unlikely he will be considered for a bursary unless he is some kind of genius. You say he is likely to be average in a private school so a bursary would seem improbable.i think you may be surprised how many clever kids there are at state schools in London so if your goal is for your child to be average you may be in luck.

One thing to consider is what may be asked in return for a bursary. Up thread someone mentioned St Paul's Cathedral School - this is excellent but the choristers HAVE to board and I understand that they work very hard indeed. Presumably they have to be available on holy days so going away for Christmas or Easter would be out.

I'm sure they'll be falling over themselves to offer your badly behaved child a full bursary!
Have you considered perhaps tackling his behaviour first before trying to put him in a school where parents have paid for their children to learn.
Recognising the importance of education should also include the teaching of appropriate behaviour.
If it is truly a great local primary then presumably others are doing very well there?

Op, what do you mean by "hardly any spare cash"? Many bursaries are for low income families, they do not care about your lifestyle, so unless you are truly low income (not "middle class feeling the pinch at £30.000") you probably won't qualify for a full bursary. Every school has their own rules, but lots of bursaries go to families with under £17.000 with no assets.

You didn't mention his gifts and talents. For scholarships, many are nowhere near full fees and the boy needs to be amazingly gifted. Not gifted as in quite a good little reader and does his number bonds well, but staggering ability. That goes for musical talent scholarships, too, if you wonder if he might be good enough, he's probably not.