Lose Private School Scholarships

[sollyfromsurrey]

Just wondering really as mine are past the stage but can dc lose their scholarships to private schools? Bearing in mind they are more honorific than financial these days, can and do schools remove them if, for example, someone with a sports scholarship turns out to be a lemon or someone with an academic scholarship end up in middle or lower sets? Or someone with a drama scholarship turns out to be dreadful. I suspect lots of dc are hugely prepped to get scholarships. I just wondered what happened when their true abilities are revealed and they are not actually very good.

From the ones that I know of, they all come with an "expectation" attached. For music you have to contribute by being part of the orchestras, bands, performances. For sport, you have to attend all practices, and matches. For drama, you have to support the dept by auditioning for parts, and helping with costume, lighting, sound, etc.

For academic there is usually some level of attainment you must sustain, and extra curricular academic extension subjects/seminars to attend.

So, essentially, if you don't put in the effort for your reduction in fees, then yes, you lose your right to claim it.

Yes, it was made clear that DS's was reliant on a certain level of academic performance. His was financial.

I think it's varied as each school would have their own policy. But school in general try their hardest to spot genuine interest and potential and DCs who are awarded would try to maintain the expected standard so presumably it's pretty rare to under perform considerably. When DS was awarded a music scholarship, the contact stated the importance of maintaining the expected progress and possible removable of the award but then added 'though usually unlikely'.

I don't know others but DS didn't prepare 'hugely'. He picked some of his current and old pieces and polished them to performance standard prior to the audition like he would usually do for any performance. He was into music so it wasn't unusual for him to practice really. I assume many DCs who apply and receive an award are those who are committed in the chosen activity anyway?

I remember some parents tutoring like crazy for years prior to the exams, resulting in the dc performing well at the exams but nose-diving once at senior school. I also know of two parents in different year groups who in their time, had professional artist tutors come to the house and work with their dc, teaching them how to speak 'art speak' and how to generally sound like they were really into the whole thing when in reality the kids were very mediocre and not even really into it all. They both got scholarships. Both ended up not really being very creative at all. I agree that with music an sports, there would generally have to have been years of genuine participation and proof, like being members of county teams etc but with academic, drama and art there can definitely be a lot of coaching that gets the kids through even though the talent is limited.

A good school will know the teen years can be quite variable, and won't want to cause additional stress.

So awards are very commonly dependent on good behaviour and good effort, but not always on specifie levels of attainment.

Good effort can include participation; such as can turning upfor training and fixtures, or rehearsals and performances, painting the scenery for the play, going on the choir tour etc).

A certain level of academic performance may be required - I've seen conditions like 'must remain in top 15%' in all exams.

And there may be specific renewal points - often coinciding with entry points to the school (11+, 13+ and 16+) so at least the potential stress of reassessment won't be there all the time.

Yes schools we used tended to have frequent renewal points so scholarship applications even from existing holders at end of yr 6,8 and 11 so there was only ever a 2 or 3 year finite term.

DDs academic one takes her to the end of 6th form with no conditions attached. She wasn’t tutored.

DD’s says she must consistently work to a high academic standard and contribute to the school, but it’s no more specific than that.
I had one that lasted until after GCSE but The was supposed to be reviewed depending on my results. Nobody ever mentioned it and I just went on to 6th form