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Secondary education

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Original poster

School fees help!!!

119 replies

squirrel35 · 22/03/2019 23:12

Hi all
My son has been awarded a music scholarship and with that and what we can afford we can cover 80% of the fees. Any ideas if there is a anyine else I can apply to? My son is so desperate to go and he would gain so much musically from it but I just cannot afford the extra 20%
I have spoken to the school but they can not offer anymore as they already gave us a bursary as well
Anyone have experience if this??

OP posts:
Rafflesway · 23/03/2019 15:54

I was a child who received a 100% scholarship to a very prestigious faith school 50 years ago.

Fantastic school and was the making of me but even back then the "Extras" were horrendously expensive. I had to leave at 15 for financial reasons. Sad

dancingthroughthedark · 23/03/2019 16:05

In the town where I used to live in there was a charity fund to help children with things like this. Where we live now the neighbouring parish council has something similar whereas this one doesn't so it may well depend on where you live but contacting your local town or parish council might be a good place to start. Both funds had certain criteria you had to fulfil to be eligible. If you are not eligible for a larger bursary I am presuming you may be in too high an income bracket?

Original poster
squirrel35 · 23/03/2019 16:08

Thank you to all the positive comments I do appreciate it.
Yes he is my son and yes it’s my responsibility however these trust and grants are exactly what they are for. To help talented children who would miss out if there parents can’t afford it.
I do not regret letting my son audition as it was a super opportunity for him and he is very understanding about the whole situation. I’m a firm believer if you are determined enough and fight for things you will get there in the end. So that is what I will do!!!!
I have never said it is the responsibility of others I was nearly asking if anybody had been in the same situation.

OP posts:
Original poster
squirrel35 · 23/03/2019 16:10

No we are not at all in the high income bracket it’s just the school has a limited pot of money so bursary’s are never more than 20%

I will look into the local council
Thank you again for all your help

OP posts:
zonkin · 23/03/2019 16:10

You clearly can't afford it. You can make plenty of opportunities with the money that you were planning to spend on private school.

Accept and move on - with a positive attitude. You don't want your DS feeling that he hasn't fulfilled his potential because you couldn't afford the school. You don't want him feeling like he's in the second best (or worse) option. Take the opportunities that you do have and make the most of it.

WorriedMum11 · 23/03/2019 16:14

Everyone is being so harsh to OP!! It’s real jealousy and beating people down when they’re only trying to their best.

Musical charities, find the contact details for CEOs of record companies, see if you can get hold of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s agent - seriously when you speak to the people at the top who are more accessible due to social media/email things get done. It’s not. Huge amount of money for them to forfeit and sponsor! I would try everything and get begging!

(Or get an evening job).

Original poster
squirrel35 · 23/03/2019 16:23

Thank you for being lovely and all the advice. I’ll keep looking x

OP posts:
talktoo · 23/03/2019 16:31

RupertStJohnPoo oh please. Stop exaggerating. All three of ours have gone through -one still in private education and apart from the year they went on a ski trip (optional, most didn't go) or the trip to Africa (again just didn't go) we were nowhere near £2000 per dc per year. You don't buy new uniform every year.

zonkin · 23/03/2019 16:35

I don't think it's harsh. And it's certainly not jealousy. It's reality. I think your suggestion is selling false hope.

The companies/people you are talking about (incl Andrew Lloyd Webber) have official charities/causes that they support. These vary from year to year, and are vetted thoroughly.

BigFatGiant · 23/03/2019 16:38

Why is everyone having a go at OP. If she doesn’t send her son to this school he’ll go that astate school presumably where, you guessed it, other people would be paying for it. Could you make changes to your work to make up the shortfall? Take a second job or switch to a better paid shift/employer? Or equity release? Most people I know did this to fund school fees at some point.

MissWimpyDimple · 23/03/2019 16:39

Our private school does have compulsory foreign trips but they split the cost (for all trips) across the year so you pay about £60 per month on top of fees (varies each year depending on the trips). Also on top of fees is lunch which is an additional around £60 per month.

Our Uniform is not much more than the state secondary's. However I know some private schools where it really is.

