Scholarships, are they worth it?

[Terribletiming]

We’re just starting our senior school search. I was state educated and so am learning about the independent school system as I go along. Lots of websites and brochures talk about scholarships, but are they worth applying for? This is all new to me so feel free to add any info you have.

Scholarships vary in value (many are low cash value or purely titular) but they are an honour and may carry other benefits (kudos, enrichment activities, free music lessons)

But theynalso carry obligations - musicians expected to be in bands, ensembles and productions, athletes to attend training and fixtures, artists to paint the sets for plays and actors to be in the plays. Academic scholars will be expected to perform well and be very diligent (and join relevant school clubs). They are not means tested.

If you are after a larger reduction in fees, then you need to look at bursaries (which in richer schools can be very generous, and are means tested)

Be aware that a few schools use the terms interchangeably, so do check what they are on about.

In terms of effort, yes candidates will have to audition, be assessed, provide a portfolio, provide sports club references for specialist scholarships. For academics, some have a separate exam for a scholarship, but many just seleclect from the top performers in the regular entrance exam (plus extra interview)

Thanks, all useful info. Not looking to achieve any reduction in fees particularly (although always welcome). Is the ‘honour’ worth having for the extra pressure/ work load?

Depends on whether you need the support - being a music scholar means being on call!

DS is an academic scholar. I don't think it makes a huge difference either way. On the 'stick' side there isn't much academic pressure (I expect the school would have a word if they felt he was under performing, but to be honest I think they would anyway). We get a token fee reduction, there are a couple of little scholars' extras, and it was certainly nice when he originally got 'the letter' - but it's generally not made a big deal of (which suits us fine). It will be a nice thing to put on a UCAS form though. I don't think we'd have put him through an extra exam to try for it; at his school the scholars are chosen out of the main admissions process.

That’s interesting to know that not all schools have an extra admission process for scholarships, it does seem an extra faff. The prep schools seem to make a big fanfare of children that leave with scholarship offers.

There's a bit of a marketing game that goes on, OP. Prep schools like to trumpet how many scholarships they get. Secondary schools use scholarships as sweeteners to tempt able kids who may be leaning towards other schools (I've heard that some schools give them out like sweets!). I'm not saying there's no merit in a scholarship, but don't think for a moment that it's a completely 'pure' process.

Yes. Some preps get very excited about scholarships. Where my DDs went, the academic scholarships were worth £0 off fees. Music scholars got some free lessons. Ditto drama scholars and Sports scholars got free kit. So being carver got you nothing! DD had a 6th form academic scholarship and it was a bit of a disappointment! No pressure really - I suspect because it was not worth anything! A y7 academic scholar didn’t stay into the 6th form. Being tutored to the nth degree at 10/11 doesn’t always make you do well at 16 or 18. My DD went to a state primary and had no help at all with the school exams.

DD2 went to a prep where the scholarship group were set 1 and expected to get something! Latin was taught too. I think if it’s not worth £0, it might not be worth extra tuition. The kudos fades fast!

carver!!! Clever .....

Interesting. Imagine it will be encouraged from our prep, just not sure it’s worth it. We’re prepared to pay the fees and I want dc to enjoy subjects they are good at without further pressure. I wouldn’t mind some free music lessons though!

I think they're worth it. We get ££ off the fees and it means that dd is often chosen by the school to represent them at various things. Expected to be there at open days, they are proud to be a scholar.

I don't think it will make any difference on a UCAS form!

More and more scholarship pots are being redirected into bursaries.

@TurkeyTrot

I don't think it will make any difference on a UCAS form!

Agreed.

Oh OK, maybe not, I'm not at that stage yet so not a clue really! In which case even less benefit. Just a nice to have really (and even a token fee reduction is better than nothing).

In my experience, it's benefit lies more in increased self-esteem of the dc. It gains them more kudos with their peers and that can be a good thing as it was in our case. Don't underestimate the impact of that on your dc's confidence. Mine won an Art scholarship but it boosted his confidence all round and he really soared.

Increased self-esteem makes sense. I can see how that builds confidence.

DD ended her secondary school years with four scholarships, which together reduced her fees by nearly 50%.

Caveat emptor. I know of a child who couldn't take a different creative subject at GCSE, which they enjoyed and were good at, because they were a music scholar snd therefore had to take music. It all became rather a treadmill by the end of yr 13.

They may seem small, but most of the schools I know give 5% or 10% to academic or other scholars, and that's a £750 or £1500 per year reduction, which is, I think, a nice amount to save. It will counterbalance the cost of uniform and may a small trip. Over 5 years, that's £7,500, a holiday, so definitely worth having.

£750- £1500 just doesn’t sound that much relative to the cost of fees. It wouldn’t be the reason we applied for a scholarship i don’t think. Confidence building and kudos makes sense. Can you apply for one then turn it down (if offered) if it sounds like too much of a commitment? Or anyway of getting out of it further down the line if it starts to become stifling?

Just want to have thought about it thoroughly before conversations are started at school. Thanks for all the advice.

scholarships can be double edged - a fee reduction but then a pressure to perform? I know one of dd's friends is constantly tearful about test and exam results because since winning a scholarship at 11 she has only ever been average in class.

On the other hand - her parents have a £2k saving in fees every year so maybe they think that's worthwhile?

Or anyway of getting out of it further down the line if it starts to become stifling

Of course. It works both ways. If DC isn't fulfilling their part of the bargain ie: playing in orchestra, or band, or taking part in drama, or doesn't take it at GCSE, then the school can withdraw the scholarship, and in the same way, you can ask for it to be withdrawn if your child isn't enjoying or benefitting. You lose the award, but then if you don't need it, then it doesn't matter.

Dd gets 25% as an academic scholarship. No extra pressure to perform and no stigma either, in fact up until Y11 the scholarship kids get a special tie.

The prep school will really want the kids to get scholarships, preferably to a variety of schools, as they can then say they educate the kids well.

My friend's ds is a scholar. They got a lecture one evening (don't know what about) and a dinner. That's it. They have to do the work, same as everyone else in their set. They get a small amount off the fees. But if the fees are big, that small percentage is a few hundred quid a term so well worth it financially.