Private school bursary

[Mumdilema]

I wondered if anyone could offer any advice about private schools in Edinburgh to apply to that would consider a funded place. My DD is quite gifted academically and I would like to offer her different options for S1. We would not be able to find 100% school fees and need to consider any options for her secondary education.

Any advice or help would be very gratefully received.

How much research have you already done? All the schools with established and relatively transparent bursary systems in place will set out the application process clearly on their websites. So you should start by reading through each of them and dismissing those that don’t display this information.

You don’t say how old your daughter is - but you’ll need to be aware of relevant deadlines, especially if applying for bursaries. Schools can sometimes accommodate a late application, but financial awards are always allotted at the main entry points.

As previously said,any information about bursaries should be on the school’s website.
Bursaries are means tested and applying for a bursary doesn’t mean a child will automatically receive one.
For the current school year 2021/22 the total gross family income can’t exceed £58,000 .

*Sorry forgot to add this figure is for George Heriots

• And the amounts available for bursaries will vary from one school to another. One may have a much higher income limit than another - and they will in any case weigh up income and assets.

It’s worth bearing in mind that boarding schools (the wealthiest ones, at least) usually offer much more than day schools, as their fees are so much higher.

OP, my point in my earlier post was that bursaries are not (should never be ) awarded on an ad hoc basis. So, while posters may be able to offer opinions on particular schools, they are unlikely to be able to offer more initial bursary info than is publicly available. (Although obviously once awarded a bursary one can offer a little more context regarding the process.)

Which schools do you have in mind?

If your DD is gifted academically, I'm sure she would achieve good results at a state school. Save your money for university!!

Pretty much all the Edinburgh day schools offer means tested bursaries. This is how they fulfil their charitable status.
As PP said the info should be on their website but it's usually the bursar or business manager you should contact. The admissions team (who are usually very approachable and helpful) can keep you right if you're unsure.

There are very detailed forms to fill in and the amount awarded will vary according to an individual family's circumstances. They will usually expect both parents to be working. As PP said there is a cut off point for family income, above which you will not qualify. This varies by school (can be around £55-60k) and the bursar will be able to tell you if it's worth applying.

Some schools do offer a few 100% bursaries but most will be between 20 -50%. Some schools also offer scholarships (academic or music) but these days they are more a token amount, say £300 as it's more for the prestigious than the money!

Do bear in mind other costs you will need to meet such as expensive uniform, travel and lunches. At DD school it's compulsory to have school lunch at a cost of £20 per week.

The main thing is to apply early as schools have a finite bursary pot to allocate every year and once it's gone it's gone.

Thank you for all the replies. I am currently looking at the appropriate websites, admission requirements and income thresholds.

To be honest I have just started looking and making enquiries to schools.

I have another child in state secondary and I know my DD would do well in a state school but I feel a private school could help her achieve more. I hadn’t really considered this an an option until this week and hence trying to find out what may be available. It may be that this route is not an option or not something we wish to look into further, but at least I will know I have explored what’s available.

OP, you’d be amazed at how many children attend fee paying schools on bursaries.

The pity of it is how few parents know that this possibility exists. And those that do often seem to feel they should only try the very ordinary independent day school with a fancy uniform at the end of the next road. That type of school often only offers one or two bursaries a year through nods and whispers or an impossible exam. Major public schools, by contrast, might have 20% of their intake receiving some level of bursary - with a fair proportion on 100% - without this award being attached to any scholarship. It is worth casting your net wide and thoroughly investigating /identifying exactly the schools that would most welcome your exact child, and where she is most likely to thrive.

@EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues

OP, you’d be amazed at how many children attend fee paying schools on bursaries.

The pity of it is how few parents know that this possibility exists. And those that do often seem to feel they should only try the very ordinary independent day school with a fancy uniform at the end of the next road. That type of school often only offers one or two bursaries a year through nods and whispers or an impossible exam. Major public schools, by contrast, might have 20% of their intake receiving some level of bursary - with a fair proportion on 100% - without this award being attached to any scholarship. It is worth casting your net wide and thoroughly investigating /identifying exactly the schools that would most welcome your exact child, and where she is most likely to thrive.

