Bursary/Assisted place/Funding for Private school

[1Brummiemummy]

Please can anyone help? My DD has been offered a place after sitting the entrance examination for a local private school. I had a visit from the school bursary however we received a letter Christmas Eve stating we’ve been unsuccessful in gaining any sort of financial assistance. My question is what should I do next? I really don’t want to give up this opportunity for my daughter lightly. Should I phone the school when they’re back open? Should I ask if there is a reserve list or beg for reconsideration? Does anyone know of any charities or places that fund this sort of thing? The school is outstanding and has good amenities, it would be a privilege to send my DD. We have until March to accept or reject the place. My DD is currently in state school & literally had less than 2 months prep so she’s done so well, I feel like I’m letting her down if I can’t get the funds. She loves the school too :-(

My daughter has a large bursary at a ‘top’ school. I know that they also had a bursary waiting list at the time offers were made - I don’t know if they do that at the school you’re talking about but if they do, and she’s not in it, I imagine she didn’t score highly enough to be considered for a bursary.
I knew that to get one I had to qualify as being ‘poor’ enough but my daughter would also have to score very highly in the exam too (we were told top 5%)
At her school they only give bursaries at a level where it would be realistic to go to the school - I.e I worked out the most I could contribute was 10%, anything else was not do-able. We also get lunches/uniform grant/trips paid for - without this help it would also not be feasible to go there.
I think that although you qualified for a bursary she just didn’t perform as well as the other kids also entitled to a bursary - I was told they go down a list - top performers, what % bursary they need, until the pot runs out.
Before I knew we’d got it, I really thought it was such a long shot I’d made peace with not getting one.
And both me and her would have been fine with it (in fact she’d have been happy!) You have to think, getting these bursaries is a long shot, both you and her did your best.
She sounds like a girl who will apply herself, you are obviously invested in and committed to getting her a good education so it will all work out fine I reckon. I do understand though your disappointment as the whole applying for bursary process is exhausting and stressful and it makes you very hopeful. I think it’s ok to be sad for a bit but then think about her options.
Lots of luck

What about a scholarship? DS was offered one (which was a surprise to us) when he say the entrance exams at one school.

Can I be a little cheeky and ask a question?

I’ve seen the ‘income goes up to about £70k on a sliding scale’ comment

However, what happens if you’re in the £70k-£120k bracket but can’t afford £18k PA fees (that’s just day)!

DP earns well (About 90k by the time DC go to secondary) and I work PT - but only a couple of hours less than FT- earning

DP’s salary is reduced heavily by student loan- after minimum pension and SL we’ve lost >£500

My salary is also impacted by this- our entire area is also very expensive (we do not live glamorously but will have just enough bedrooms/space for the kids...etc) and by the time this is done we MAY- just scrape fees (if we live on noodles and baked bean) for one child to attend but CERTAINLEY not 2-3!

I can’t help thinking that there are lots of couples like us who could afford to contribute 50% of fees but not pay 100%

So the bursary’s of 50-80% would be very doable for us - whilst families on £20k a year they would be rather pointless for (I grew up poor and my parents could never have found even 20% of fees).

So what happens in our situation? Do they just say ‘tough’ - moved 2 hours away to a terrible area and live in a one bed flat to afford the fees- or don’t bother applying!

I’m not set on private education- just wondering and curious is all- I’ve all but ruled it out as impossible!

DD passed the entrance exam for an academic independent school, but we were refused a bursary. We decided to send her to the local comprehensive school instead and use tutors if required. In the event she only needed a tutor for GCSE maths where she achieved an A*, and ended up with AAA at A level. We now have enough money to support her through university.

OP it does read as though, your DD, whilst able, is not exceptional enough to get a bursary. While I appreciate your determination, that is the system. Private schools are for people who can pay for them. Which is a shit, when your state school options are rubbish.

However, no school is perfect. Even with a 100% fees bursary, you will need to find a couple of thousand to cover uniform, music lessons, trips and transport. Plus there is always other extras. If you have this money use it to supplement a state education. Send her to theatre school at the weekend, learn a musical instrument, sports clubs and tutoring to help her. Take her to see the world, or at least the UK.

If you impart on her the passion and determination you have she will be fine.

It just irratates me because I’ve only ever been told by her teachers she’s a role model pupil & always tries hard to please.

Sadly that’s not the sort of thing bursaries are based on. If she were academically excellent-ie could pass the 11+ exam with no tuition, that would be the sort of child they would be looking for.

However, what happens if you’re in the £70k-£120k bracket but can’t afford £18k PA fees (that’s just day)!DP earns well (About 90k by the time DC go to secondary)
So the bursary’s of 50-80% would be very doable for us - whilst families on £20k a year they would be rather pointless for

In that case-it’s probably better to have 100% bursaries but give them to fewer children with low incomes but with academic excellence than to helping out those earning £70-£120k by giving them a bit of a discount.

I work in a girls independent school. We have have about 30 students sit for bursary places in Year 7. Most years, there's enough money for 3 full bursary places (inc transport, trips, uniform), or it can be split over more students at 30%/40%.

All of those 30 students are eligible for a bursary (so like you have gone though the bursary process) but the places are awarded on merit. The top performers get offered the bursary places. They are all bright, they are all able, they would all shine at our school, but there's just not enough money for them all to get a bursary. It's really hard.

@Holiday

I’m not sure that’s the case- what you’re saying is let’s make private education accessible for 2-3 students who Absoloutley couldn’t afford it- rather than 15-20 who could afford half but not the full amount!

Either way children who are bright and capable are missing out!
Surely by your calculations DP and I would be better to quit our jobs (as we’d have to reduce our living standards to such a level to afford full time fees) and allow the school to provide a bursary!

