Income levels for bursaries/assisted places

[DebbieFiderer]

I'm vaguely looking in to the possibility of DD going to an independent school for secondary as I think it would suit her (the right one would anyway!), but it wouldn't really be a possibility without significant assistance with fees. I've looked at a few local schools and they say they offer bursaries of up to 100%, obviously means tested; so far so good.

I had assumed that on our income level we would be good candidates for a bursary, however having looked at a couple of other schools a little further away (also more sought-after/prestigious, if that makes a difference), they are a little more specific about income levels for bursaries; one says that families with income above national average would be unlikely to get assistance, the other specifies £26,000 as a cut off for 100% bursary, so now I am wondering if that would be similar at other schools, in which case there is little chance we would get enough to make it a possibility :(

Does anyone know if this would be the case, or do schools vary quite significantly on this? We are in Surrey if that makes a difference.

I really don't understand the DofE funding at Chethams. Obviously I understand how it works but what I don't understand is how the govt are funding the places when they ceased the assisted place funding for gifted and able children to attend independent schools a long time ago. Surely it would be cheaper to provide music enrichment within state schools than to fund places at Chethams or other music specific schools.
Fair play to anybody whose child gets a place at Chethams though.

Agreed super. Knowing the state school dd would be offered was completely inappropriate I researched whether I'd have any legal grounds to fight for a place at the nearest suitable one, or any avenue to force the unsuitable comp to make reasonable provision, and discovered I had no chance, it hinged on a bursary. And although not applicable near here I've heard if you attend the nearest grammar in a non selective area it's not considered the nearest suitable school for transport help etc. So seems a bit unfair the d of e will fund music.
However at least they're still catering for some talents which is better than none.

Yes, I agree it is better that they are catering for some talents rather than none and if I had a musically gifted child I would absolutely look into a DOfE funded place at a specialist school.
We were in the position of being offered a place at a state grammar in a neighbouring county (within reasonable commutable distance but significantly over 3 miles), we would have had to fund transport costs ourselves. As it happened we were offered bursaries at two independent schools both closer than the state grammar and one offered a travel grant along with the bursary.

State grammar for us would have meant a house move due to travel times, so never even entered. Ditto, dd did two, but one only a smallish one that I doubted had the funds for significant bursaries, but worth a shot. Got offered both so smaller ( and therefore not an option) bursary at second choice didn't matter.
I just found it really unfair that of all those that tried for them alongside her, most won't have been offered any and won't all have good back up state schools. Especially one local girl who I know is going to the possibly worst local school for any able child, and short of a lottery win has no choice.

Baby mind
I moved out of London to lower my outgoings . It just depends what's on the table , I was grateful to get this offer for ds , his also a weekly boarder so I'm saving money on housing him so it balances out kinda . Regardless us mums will always find the money my ds is in a class of 16 so to me it's worth every penny ????