How do bursaries for private school work?

[mamamira]

If you can't afford full fees

Is it de rigeur to phone up the school and ask?

We haven't noticed a difference in our school. Our applications for the normal points of entry are at the expected levels. The mid-year losses we have had are, again, at normal levels.

what should I do, ST, just speak to admissions? in usual circs, would we be looking at NOT being admitted/

I would speak to admissions about possibility of a bursary - which will be means tested. You should be told roughly the level of income below which bursaries may be awarded. At most schools they are means tested annually. DS1 just qualified for one when he started at secondary school, but as soon as I increased my working hours and pay, the percentage bursary awarded for the next year went down.

Scienceteacher - We are taking our DD out of a good state school as we feel that she is not adequately challenged in her year.It is going to be difficult for the next 2 years and we are hoping that DD will get some scholarship in the indie.Our second one will be due to start school then. We live in Wales therefore no option of grammar school.She is a bright child and is also musical. She has had a book from the school from before christmas and she has not completed the book and I have not therefore signed it( she reads lots of other books at home)There is no comment in her book to even ask us why she has not completed this for such a long time!!!!!.
She has done her piano grade 1 and is taking her cello grade2 in summer.The question to all the wise MNers is - Is there anyway I can prepare her in the next 2 years so she either get an academic/music or both the scholarship as it will help us a lot as dd2 will be going to school then. BTW we wont be eligible for means tested bursary.So our best option is a scholarship. TIA. sorry long post............

I was reading yesterday that typically you can only get full bursary for income under 30k and any help stops at 42k ish - vaires from school to school though. Scholarhsips are worth less than previous generatiosns and bursaries used to top up those in need of assistance. For a music scholarships around here you are looking at Grade 4 minimum in 2 instruments by 11 plus audition.

dinny if you are thinking of where you dance etc applications for year 3 would have gone through last Autumn, with a visit and tests, and I know it is a heavily subscribed year but at least one has just left. It is possible that once the Surrey CC allocations come out in March (iirc), some of those who have currently accepted places for 2009/10 will drop out if they get first choice of state school. I suspect timings for others locally will be similar.

The O based schools actually advertise bursaries for 7+,9+ and so on and a couple of open days are coming up in next few weeks. The other school does have some bursary funding in place but apparently noone has asked and not sure what criteria are applied. However I'm not at all sure it would apply for preprep age as they are really trying to attract older pupils who will stay to 13. The bursar is very approachable so worth asking.

SAMS73 DD was grade 3 in three instruments (piano, violin and sax as well as being able to dabble on guitar, bass guitar, clarinet, harp and make a tune/follow music without too much trouble) when she was entered for a music scholarship last year. She didn't get one. She did get a major academic (non-means tested 24% discount on fees) though based on her academic exam. This is the maximum award of scholarship at her school. Very few - a handful perhaps - are offered and some will not be accepted because the children will have been dual entered for the more academically-selective other independent schools.

Some music scholarships may not offer a discount on fees but offer free tuition instead. At DD's school it's free tuition on two instruments (I don't know if there's a discount too on day fees). But they offer free tuition on endangered instruments and if you achieve Grade 6 with distinction anyway.

Ultimately scholarships depend on who else enters on the day. DD saw there was a Grade 6 violinist on the list when she entered so she had an inkling that as a G3 violinist she might not be in the running.

oh dear... cant afford to teach her more instruments although she would like to learn many more.May be Iwill concentrate on getting her to a good standard in these two instruments. Do they have to play the instruments in front of an audience or how does it work ? How do they test academically. There is no problem with her reading ability or mathematical ability.I wont say that she is a genius or blah blah blah.She is an able child.Some of the mums I speak to scare me as they are coaching their dcs themselves at home or will do private tutoring near the selective exam.I can teach her whenever I can (work FT/8month old at home)DH works away a lot.Dont think can do tutoring (apparently it costs around few thousand pounds!!!).If I am the one who is going to teach her whenever I can, I would like some adv regarding how this can be done if I start may be in another 6/8 months time.

