Bursaries for additional children - how does it work?

[3years7months3days]

Hi everyone

We are in the fortunate position of having a fairly substantial bursary for DC1 who is boarding at a specialist school. In the next couple of years we are hoping DC2 will either join DC1 at the same school or go to a different independent senior school, ideally to also board but not necessarily. Current school uses Bursary Administration Ltd to assess financial circumstances.

The whole process just doesn't seem very transparent and I can't get a straight answer about how things are viewed with additional children. We are both in bottom grade public sector jobs and currently pay the absolute maximum we can afford. Would schools expect us to try and find more money from somewhere or would they realise that we are already stretched to the limit?

And if we end up preferring a different school for DC2, how is it decided how much we pay to which school in terms of fees? Do we just continue to pay the current school what we are paying now or will our contribution somehow be split between the two?

If anyone is willing to share their experience I'd be very grateful. Please feel free to PM if you feel more comfortable with that.

Thanks so much in advance.

As you've said this is not a transparent process but you should speak with the school and any other you have in mind. Either way no school will expect you to contribute an amount that you evidently cannot afford unless they do not want the DC. I'll PM you if thats ok?

Yes, great, very grateful for your advice. Thanks!

It depends on the school there is no set answer and often it is not transparent . Many use BAL some do it themselves. The bursary pot and process depends on the school and it’s policies. You won’t be expected to pay more but if it’s a different school to DC1 you will need a 100% bursary for DC2 not to pay more and this may be harder to achieve. Try lots of school and have a back up state place just in case. The easiest option to secure would be the same school as DC1. It’s a bit grim though knowing any wage increase or a new job you get you will not see the benefits of as your bursary would be reduced the following year but that’s what you get if you are dependent on bursaries.

How closely do schools tie in bursaries with academic high quality or talent? Should they help more families? What would they do for a family of 4? I think most schools assess each application on its merits, each year. But I’m not sure offers of bursary places are based solely on finances of the parents. The schools must want the child because they exceed the selection criteria.,

Hi @redpandaalert (I love red pandas!). Definitely good advice to try lots of schools - I guess the more you try the greater chance you have. In terms of increased income, being public sector employees we won't get a payrise for the foreseeable future and any we do ever get are minimal anyway. In any event, I've already reconciled myself to this having asked for the financial help. The benefit to DC1 of having the bursary is already very evident and it's only fair to people who have to pay full fees that we have to be prudent and aren't living a life of luxury. Thanks very much for your advice.

@PresentingPercy - I have formed the impression from the websites I've looked at that most schools will be more generous if they really want the child and that generally you have to be in receipt of a scholarship, or at least do pretty well in entrance tests to stand a chance. Thanks for your contribution.