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.

Being a recent UC recipient, they is so much to understand as this is something I have never looked into. But you are correct, it’s income assessed and you could be full time working individual or couple and still receive it. I don’t blame people for being ignorant, but judgment and looking down on people without understanding their situation is totally unnecessary.

I have got in touch with some schools and the response has been mixed. It seems to be entirely dependent on space first before any other consideration. The waiting lists are surprisingly small from what I have been told, so will consider this option.
From what I have seen on the registration forms, there is no need to mention financial status till you complete the bursary forms. Thanks

The schools in question do have more than a handful scholarships especially for 7+ entry, but just seems highly competitive. Yes, I agree on the 4+, but from what I have been told, this is at the school’s discretion and it’s not common.

I am late, yes, and may need to wait till the next round of assessments if it is at all possible. I believe some schools have specific entry points, but some may be flexible if space opens in other group years.
Thank you

are you living in cuckoo land?

Which part don’t you understand, @hangingonfordearlife1?

I think that this is absolutely fair enough. I’m a single parent to two young kids. I’ve had to take a couple breaks from employment but would never expect someone else to pay so my kids could go to private school

He has been getting supplementary work at home and now is ahead by 2 and possibly 3 years. It’s really about the environment that needs to change as from what I have seen, they are starting to place labels on a child who is academically bright because they cannot do more for him. Unfortunately, teachers are overwhelmed and underpaid in a class of 30+ kids.

Thank you. Would you be able to share the prep name if you don’t mind of course?

Being on UC has nothing to do with my work ethics at all. Unfortunately, your comment seems to come from a place of ignorance and a lot of judgement.
People go on UC for various reasons and yes, it can be from a place of no interest in being a contributing member of society or disability/ being unwell or being a caregiver, but I assure, I am a qualified specialist in my profession and my kids are not at all at a disadvantage of seeing their mum being a “bum” as perceived by most people who look down on UC recipients.
Full time working parents also receive UC and this can sometimes be called tax credit. So prior to contributing with such an insensitive comment, please do a little research.

For bursaries they take both parents salaries into account. I am on UC (work full time- but even the govt knows their own salaries aren't enough 🙄)
Their father earns a lot. He doesn't pay anything towards them. I left due to DV and he lives in another country but I had to put his salary down so not eligible.

Thank you. Yes they are bright. Little one ( 3 yrs) can read at grade 1 level and very good at maths, reads numbers up to in the hundreds which is self-taught. Writes well for his age as well.
7 year old is 2 or possibly 3 years ahead in both maths and English. Both of them have been been taught at home by myself since they were little.

I have a passion for child development and love that I get to invest my time in my kids which has benefited them a lot. They both have lots of energy, so I do a lot of things to keep them busy.
They also do activities for fun, but seem to be excelling. I was and to some degree still am quite sporty, so they get that from me.

I think your assessment of academic abilities in your children is way off the mark, especially for the 3 year old.

Cognitive abilities are not fully developed until they reach 6 or 7... that's what actually defines academic abilities.

Unless, of course, they are able to do a bit of quantum physics or play some Tchaikovsky blindfolded.

Just be realistic, if they are as bright as you claim, they will thrive wherever they go to school. Let them be children and don't put unnecessary pressure on them.

I'd focus on getting yourself sorted, getting a home and kids settled.

Then look at private for secondary school, more chance for full bursaries with and a better idea about their academic abilities.

You can dream big for your DC, but so much about their education is what they want to achieve for themselves.

On a side note, DD went to an atrocious secondary school. She's now at a top university. She partly got in because of her postcode. She is great for their statistics, but she's also bright and determined with a hint of stubbornness.

Yes, I understand I am late and my expectations at this time are not that much, but it’s just something I thought to consider as I may never know otherwise. The 11+ is definitely something the oldest will try, but if the schools offer a place at the 9+ (for instance) it would be most ideal. Thank you

I didn’t have to mention anything about my intentions of getting a job and therefore didn’t even need to be up for discussion. Unfortunately, your comment is from an unnecessary place of judgement and ignorance. You seem to think everyone on UC is looking forward to live off those who pay taxes? It appears you live well to be in this kind of bubble and not realise that full time working professionals could be on UC. It’s sad that you are one of many with this narrow minded view.
Private school do not obtain their bursaries/scholarships from working individuals as yourself so rest assured, for all those who have received or are receiving bursaries and scholarships, it has not been from your pocket. Thanks.

