Independent schools while on UC

[Luluace]

Hi all,

I have have two boys (7 and 3) whom I would like to try for independent school. Youngest will be starting reception in Sept and he is a bright spark. Oldest also. There are a couple of schools I have looked into ( Dulwich prep/college and St Paul’s). I have seen that these schools offer scholarships/bursaries.
Recently been made homeless due to DV and have had to sign up for UC for the first time in my life, and so have missed and entrance exam assessments to schools. Has anyone had any chance of being offered a place after assessments and places offered? How straightforward with the school offering scholarship/bursary?
Specifically asking to those on UC or other benefits? How did you liaise with the school to inform them and how did they respond?

To those whose kids made enters to these schools, how was the process, especially if you are either on low income or on benefits?
What prep and for how long? I am not familiar with the system and just need to understand and both my kids will benefit from the challenge of private. State school my first was in never challenged him and they wanted every child to be on the same level which is impossible. A small class size is another thing of interest.

please advise/suggest.

Those are some top schools so I doubt they would have any spaces left once the assessments are over. If anything, they are likely to have waiting lists so if you missed the assessments, you would struggle to get them a place. Worth calling and asking but I would have low expectations.

If you’re low income, then you’d be dependent on a full bursary. They can be awarded, but it’s usually on academic ability. I believe you would need to tell them you want to apply for assistance when you register for the assessments.

There are very few bursaries available for primary aged children. A handful at 7+ and virtually non for 4+ entry. The bulk of schools issue them at 11+, 13+ and 16+.

It sounds like you would be wholly reliant on fully funded places and I am really not sure this is realistic at this stage in their education.

I don't think this is going to happen. If your son needs more challenge, then make sure you are providing it outside of school

I think you need state primary and to see where they are and at what stage your life is when they near secondary. The level of support you would need for their entire education is unlikely to be forthcoming unless they are both seriously bright and there is very little for the primary stage.

Offers for this year have been made, and although there are sometimes occasional late places, the bursary funds will have been allocated.

So realistically you’d be looking at Sept 2025 at the earliest, so you will have plenty of time to contact the Admissions Office and work out timings.

Most Dulwich bursaries are from yr 7 (age 11) but they can go younger, however I don’t think they go below yr 3 (age 7). They can (and do) offer full bursaries. St Paul’s similar, I think

How did you liaise with the school to inform them and how did they respond?

It’s great that you’re thinking so constructively, despite all the upheaval you’ve been through, @Luluace.

However, you probably need to read a few more independent school websites - say a couple of dozen - thoroughly, so you begin to understand how the system works and how you can slot yourself into their individual application processes.

It’s never a matter of just informing a school you’re receiving UC. (That information would be irrelevant until you’re filling in bursary application forms.)

The main factor that separates parents who manage to get substantial bursaries and those who don’t is organization. You may need to register with the two or three schools you’re most interested in (at the correct time) just so they have you on their lists and will inform you of deadlines, open days, main point of contact, etc. You need to make sure you know, in advance, the deadlines for every stage of the process. You need to make sure your child is the right age. And you will probably need some formal preparation for entrance exams. (Simply because all the other parents will be doing this.)

I can see that Dulwich Prep does claim to offer bursaries - but I’m not clear how that works. As others have said, financial awards are rarely offered until the age when children can legitimately be tested to assess their academic potential. At our prep the scholarship exam (which is a gateway to a bursary) is held in year 5 for attendance from year 6. There’s nothing for children in the pre-prep or before year 6, even though the school covers those years.

I should add - the best schools are very keen to offer bursaries to parents on low incomes but only when they see a benefit to the school in having that particular child attend. They won’t care where your money comes from.

Have a look at Christ’s Hospital from year 7, they offer full bursaries for boarding.

The best start you can give your DC is making sure they have a lived example of an outstanding work ethic to follow. That won't happen if you are on Universal Credit.

If you want your DC educated at St Paul's or Dulwich College, get a full-time job and work hard like the parents who actually pay the fees. If with a full time job and hard work you can't stretch to the fees, your boys may deserve a bursary.

Caveating of course with the fact that there is nothing wrong with benefits if people are too unwell to work.

From what info I’ve gathered from friends, the bursary isn’t 100% of the fees, it’s more like 20%-50% discount. Things on top of this, like uniform, school lunches, extra curricula etc will be expensive too. Just fyi one of the kids at my friends school gets bursary help and he is grade 8 on both piano and violin. Are your kids this sort of level of clever?

Schools give bursaries to the DC who can bring something to the school but in most cases they will also want to see that parents are maximising every opportunity to pay their fees themselves prior to applying eg working Full Time. I wouldn't be happy with DH and myself working FT to fund a bursary scheme for a pupil whose parent wasn't working! Yes for parents who are low earning but not for someone who wasn't working at all.

In addition I would be very wary of starting school relying on a 100% bursary, if Labour get in and charge VAT on fees then some schools may look to withdraw bursaries (ours have already stated that they will do this).

Sounds like you have been through a lot OP but I think you need to realise that its unlikley this will happen. Most schools only offer a part bursary and then only if they feel your child will really benefit the school - how will you afford everything else? Plus you have missed the deadlines.
Have you made and other school plans for them OP? Maybe revisist this idea for Secondary, you may be in a better position by then

Which school(s) are you talking about, @Mayflower282? You may actually be thinking of scholarships - which, unlike bursaries, are not means tested and generally only offer a nominal amount. You definitely don’t need grade 8 piano skills for a bursary!

