Bursary applications a negative mark against your child?

[knickerbockerglory]

My DD is a very bright and capable child and we have been told is scholarship material. We are applying to grammars and decent comprehensives in our area but two close friends of mine last year ended up not getting a place at any of their chosen 6 state schools, even though their children were above average ? so as a back-up we are covering ourselves by looking at schools in the independent sector that are generous with scholarships and give bursaries. My question is this, though? Would a bursary 'tick' on the registration form and subsequent bursary application somehow count against your child as a sort of noted black mark, even if they are academically very bright?

Don't see why it would? The tick for bursary on the application form will simply inform the finance department to send you the relevant forms.

Not at all . It may be competitive but if your child is bright they will want to have her and be very prepared to consider her application.

Well, I hope it bloody doesn't. But It wouldn't surprise me if it did at some schools.

However, at others it might work in your favour- there is some (not enough but some) assure on independent schools to justify their charitable status nowadays.

I have the impression that if you apply for a full fees place, the pass mark is not as high as if you apply for a bursary-only place - very happy to be told different. They've certainly asked on application forms questions like 'will you only accept a place if a bursary is available?'.

I've also heard of extra pressure being placed on children to perform well when the school are paying for them to be there, rather than the parents - that was people my generation though, so I don't know to what extent that still happens...

If they offer bursaries, there has to be a way for families to ask about them.

Usually, the application for a bursary happens after a place has been offered. There are no guarantees that you will be given a bursary though.

If you can't go to the school without a large bursary, then it doesn't really matter if there is black mark against your name - the result will be the same.

Ds1 has a bursary and 2 scholarships, there was no box on the application to tick for a bursary- we just asked the bursar as it was mentioned on the website and in the prospectus. None of his mates know about it and I'm pretty sure most of the staff don't know he has any financial assistance at all be it a bursary or a scholarship. A bursary is not something to be posted on the staffroom notice board!

My son has a bursary (means tested) & scholarship (exam). There was a box to tick but we were told that the bursary applications were not even looked at until after it was decided to offer a place on basis of entrance exam. So had no effect at all on whether he got a place or not. His classmates know he is a scholar but not about the bursary. I doubt very much that the staff know, and we get regular letters as do all parents asking us to contribute to the bursary fund! So from our expereince needing a bursary has definitely not gone against him. It seems very fair & transparent and the level is re-assessed every year, which is fair enough. Good luck with the applications!

My son is at a selective independent boy's school. He knows who all the scholars are (they can wear a different tie, have to attend lectures, even if they are sports scholars), but he would have no idea if they were receiving a bursary.

My advise would always be to ask the bursar.

When my kids were at prep school, the Head knew I was involved with a local charity supporting families with young kids. He actually said to me that if I knew of any child who may benefit from the education the school could offer, but wouldn't normally be able to afford it, could I please ask the parents to get in touch.

Schools have to do a lot to prove their charitable status.

Confused here!

You state that your friends didn't get a place at any of their 6 state school choices.

What happened was either your friends live in a catchment area "black hole" Where they are not near enough to any school to get a place based on distance (very unlikely indeed) or I'm afraid they cocked up the application either by listing only selective schools, which, however "above average" the child was they didn't score highly enough to get a place, or they didn't list their nearest non selective school as and "insurance offer".

If you place a non selective state school that you qualify for on distance criteria you will get a place. If your non selective choice is further away (because you didn't like the nearest) then you may not get a place as you have not met the distance requirement.

Summary- place the school you want your child to go to at 1. If this is selective and they do well enough, they get a place. If not the other choices are looked at in order to see if they meet the criteria set, either exam result or distance/religion etc.

PUT YOUR NEAREST NON SELECTIVE SCHOOL IN CHOICE 6 and you will be very unlucky not to at least get a place there.

Private school applications, bursaries etc have no impact on the state school applications.We've been through this x3 now (and for the last time thank goodness).

AS to whether being a "scholarship kid" makes any difference at the school- that depends on the school. Our youngest got a half fees bursary locally and we didn't accept but sent her via the grammar route. Mostly because the school was obviously less academic overall that the grammar, but also, whilst we could afford the fees etc, we wouldn't be living a horsey, jet set lifestyle, and she wouldn't be going on school ski trips etc as we wouldn't have the money. Maybe it doesn't matter at some schools, but I bet it does at others...

Agree with what soda1234 said: independent schools have to offer bursaries to keep their charitable status. They need bright children also to maintain their position in the league tables. If your child is also a good all-rounder and handy with a cricket bat you're a shoo-in. (Only joking btw)