@Luluace you do not have to respond to each individual post. (And doing so can give the impression of being unnecessarily argumentative.) There is no need to argue your case here - it doesn’t make any difference to the eventual outcome.

The advice is overwhelmingly clear - when the time is right, apply to the schools that suit your child(ren) and meet your needs. See how you get on with entrance exams and bursary applications. And have a back up plan. That’s really all there is to it.

My oldest has been assessed formally a recently and a couple of times while he was still little. It’s very easy to assume when a parent claims that their child is ahead, it’s because they have just gone by what they have seen alone. The state schools don’t offer any challenges and certainly no formal assessments because there are unbelievably overworked unfortunately. This is not to discredit the hard work the teachers do in any way, but every parent knows when something is off and their child needs either extra support or more.

Luckily, as the boys are so bright, they will do well at any school. Plus the fact that you are doing an excellent job tutoring at home. They will hopefully get all grade 9s at whatever school they go to but best of luck

OP, if the state schools near you aren’t great, look at changing. Plenty of outstanding state primaries in Lambeth and Southwark, which I assume is where you live if you are looking at Dulwich and St Paul’s.

Lots offer excellent extracurriculars - DS’s primary offers Spanish with a specialist teacher from Reception, free instrument tuition from year 2-6, excellent sports provision, etc. And obviously very good academic outcomes.

This is what my toddler can do, and it may sound way off the mark as you state, it doesn’t change the fact it’s true. He is still very much like any toddler in other areas, but seems to do well on this from what I can see. Child development and psychology is an interesting subject I have a passion for and actually studied, but your point of view is noted. I am sure somewhere is the world lots of kids can do amazing things you would probably think are way off the mark, but that’s ok as kids do tend to surprise us a lot of times.
No pressure is placed on my kids in any way and they certainly get every chance to be kids. Considering private education also doesn’t equal unnecessary pressure. There are pros and cons which I am sure all parents take into account.

It is unfortunate for your DD to go to what you describe as an atrocious school. You had your reasons I suppose. Glad she is doing well for herself now.

I can’t see any harm in applying. However they’ll assess the bursary on both parents’ income so it depends on their dads financial position as well

It depends what the bursary funds. My parents tried to get a 1--% bursary for me (there are few), but even then would have had to pay school uniform and travel which they could not afford. You have to look at the total cost, not just school fees.

Just had a read through, and one thing I haven’t seen mentioned - is a bursary always guaranteed for the child’s entire education? E.g if offered at 7 what happens if by the time they’re 11 they’re really struggling?

If it’s not guaranteed forever I’d also consider how much pressure you’d be putting your children under OP, a lot can change in a few years

OP, my ds has a maths scholarship to an unfashionable but academic indie.

He won a 50% reduction in fees from year 7 onwards and was desperate to take it up but as a working single mum I have still had to remortgage to enable him to go.

With uniform, bus fees and GCSE field trips it costs about £9k a year. I only have one child. I certainly couldn't afford to send two.

You are completely wrong. Our school does get bursaries from fees paid by parents, but isn't a rich school so doesn't have endowments. Please understand that every private school is different so you can't apply 1 rule to them all, that's sort of the point about being a private school, they can do what they want.

IIRC, the three Dulwich private schools (linked underpinning Foundation and several hundred years of compound interest) can all offer bursaries of over 100% (to cover uniform, travel to school and compulsory school trips plus consideration for additional support for optional ones), and St Pauls is aiming for full needs-blind admission and can also offer substantial bursaries. So OP has found a couple of schools where this level of support is really possible. But usually only from 11+

The prospective pupil needs to have reached the academic level comfortably, and to be someone that the school really wants to see amongst its pupils - the one who will really throw themselves into the life of the school and want to participate in lots of the things they have on offer

Check school websites for specimen exam papers as a guide to level - not just the schools you apply for but also the others in the area so you have more to try out. Also, find out if there are any taster events for prospective pupils - if your DC are excited by the school, it'll be easier for their keenness to show at interview. (Yes, you're in the bind that that also risks disappointment if you do not get an offer; you need to work out how to balance that)