Advantages of being a scholar

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Hello, everyone. Year 7 mum here. My son already has a place in a top London independent school for 13+ entry. He is currently in the scholarship set in his prep school and one of the academically better performing students in the set. Getting a scholarship in the school of his choice would probably involve stepping up, especially in terms of putting in the hours with Latin, Greek and French which are not his strong subjects. The scholarship would make little difference financially as I understand it is a few hundred pounds at best. My question is whether it is worth putting in that extra couple of hours each week for these subjects which, in my mind, makes very difference to him 10 years on. How would a scholarship enhance his opportunities in the secondary school? Or will the students be set regardless whether they have a scholarship or not?

Boasting rights mostly, as far as we could see. Scholarship boys are well regarded at DS' school, but there aren't really any other perks.

Depends on the school, and whether there is a scholar’s programme.

My dd is a music scholar. We get 10% fee reduction plus free instrument tuition. She also gets her music boosted via the scholar’s programme, so (in normal times!) masterclasses with professionals, extra mentorship as well as further clubs etc. The academic programme at her school has an extension club for scholars, where extended projects are undertaken to enhance and challenge the academic scholars.

Thanks, @swanker and @ElfDragon

I agree that it might be different with music, drama or sports scholarships. But my DS will stand no chance in these. LOL.

I am just deliberating about pushing him with Latin, Greek and French. His prep is very keen for us to put a little more pressure on him for these subjects and I can see why. The other subjects are okay and we have been told he should be on track for a scholarship. But I get the feeling that if it is pointless, then why bother?

You need to ask your prospective schools what they offer.

Dd’s school has scholarship programmes for all disciplines. It’s more visible to outsiders for music/sports, I suppose, but there are lectures and projects and mentorships for academic scholars too.

If there was no benefit to a scholarship other than kudos whilst at the school, I don’t think I’d push a child to achieve one (not sure I’d push anyway, even with a programme of benefits) - there are other ways to achieve those boasting rights.

Thanks again @ElfDragon

I should ask but I think I am not too bothered. It stands to reason that any assessment of a child's academic potential (as opposed to music, drama and sporting aptitude) is good probably for only one or two years.

I probably have an idea of what I should be doing before posting but I wanted to get some alternative views. Anyway, I just looked at the school website and the scholarships are worth less than £100 a year and no mention of any lectures and projects and mentorships for academic scholars. Very sensible approach and fair to every child attending the school.

If there is little financial benefit to the academic scholarship, other than the kudos of being a scholar, it depends on how your DS feels about it.

Being an academic scholar could be a positive or a negative. He may well feel good about being a scholar and strive harder to keep this overall grades high or it could be a negative in that the pressure of being a scholar adversely affects his grades.

I should also add that these days, the schools (outside the very top tier) are using scholarships to attract the students they really want and hence, its highly negotiable (the financial value).

my ds (music and academic) gets to use the main posh staircase in the main building - other less decorated pupils have to use the smaller stairs at the back of the building.
But more seriously, ask the school what it offers the scholars, ad decide from there. Your son might be ok not using a posh staircase!!!

@nospampls

I should also add that these days, the schools (outside the very top tier) are using scholarships to attract the students they really want and hence, its highly negotiable (the financial value).

That is not what I have seen at all. Scholarships these days are more about the kudos and cash has been funneled into bursaries.

The prep school wants him to get one because it looks good for them in terms of attracting prospective pupils. If the financial benefit is tiny then personally I wouldn't be pushing my son at this age in the subjects he dislikes.

its highly negotiable (the financial value)

Not really, the value of scholarships is published (both in admissions pages for candidates, and the totals in the schools accounts)

Winning a scholarship may well be a gateway to financial assistance in the form of bursaries.

But the idea that it's a negotiating point in the highly oversubscribed schooos such as OP describes is misplaced. Only schools in trouble and desperate for bums on seats offer financial awards outside the published arrangements. Because no-one wants to piss off the rest of their paying customers (and a school would be unwise to rely on no not leaking out)

I think it depends. Scholarship awards ranges from 10%-50%; I know quite a few who have been awarded 25-40% of the academic scholars; sports etc probably ranging 10-15% usually. To get 50%in academic scholarship is unusual but bright and sporty boys may get 50% combined. Academic scholars may be invited to certain educational trips and lectures; sports scholars are invited into high performance programmes and may be invited to lectures by leading sports personalities. Even in top 15-20 schools, there can be some negotiation, as I understand...

My dd’s scholarship was an annual 25% reduction in fees. Beyond that, no one in school knew who the scholars were until the leaving assembly in year 13 when they were given a scroll and invited to a special lunch.

Reading these threads is a bit of a guilty pleasure. It's a different world to my rowdy comp

Thanks all. Appreciate the different views. Very interesting. The academic scholarships for the school that we are looking at are all under £100. They won’t be negotiable as it is a top tier school. Since the amount is not substantial and being a scholar doesn’t seem to come with more opportunities, we will let DS decide how hard he wants to push himself. I am aware there are other schools offering bigger amounts but DS is very adamant this is the school he wants to go to. We are not rich but we have already set aside savings for his education since before he was born so we don’t have to rely on help unless it was offered to us.
@Abetes Same experience in the prep where DS is currently attending. He is receiving a scholarship of about the same amount and other than the teachers, no one knows about it.