Happily, there are schools with well established bursary policies who can and do consistently offer 100% bursaries. Mainly senior schools, almost invariably amongst the wealthiest and most well known in the country.

(From what I’ve seen on MN, if tiny undersubscribed schools start offering huge bursaries it’s pretty certain the school is on its last gasp. Best avoided.)

I wouldn't be happy with DH and myself working FT to fund a bursary scheme for a pupil whose parent wasn't working! Yes for parents who are low earning but not for someone who wasn't working at all.

You know, it makes me so sad to realise there are people thinking things like this.

Have you never considered the situation of single parents? Or those with full time caring responsibilities for a partner, parent, severely ill child?

If you and your husband are both able to work full time you’re very fortunate in multiple ways. But sadly lacking in empathy or understanding of experiences outside your own.

@Luluace look for schools whose bursaries are funded through endowments.

Example:

https://www.etoncollege.com/admissions/financial-aid/

See it depends how bursaries are funded.
If the school has endowments then fair enough but if parents are contributing through fees then sorry but I am not happy funding places where the parents don't work (not through disability etc but through choice). In order to afford private school we both work FT, sorry but if a parent is able to work then they should. I get that OP is a single parent and youngest is only just going into reception so therefore had caring duties and was unable to work but they never once said they were going to look for work come September.
Not a lack of empathy at all but a viewpoint that as a parent I am contributing to the bursary so I would expect any parent who is in receipt of a bursary (and who is able to) to work.
Completely different kettle of fish if the bursary is from an endowment, in that case it would make no difference to me whether parents worked or not.
Other posters have advised OP to get a job also you know!!

thank you all. I have looked at a lot of schools and at the moment these two I have mentioned, are close and a straightforward journey.
The plan was to register both boys last year and my oldest to sit the entrance, however, things took a turn.
I am under the impression that although I have passed the formal sitting and offers time, they could potentially offer if there was a space they may offer. Also, majority of the time it is about who you know.

I have started preparing them for next year (sitting later this year), I just wanted to get different point of views especially on those who have some experience. The state schools where we are could be better and honestly, the small classes and the general atmosphere of private schools is unmatched irrespective of our current situation which I know is temporary.
I would be able to afford at my career path would allow me, but for now things are just different.

I have read many inspiring testimonials of people who were unable to afford the private school education, and by merit as well as the school’s discretion they were able to continue and successfully compete their education if the best schools.

I will certainly look at it. thanks!

No, it is definitely NOT " who you know" - and no, there will not be space, there will be waiting lists.

By all means apply, but I would suggest that you are best off planning how to make the most of a state school education

I’d be so concerned about the bullying. Even my friend’s dc deal with it as the children of teachers so discounted compared to the “proper rich” kids. I’m not sure why you’d choose this for your child - it just impacts their confidence as even if they’re not bullied they will see the massive divide. Ime it’s a different world.

Plan for them to go at 11 by which point you should be back on your feet. I also assume their father will be compelled to pay maintenance which may assist.

My kids are bright and capable enough. This wouldn’t be a case of the schools “giving” me anything, but my kids earning it. It interesting the assumptions/borderline judgement that come through when a family is on a low income.
Low income is just that. Being able to want more for your kids is irrespective of income, so they would sit an exam like all kids without any special treatment. I have heard and seen those with a two household working parents receiving full scholarships and bursaries, and no one ever says any more than well done.
Nothing against your point of view as I understand it. However, I am not planning to put a soppy story to schools for sympathy. This I will never do.

@TeenLifeMum - honestly, you don’t know what you’re talking about!

At decent school bursaries are confidential. So unless you or your child tell other parents or pupils or staff, nobody knows who has them. Huge numbers of apparently well off children have their fees paid by grandparents or whatever, too. And there should be no stigma anyway. Scholarships are celebrated - it would be absurd to ‘bully’ someone for having one.

Sorry your friends are at such rubbish schools ..

Bullying? My child attends a private school. We are no way wealthy at all, my parents actually funds the school fees. We live in a terrace house, drive an okay car etc but are no way on the level of income as most children's family at the school.

There is no bullying on this front and never has been. Maybe it will come? He's only 12 but has been private since starting school.

This point of view is horrific to me! I am a qualified, experienced specialist teacher, working full time, with two children as a single parent. I also receive UC to help with my rent.
In what way are they not experiencing an outstanding work ethic?!
Do you have any understanding at all of systemic privilege? It is not that those on lower incomes are not working as hard, it's that capitalism has deemed the jobs we are able to access less valuable, and not as deserving of recompense, often tied into the systematic misogyny that views "womens' work" as inherently less valuable.
I'd love to know what teaching job you think I could get that would pay me enough to send my children to private school.

Ok so - practical advice:

1. I think trying for a full bursary for an admissions round that is closed is a waste of time - yes there are waiting list places but these schools fill them in a jiffy from the fold they already have. Move on to the next admissions point (several schools have 8+; focus on that)

1. Full bursary in reception almost unheard of. Better probably to start planning for 7+ for your youngest

1. Add more schools to your list. St Paul’s is exceptionally competitive at 7 and 8+ (even if you aren’t looking for a bursary) and you need more options, even if your kid is really really academic.