I don't really understand schools where they only offer small bursaries. Surely this means it's only a very small "borderline" group that this helps? Surely they must know that this puts them beyond the reach of most families?

Our school generally award bursaries of between 80% and 95% which means they genuinely can offer to the wider community, though the reality is that even with 80% once you add the extras it means a bill of several hundred £s a month.

Sadly I don't think you can manage this. Perhaps use your available extra funds to supplement his state education?

BigFatGiant · 23/03/2019 16:40

@RupertStJohnPoo that’s not normal. In most schools the majority of stuff is included in the fees and optional extrasare offered at a fairly cheap price for what they are.

talktoo · 23/03/2019 16:43

Perhaps there are different policies at different private schools. The then near on £40k a year each at the boarding school and current £18k for a day school included meals and most trips. The trips at the day school are around £12-20 a trip and no international trips are compulsory other than art trips or similar in 6th form.

ruthieness · 23/03/2019 16:44

how about the Gerald finzi trust ?

RupertStJohnPoo · 23/03/2019 16:50

talktoo I am not exaggerating. I feel for the OP and wanted to ensure she has full picture. Why would I make something up? What a bizarre thing to say. I only have experience of our Prep in South East not London. Extras taught as “optional” lessons in school day but whole class do are tap, ballet, recorder, piano. this week coming as a random example we have science trip and theatre company visit. Games kit alone was almost £300. Blazer new is £70. The uniform alone is c.£500. Compulsory insurance etc etc.

tillytubby · 23/03/2019 16:50

Nothing really to add except good luck I understand why you are asking for help.

jade9390 · 23/03/2019 16:51

Only a tiny shortfall? You people are on a different planet. Obviously it is a huge amount to this lady and many others.
Just keep looking and remember, nothing stops, talented, determined children, even if they have to go to a 'poor' school.

Original poster
squirrel35 · 23/03/2019 16:55

Thanks ruthiness I’ll have a look.
It’s good to hear from personnel experiences about all the extras. In my budget I have included meals and transport. If he does not go to this school he will end up at the local school which is not very good.
The other state school which is fabulous he is on the waiting list so I’m not sure if we get offered a place there. He is only 4th on the list but you just don’t know it’s a very popular school.
I know all this is a long shot but even if there’s is 1% chance then that’s still a chance and at least I’m trying.

OP posts:
Original poster
squirrel35 · 23/03/2019 16:57

Thank you jade9390 this is very true and by goodness he is determined alright . So super proud of him just for auditioning and getting this far x

OP posts:
Original poster
squirrel35 · 23/03/2019 16:58

Thank you Tillytubby

OP posts:
CherryPavlova · 23/03/2019 17:02

He might get same opportunities at state school with Junior Academy of Royal Academy, County or National Youth Orchestra and various high standard choirs. If it’s not classical music then somewhere like BOA might suit at fourteen.

Ilovewheelychairs · 23/03/2019 17:03

Could your son audition for a music college junior department instead? He'd get a full days top class tuition on a Saturday then, and I would think be a little bit cheaper than private schooling overall. Worth looking into.

talktoo · 23/03/2019 17:08

RupertStJohnPoo like I conceded, perhaps there are different policies at different schools. BigFat agreed with me so perhaps your school is the unusual one. I've never heard of a school teaching piano to a class. Only individual lessons.

Bookworm4 · 23/03/2019 17:12

I wouldn't have applied unless I was sure I could afford it, you've just set yourself and your son up for disappointment. I wish people would stop being school snobs, I live in Scotland and everyone goes to their catchment school, I've seen plenty state educated kids go on to good universities, school is what you make of it.

GeorgeTheBleeder · 23/03/2019 17:17

Congratulations to your son and to you OP.

The thing with grants and awards is that you need to apply very far in advance. I don't know if any would still have funds available for this coming academic year. But do try to follow up all leads.

You're almost there - can you absolutely not increase your overdraft or get a loan from your bank? And then aim to increase your earnings or lower your outgoings for the following year?

(The only pity is that you didn't apply to a school with a bigger bursary pot ...)