"Winning a scholarship may well be a gateway to financial assistance in the form of bursaries. "

Exactly this.
DS won a scholarship, but what was far more important was the generous bursary that allowed him to go there at all.
I'm told that children don't have to have a scholarship to be awarded a bursary, but there's no doubt it helps. It's a tangible demonstration of his or her abilities.

It may give access to some enrichment activities but there may also be a condition on maintaining a certain academc standard and level of motivation.

As pps mention, you need to ask the school what the benefits to the award holder are.
2 of my children have academic scholarships at different schools so it has been interesting to see the different approaches. Eldest gets 10% off the fees and access to an academic enrichment programme (only for scholars). This entails a weekly lunchtime session focussed around a topic they have to delve into (topics change every half term). Quite often it will involve a trip (e.g to a museum to visit something on that topic) and they generally do research culminating in a piece of work (so a fair amount of extra work every half term). Second child gets a lump sum off the fees (prob equating to 15% roughly). There is no formal enrichment programme but scholars are expecting to write up an annual account of what they have done to continue to deserve their award. This means that DS has had to get involved in academic extra curricular (that if he weren't a scholar he probably wouldn't have bothered to do) just so he has something to write down. Examples would be to put himself forward for external and internal competitions (as this is completely voluntary and pupils are not picked by teachers) e.g interhouse maths team, debating team. Staying late at school for visiting lectures which are voluntary to attend. After his first year, the school pointedly commented that as a scholar they would expect him to take a more active part in lessons - answering and asking questions in class and driving the discussions - so showing academic leadership in lessons. The benefit here has been that he has been made to push himself academically even though there is no formal programme.
Other than that, for both children, there is no real formal recognition and I'm pretty sure no one knows who the scholars are or care even! Also, both my children have found the extra work involved has been a pain at times - sometimes wishing for an easier life. For example, one child was invited to an extra curricular language class which they felt compelled to attend as they were a scholar when they would have preferred to use that time doing a fun club instead.
Hope that helps give an understanding to what schools can offer but you really need to ask and then make your decision on the merits and downsides.

Dd gets a 25% discount for her a academic scholarship. There are about 6 per year (mix of academic and sport/music). They had a special tie from Y 7-10 but no other different treatment. I think there was a certain kudos for the academic ones only but there was also a bit of ribbing I’d they were beaten in a test by a non scholarship child.
Other than the financial aspect it’s not really made a difference at all

When DDs were at school, the scholarships dropped to £0. DD1 had a 6th form scholarship and it made no difference to anything. In fact the Principal awarded money to pupils (loads of them) to pay for drama and music tuition and this was more valuable than aN academic scholarship and not means tested. They put all the other funds into bursaries. Lots of the bursary DC were clever but not necessarily scholarship holders. The Principal’s Award was pure “if your face fits” money - Governors children, saying thank you to donors etc. Not much to do with merit quite often.

I wouldn’t push him. DD2s old prep used to get loads of 13 plus scholarships. Some continued to be exceptional and others didn’t. Too much pressure. Happiness should trump all.

I wouldn't bother coaching for it.

DS tried for music scholarship at his top independent school. Didn't get one, but was awarded an academic scholarship worth £1000/year. In theory he had an academic mentor and was eligible to attend enrichment discussion lunches. In practice, the staff mentor left and was never replaced and the lunches were open to any student that was motivated to attend. Meanwhile he continued to do loads of music activities at school and was given masses of solo performance opportunities etc and left Sixth Form with a music prize. Meanwhile our neighbour, who DID have a music scholarship, gave up flute and choir in Year 9 and lost it!

DS cynically said the scholars were used as unpaid helpers whenever there was a school event!

Be careful what you wish for your son

Thanks for the additional information, all.
@PresentingPercy So true that “Some continued to be exceptional and others didn’t. Too much pressure. Happiness should trump all.” We are trying not to be pushy parents although sometimes it is all too tempting to give pre-teens that gentle nudge. Sad seeing how much children rely on tutors these days.

Well it’s always tempting to feel good about yourselves! But you will feel that for a relatively short period and you might have to keep nudging. It’s possible to be happy at school, do your best and achieve highly without constant obvious and more covert reminders to achieve above all others and be at the top all the time or your position won’t continue. Just leave him be and he’ll be fine.

I'm happy to have found this thread. It's interesting to see the various benefits offered with an academic scholarship.

My DD has been awarded one for a place at sixth form at a private school commencing September. It means 30% off the fees which is great as it's made her going feasible. The school has another scholarship scheme for a particular subject and that comes with an extra learning programme, but DD's doesn't as it's about more general ability. A condition is however that she needs to lead by example and she's likely to be encouraged to be a prefect or on the student council. I'm grinning at a PP's "unpaid helpers" comment as I suspect there may be a bit of that!

What I'm particularly grateful for is that it's been a huge boost of encouragement for her during a difficult time. It's a sign of her ability in the two subjects she took scholarship papers in and a motivator for her to keep going with the GCSE subjects she doesn't like.

I realised that I responded without specifically answering your question OP!

I think it depends not just on what it actually entails, but on what your son thinks. Will getting scholarship status be a needed boost to his confidence? Will he actually care? Will he be motivated by any extra demands or expectations or will he be put off?

For example, my daughter's scholarship letter states that she will need to demonstrate 100% commitment and a positive attitude and some leadership qualities. These are all good motivators for her at an age and a time when her motivation for GCSEs is lacking and during her time at sixth form she won't want it to be rescinded so will work hard. That is another thing to make clear to your son - highly likely the terms are such that the scholarship can be rescinded if he doesn't continue to act suitably scholar like.