Thank you for this. I have the feeling that we know nothing about private schools, and just need somewhere to start this unfamiliar journey. We would be able to afford transport, meals, uniform and a few trips where appropriate. I feel everyone tries to put us off applying. Our local state school is good but we know from experience, classes are disrupted due to behaviour, there appears to be a lack of any real push, homework is very limited, I just have a feeling the children tend to coast along especially in S1 and 2, certainly that’s been my experience.

Thank you for the info I do think it’s worth pursuing for her.

I will cast my net wider. I’m just a bit concerned we don’t miss the boat for August 2022!

Well, you may have done for some schools. I’m out of the applications deadlines loop now, as relevant child is older, and I only ever looked briefly at one or two Scottish independent boarding schools - but some schools will have completed their application rounds for 2022 a couple of years ago.

That still leaves plenty, though. And day schools don’t need to plan so far ahead.

One thing I know is that it’s best to be bold and optimistic. Timidity and unfamiliarity can lead parents to frankly rubbish schools, because they’re scared of the big name, wealthy schools. Even though the latter are much more likely to have money available for large bursaries.

So think about what your child really needs and actively look for that in a school. Focus on places with clear application timetables, and hoops that you feel able to jump through. It’s particularly important to seek out schools where bursaries are an established part of their ethos and lots of children have them. Generally speaking, unfortunately, single sex girls’ schools have less money than boys’ schools, and consequently make fewer bursary awards per year - which might lead to a recipient feeling a little ‘other’. I’m not sure where co-ed schools sit in this hierarchy.

Does your daughter have any relatively exceptional talents - in case scholarships open the doors to bursary awards at places you’re interested in?

@EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues

Well, you may have done for some schools. I’m out of the applications deadlines loop now, as relevant child is older, and I only ever looked briefly at one or two Scottish independent boarding schools - but some schools will have completed their application rounds for 2022 a couple of years ago.

That still leaves plenty, though. And day schools don’t need to plan so far ahead.

One thing I know is that it’s best to be bold and optimistic. Timidity and unfamiliarity can lead parents to frankly rubbish schools, because they’re scared of the big name, wealthy schools. Even though the latter are much more likely to have money available for large bursaries.

So think about what your child really needs and actively look for that in a school. Focus on places with clear application timetables, and hoops that you feel able to jump through. It’s particularly important to seek out schools where bursaries are an established part of their ethos and lots of children have them. Generally speaking, unfortunately, single sex girls’ schools have less money than boys’ schools, and consequently make fewer bursary awards per year - which might lead to a recipient feeling a little ‘other’. I’m not sure where co-ed schools sit in this hierarchy.

Does your daughter have any relatively exceptional talents - in case scholarships open the doors to bursary awards at places you’re interested in?

Thank you, it would be day schools we are interested in.

Other than high academic achievement in literacy and maths she has few other exceptional talents. She sings in the National Youth Choir, but is enjoying that less since Covid. She is a well balanced child and enjoys a range of things, her talent seems to lie in literacy; reading, writing and speaking.

Have you thought of St Mary's music school OP? They offer bursaries. Most are there on a bursary.

St Mary's music school in Edinburgh. In the West end.

If you want to apply for a place starting S1 in the next academic year (Aug 22) you need to move fast as most of the application deadlines will be in the next few weeks. George Watson's is 12th November, Edinburgh Academy 26th November, I'm sure others will be similar.

As other people have said, there tend to be bursaries rather than (substantial) scholarships.

Would you not consider the same for your other child?

I have been trying to type a message to thank everyone for their comments and information but it keeps getting deleted.

Thank you to everyone for your help.
I think we are leaning towards not applying.
We are just under the income threshold for a bursary and think it would be an anxious time every year reapplying for a bursary and if it wasn’t granted we would struggle to finance her future years in the school.

I have a lot more information from schools and we would need to apply very soon to meet deadlines. I’m not sure it would be in her best interests to sit multiple exams and potentially not be able to take up a place offered if the bursary was not sufficient to cover the majority of the fees.

Thank you again for all the comments.

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