Private School Bursary Advice

[Muminneed12]

I have never posted on here before but am looking for some advice from others that may have experienced the bursary process.
My daughter sat entrance exams and then had an interview at a local independent school and has been offered a place with a bursary. However, the bursary is not as much as we thought it would be.

Anyway, that's just a bit of background info. The bursar has agreed to meet with us and advised we bring all relevant documentation if we want them to re-evaluate the original offer. I wondered if anyone else had had such a meeting and if so was it successful? What documentation would people recommend taking?

Would rather people stayed objective and didn't question why I feel my child should go to an independent school. Just would like some advice on whether people have had these meetings before and the bursary has been adjusted. If not, quote simply we will have to turn down the offer of her place as family members are not in a position to contribute either.

Thanks in advance.

If I was a bursar I’d want to see proof of income P60s etc details pension contributions which can be pretty significant if you work in the public sector and student loan repayments and proof of regular outgoings you should include council tax car insurance life insurance any loan credit card repayments etc all the things you have to pay and anything else you pay regularly eg if your rural and youre a high mileage driver to get to work detail how much you spend every month on petrol. Also rent agreement or mortgage statement.
Good luck.

Hello muminneed, firstly well done to your daughter. She must have done well in the exam and school report must have shown her academic potential.
Take P60, any hmrc tax credit/child benefit statements; last 6 months bank statements; mortgage statement; any other asset statements; summary of income vs. outgoings. Make it as clear to them as possible what you can realistically afford and there is no further funding from other family members. One point to note, if you do have a reasonable amount of equity, they would rightly expect you to drawn down on this to pay for fees.

Impress upon the bursar you are very keen as schools always like parents/children to want them. Best of luck.

Thank you both for the reply. I took all the evidence and they have now made a new offer which is much more realistic for us so we can now accept the place. Yay!
Will have the process again in 4 years when little gets to this age nooooo.

Muminneed, yours may not be of course, but our bursary was fully re-assessed every year....for seven years....

Brilliant - that is great news! I have 3 children on bursaries in 3 separate schools and they are all benefitting from an amazing education which would have otherwise been impossible for me to afford. Am so grateful these charitable funds exist and if am ever in a position to pay back in the future I shall.

You’ll no doubt need to reapply each year as is the norm so by the time you get to your next it won’t be so bad