Would private schools expect us to remortgage before offering a bursary?

[Tootandcomeinagain]

Hi - seen a lot here about bursaries and wondered if anyone has remortgaged for school fees - we live in a 700K home (all paid off) in London. Salaries 90K gross. Potential school fees are 12K a term so 72K a year for 2. Would we qualify for a part bursary or would we be expected to remortgage? Do they look at the home first? Id be interested in any bursar views as there have been a few posting?

This is how many of us are living and we have no bursary. People think private school is lavish or elite. It is miserable and we cut back and the children miss out on a lot. Parents are now questioning and negotiating fees.

So why do it? When you can get a good education for free?

https://www.gbnews.com/money/private-school-fees-soar-vat

Many of us feel trapped in our decision.

lets hope the government do as promised and inject this money into education and the state system.

we are trapped between a rock and a hard place.

At least if we can get our children into state education we will have funds to enjoy family life again.

People believe that the children are getting this fantastic education in independent schools and that (outside London) is a myth. We’re paying the schools, utility bills, building maintenance and staff costs. The cut backs are rife from school lunch, to sport co curricular, arts, disgruntled staff not wanting to run clubs or wrap around provision. We pay in good will but we do not receive what was promised at point of admission. As much as we pay, it never seems to convert to provision for the children just operating costs. Upkeep. No funds for luxury for the children at school or home both, spread too thin. Children suffering. If we can move to state we will. If state improve and promise well behaved environments for learning with government cash injection to co curricular and leveling up. This is the future for U.K. education. Independent schools outside of London are simply a waste of family money, unsustainable.

@fartotheleftside i went to state myself and didnt even consider private but we tried and got a decent bursary at the time. What i notice is there are lots of SEN pupils in the classes of varying degrees - so the parents clearly dont think state works for them and have the funds to put them into independent. In ours, they get a lot of support.

Once you are in - its hard to leave - you get used to the smaller classes - and for us, there isnt really a strong alternative locally unless you go to a faith school (Judaism / Catholic), and we wouldnt qualify

Yes that’s the feeling “once you’re in” it’s suffocating.

No family no matter how wealthy likes waste.

If a family believe SEN is catered to I can wholeheartedly see why a happy child needs met coming home is worth its weight in gold.

The conflict arises when you’re at a top “selective” also in a outstanding state catchment and you have friends and family in both that’s when you recognise that the children are learning and advancing and thriving in all areas.

One is entirely free the children and families doing well, learning and enjoying treats and family enrichment, children dressed well sporting trends, going to concerts or sports events. Enjoying life! As families.

And the other working every second paying thousands of pounds annually, parents tired, stressed, worried. Kids told ‘no we can’t afford it’ simple things not luxuries. Every penny directed to a school (business) which is at every opportunity making cut backs to standards, provision and no matter how much we contribute paying full fees, always ask more. We have nothing more to give, neither do our kids.

Over a 1/3rd of your gross household income a year on school fees. Is it something you can realistically afford anyway?

Additional 20% which came in over night! Passed straight on to families.

The choice was we will be stretched but it’s manageable, do able.

Our kids will have access to education plus arts, sports, opportunities, co curricula.

This has all been cut.

So we are not getting what we signed up for. The schools outside London all have major financial problems with operational costs! That’s what our fee money is subsidising.

@Tootandcomeinagain
i hear you @Tootandcomeinagain what I found also with private is the positive/nurturing attitude of the school towards pupils where the kids develop a connection with the adult as opposed to the sort of more controlling behaviour/compliance first approach of our local state secondaries
but this is obviously in the part of london we live in and I have no idea whether it is the same elsewhere.
and yes lots of SEN children who are highly intelligent but need a more gentle supportive positive environment to thrive