They still have to pass the standard entrance paper well, maybe a separate shcolarship paper if they don't just select those from the top performers in the exam, an interview and take an audition in front of staff so play, aural etc as per an exam. Obviously there need sot be rpeparation for these if they are to show their potential. In many private prep schools there will have been regular opportunities to play to an audience by that stage, with exam and interview practice. To do all this yourself may be hard but Bonds Papers give an idea of the academic standard and test format - they have a website with samples.

You have to speak to the schools - Mumnset really can't help out with anything specific.

The Charities Act has tightened to rules for bursaries in the last couple of years. It is very easy for someone who received a bursary a couple of years ago to be talking old tapes. Every school will be unique in how they apply the Act, based on the profile of their school and their typical pupils. Also, if Mumsnetters have received bursaries, it is a condition that they are not allowed to talk about it to anyone, otherwise they could immediately lose the assistance. That would certainly stop me from blabbing on Mumsnet.

One thing the Charities Act says is that a bursary cannot be token. A 10% discount is not going to significantly widen access to the school. It has to be something really meaningful, and I would read into this more than 50%.

I'm not sure what stage you are at, but the normal process is to get the school to send you a copy of their prospectus, and for you then to make an appt with the Headteacher for a discussion and tour. If at that point, you are positive about the school, you can then raise the topic of finances. You can be perfectly frank about it. They will have made provisions for families that require extra help, and therefore expect to ahve to have the discussion.

Re music scholarships - the boy at DS1's school who received the 50% scholarship for music had passed Grade 8 with distinction in both Piano and Violin (this was by the age of 11). This may be exceptional, but there are a lot of very musical children around after scholarships.

I think one should just live in hope. I dont have a prodigy at home who will do grade8 in two instruments by age 11.I dont want the poor kid go after something like scholarship and lose all the fun in learning .Have to do serious thinking over the next few years

I think one should just live in hope. I dont have a prodigy at home who will do grade8 in two instruments by age 11.I dont want the poor kid go after something like scholarship and lose all the fun in learning .Have to do serious thinking over the next few years

I think one should just live in hope. I dont have a prodigy at home who will do grade8 in two instruments by age 11.I dont want the poor kid go after something like scholarship and lose all the fun in learning .Have to do serious thinking over the next few years

SAMS73 - sorry I've only just read your question.

Some GDST schools are able to offer HSBC scholarships, as well as their own GDST ones. Basically, HSBC pays half the fees and the GDST pays the other.

Have you read this:

www.gdst.net/ourschools/Pages/Bursariesscholarshipsandprizes.aspx

BTW, my DD went to Portsmouth High. I do know that Portsmouth Grammar - a mixed independent school - also offer various scholarships and bursaries. Go to the school's own website to find out which bursaries and scholarships are on offer.

Here's the link for Portsmouth High, just to give you an idea.

www.portsmouthhigh.co.uk/admissions/admissions-menu/scholarships.html

Good luck!

Sorry - to clarify - Portmouth Grammar is not a GDST school - just another private school in the same area.

So glad that someone else has asked this question! DS (6) Is sitting for a music scholarship on tues, hasn't started grading in his instruments as too young apparently, he has just been highlighted as showing real aptitude. I felt queasy about asking could he sit, and haven't picked up the courage to ask what the scholarship could mean! Very glad to see it is ok to ask, but wondering if it is ok with one so young?
I know for the next stage up, the process seems much more upfront and the places are heavily contested.
We have just found a scholarship opportunity to the school we would like DS to go to at 11 via a choir locally. See if their are any links that way.

SAMS - regarding preparing your child - I did exactly this.

Firstly, my DD had already been home-educated and was working at a high level before she went back into mainstream school in Year 6. I'm not saying I was a wonderful teacher or anything but it is so much easier for a child to get ahead when he/she is working one-one.

One of the main reasons we then chose her secondary school was because it offered generous bursaries but she really did like it as well after she'd been to the open days etc.

I worked with her each evening and some of the weekends for about 3 mths before she took the entrance exam in the January. I just wanted to really hone her skills in English & Maths so she felt totally comfortable when it came to the exam. She was completely in agreement with this - no pushing from me was needed.

She was offered the HSBC scholarship which was the best one they had at the time but the head told me, if she hadn't have got that one they would have given her the GDST one and topped it up with a bursary.