It’s the same thing which happens for university funding - low income students are provided for - high income students are provided for - but those middle ground students whose parents earn just North of the threshold but have basic living standards and other children at home - the government points the finger at the parents whilst the parents simply can’t provide!

There’s a real bias towards children of parents in that middle ground!

@MrDarcy at that level of earning you could just about afford it though if you had made different choices - i.e. spread your children out, live somewhere different etc etc, bursaries are intended for people who don't have those choices.

It’s the same thing which happens for university funding - low income students are provided for - high income students are provided for - but those middle ground students whose parents earn just North of the threshold but have basic living standards and other children at home - the government points the finger at the parents whilst the parents simply can’t provide!

I don’t think that you would fall into this category earning £70-£120k.

My DH reckons to comfortable to put 1 child through a £40k pa boarding school you’ve got to be earning £150-160k a year. It’s inevitable that if you’ve got that kind of earnings you’ll have other significant expenses, you’re statistically more like to live in London and the home counties where house prices and or rent are high maybe have significant transport cost commuting to work etc.
I understand the average wage is about 25k, only a few schools in the UK actually have or are trying to have a needs blind admissions policy therefore it’s inevitanle that for the vast majority school fees at even £20k pa (with extras) are outside of the reach of the majority. But many understandably would like their child to attend an independent schools so will take a punt and apply for a bursary.
DS2s school used to send us the annual accounts this is a school that’s full, charging one on the highest fees in the UK and has lots of assets they made interesting reading it’s surprising how little is left over every year by the time they’ve paid their bills (staff wages being the biggest one), they were aiming to move to a needs blind admission policy and were hoping to sell off a significant asset to achieve this I think the last figure I read said just over 15% received a bursary but they rarely offered full bursaries only in exceptional cases the average was 60%. Just to add scholarships had not financial award and bursaries were offered before the final entrance exam sat in yr 8 although a provisional place had been already offered and accepted after a year 6 pre test. They unlike the majority invited parents to submit a bursary form even before the pre testing point to see what size of bursary was likely to be offered to enable parents to decide if they could afford the fees and thus if the wanted to go through with the admissions process. This seems the kindest way of organising bursaries and saves disappointment like that which the OP is expresssing.

OP, on another thread you mentioned you might move to Solihull. Pretty much all the secondaries there are high performing/Ofsted outstanding. I know you’d have to go on a waiting list once you’d moved but I think you’d get a place before Sept (based on the experience of others I’ve known). That seems the best bet for your dd, together with making sure she’s on the grammar waiting lists after Jan of year 7.

How about yr 9 entry for here? CH is known for its availability of bursaries, not everyones cup of tea but in your situation OP worth considering.

@Christopher

True- yet we currently have no commute costs and won’t need to pay for wrap around care due to local family and being walking distance to the school!

If we moved (it would need to be over an hour away to be significantly cheaper) the monthly cost of commutes/wrap around would offset the drop in mortgage - which would be pointless.

Arguably we could scrimp and save and put one child through at full cost - but then what about sibling? 🤔

I’m not by any means saying that we ‘should’ be able to access private school I was just curious and figured there must be lots in our same situation - earning well but not well enough to pay almost £60K per year putting children through school!

There’s surely quite a large gap in the market for ‘middle class’ private schools.

A town near us has one of the best secondary schools in the UK and people move there just for the school- paying huge premiums on houses to be in the catchment area!

*paying £60k per year putting 2-3 children through school

Here’s hoping we move in a good catchment area. Hoping you’re right Crazycrofter having until Sept. I’m not overly concerned with our local one as it stands. I’m going to be honest & say nothing compares so I naturally feel disappointed at this point however I remain hopeful for the future. Maybe I can get her the extra tuition for future applications year 9 or sixth form but time will tell. I was rather late preparing her this time round as I didn’t know bursaries even existed up until a few months back so learnt from my mistake. I’m not the brightest tool but I do want better for my children & plan to support them the best I can going forward wherever their education may land.

I’ve learnt so much on here so thanks for all your responses & support, also for making me feel like crap when the truth is thrown in my face but I refuse to accept it yet. Still searching for that charity/funding in the meantime

Happygardening I just couldn’t do boarding only day. My daughters a right chatter box I’d miss her like crazy. I’d already looked at that one, dismissed it, came back to it again & thought no I just couldn’t!

Good luck to you and your DD OP I hope you manage to find a good school in one or other sector.
I don’t think anyone intentionally meant to make you feel “like crap”.

Thanks happygardening. Of course not I’m just sensitive right now ha

Don’t dismiss boarding for a start you may find it easier to get a bursary.
I always missed my DS’s we have always been very close Yesterday both went back to uni and I feel very sad and miss them terribly. DS2 got opportunities and an education at his senior boarding school that was not available to him in a day school in either sector in the area we live in and we live in an area with has “outstanding schools” which frequently top league tables.
Like so much in life we have to weigh up the pros and cons rarely in life is there a perfect solution and sometimes we have to compromise on X to get Y.

Sound advise, will have a think & maybe ask her thoughts. She might surprise me.

Sound advice, will have a think & maybe ask her thoughts. She might surprise me.

Do you know why you were turned down? Could it be that you need a large bursary? If so the school may not have the funds you need to support you. However, i am surprised they didn't offer a lower bursary?

We would definitely require a large bursary and my income backs that, no savings, rented property, no assets. The bursar called me in the morning and came round 2 hours later so next to no notice. I was in a bit of a fizzle as I was Xmas shopping at the time. She asked questions about my daughter & my son. If I’d of had time to plan I would of made a script ha ha. She did ask me though do I have any support which I keep questioning myself over with my response “If I’m desperate I go to my Dad” By that I meant £20 here & there not thousands