There were some comments earlier about prepping your child to pass the entrance exam and then they were going to be miserable because they couldn't keep up. I think this could be valid for some children but my DD really is a very bright child and has sailed through her school. She was awarded a Music Scholarship in Year 8 and won other academic awards throughout the years she was there.

She would have had no problems getting into the school if we were paying but I did the extra coaching because I wanted the bursary and therefore, she really did have to be one of the best entrants on the day.

I'd like to mention here that the other girl who got an HSBC scholarship at the same time was obviously bright but didn't do nearly as well as my DD throughout her time at the school. However, she performed well enough on the day to merit the scholarship and that what counts!

By the way, you won't have left it too late. We thought we had and since we have accepted our place I have had three calls from very good preps who I would have expected to be full for sept 09.

Also for music, look into auditioning for the national childrens orchestra, its well thought of and would give you help

From what I've read when I've been looking at scholarships grade 5 at 11 seems to be the usual requirement for one instrument and less for the second. If I had a child who was grade 8 at a 11 I'd be applying for the Royal College of Music !

Grade 4 at 13+ is a pretty normal scholarship standard too.

Grade 8 in 2 instruments is not an expectation.

Yes - it was Grade 5 at 11 and Grade 7 at 13 at my DD's school. However, she was awarded a Music Scholarship at 13 even though she hadn't yet taken Grade 7. She'd got a Distinction at Grade 6 and performed a very mature piece at the "interview" so they gave it to her. I think there is a bit of flexibility.

Thanks a lot Lazywoman and others.

I dont want to be bragging about myDD.Once again I dont think she is a prodigy but just a lovely bright girl who does all these things effortlessly.

Just to give an overall idea about her .
She reads Iva abbotson/stephen Hawking books(which is usually considered for 9-11year old with no problem)- reading skills.Finished her usual reading scheme in the school end of year 1.

Maths - I have intoduced fractions.decimals again no problems in understanding and working out (her local school was not prepared to go further with her timetables otherthan1,2,3,5,and 10 so I had to do rest of it upto12 last year.Havent had much time withDH away and a small one at home.

Music - good aptitude.I am not musical so cant help her but has done her grade1 inpiano (got 128 after a year and a half of class) currently working on cello grade3 but going for grade2 exam hopefully in summer (again roughly had lessons for about a year)

I am not sure whether this will be an issue but she is a very shy,quiet girl (thinking of interview)

As for as preparation is concerned,I hope you dont mind me asking you Lazy woman what exactly you did.Bond papers have been suggested which I thought I will have a look this week.
THANKS AGAIN.

Hi SAMS - no problem - ask away! And, by the way I don't think it's bragging - your daughter is what she is!

The Bond papers look good but for her age, there's loads of free resources you could use to stretch her abilities - I don't think I used anything in particular but I may have got hold of some past papers for the entrance exam from the school so it gave me an idea of what to expect.

Anyway, here are a few websites I used for my kids:

www.abcteach.com - US website - great for free comprehension worksheets etc. - from middle to junior high (american version) kids

www.rhlschool.com - US site - loads of free worksheets for kids in upper elementary/middle school (american version)

www.activityvillage.co.uk/ - UK site with loads of free printables etc. to use

www.enchantedlearning.com/Home.html - US site with loads of free worksheets, games etc

www.firstschoolyears.co.uk/ - one of my favourite UK sites - tons of useful free worksheets

www.primaryresources.co.uk/index.htm - another of my fave sites with loads of free worksheets

puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/WordSearchSetupForm.html - great for making your own customised Word Searches, Mazes etc.

www.schoolexpress.com/ - another US site with loads of free printables/worksheets

www.superkids.com/ - particularly good for creating customised maths worksheets but they also have other free resources to use

www.handipoints.com/ - create your own customised rewards chart - can be maintained online or printed off

The other thing that occurs to me is to have a meeting with the Head of your daughter's current school to see if they have any schemes for gifted children. You could also look it up on your Local Authority website - there may be other avenues to approach?

One thing's for sure, you just have to keep pushing - as noboby else is going to do it for you

Sorry - and don't forget the BBC

www.bbc.co.uk/ - it has some fantastic resources and you can also get an idea of Key levels. Aim to get your DD operating at minimum Level 5/6 by the time she's 11. This will put her in approx. the top 5% or better at that age.