JAGS

[Wendlty]

Here is our story…
We were all set on accepting the offer from jags until yesterday afternoon where an email from an independent school came through. Its an all rounder average school but certainly not an academic hothouse.
And the offer was for an 80% scholarship.
That has reset everything in our mind now.
80% is very very tempting but as the same time we don’t want to lose the jags opportunity.
Question is whether is jags really worth the money to forego the scholarship?

Ugh. Difficult.
I can’t really help but I can empathise (a bit). We have a JAGS offer plus a 25% scholarship at a co-ed, very nurturing, academically “good” (but not outstanding) school…
So I don’t know. We are in a bit of a quandary too.
What’s your gut feel??
JAGS does consistently get amazing results, and IF that is your priority for your daughter then perhaps that surpasses any discount?
It’s a tough one though - 80% is a huge fee reduction…
Good luck with whatever you decide.
Well done to your daughter.

@CheesePleaseLoueese. We are so confused right now.
DD will go for the post offer taster at jags and a visit to the other school.
Hopefully this will shed some light.
She is doing well academically (got all offers we applied) but not hothouse bright and not in the top pack of jags.

I think it will depend hugely on the other school. I’m guessing St Dunstan? Or maybe a GDST school?

@Wendlty - That is what we are doing! I’m hoping after the taster mornings we’ll know what to do…

Good luck!

How did you get an 80 per cent scholarship? It is a scholarship and not a bursary? The highest scholarship I have seen in 20 per cent on websites and I'm just wondering if there is wriggle room in these?

What are the tie in rules for the money ?
One of mine got a decent scholarship to an independent school. HOWEVER the small print said leave before A levels you have to pay it all back …… so even if you had to move for parents job or because they didn’t offer the Alevels you wanted , you were stuck

What’s the other school? 80% is a massive amount and would definitely make me think twice! I thought schools had a 50% limit!

@MrPickles73. Its a combination of academic and co curricular scholarships.

What is the other school- now sure how people can compare to JAGs if you don't say what it is.

Also how important Ian payment of fees. Can you easy afford the jags fees or is the scholarship a deal breaker?

I think you have to decide what is the best fit for your daughter. Yes JAGS is very sought after but doesn’t mean it is any better than any of the other schools, it’s about what is right for your child.

I don't think any school is worth 80% more than any other in the area. If you feel you don’t want to let the Jags opportunity go then maybe that is your decision.

Good luck

A friend turned down a 50% scholarship at Sutton high for a more academically selective school a few years ago… it was more local to them as well.

Some people have a vision and stick to it. They’d already saved the money.

However it is a decision you have to live with. DS is on a scholarship and we jumped at it with open arms. As inflation rises we are happy with every passing year.

It also allowed us extra breathing room to send DD to private school earlier too.

I think you need to do what everyone does at this point and weigh up the choices using the various factors - journey to school, academic results, co-curricular offering, co-ed versus single sex, number in year group etc.

My general instinct is that all of the schools around SW London are very good and I wouldn't personally pay a premium that size to go to JAGS. Each school has its flaws when you get there and you'd constantly be asking yourself if it was worth the financial sacrifice.

One idea is that you could go back to JAGS and explain your dilemma - see if they had any scholarships that hadn't been accepted which would make your decision easier? If your daughter has been offered a co-curricular scholarship and academic scholarship elsewhere, perhaps JAGS would want to know and could take a closer look at her application?

Would never turndown 50%! I wonder how they feel a few years on and if it was worth it! All of these schools really are ‘much of a muchness’ OP in terms of facilities, results etc.

Wow. That is a huge amount of fee reduction to walk away from... I presume the scholarship school was a back up school to some degree? But you liked it well enough to apply/ feel relatively comfortable with the prospect of your child attending?

It will be a difficult decision for you, so you should definitely go back to visit each school.

Good luck.

We had a similar dilemma a few years ago. 50% scholarship at less academic school, versus full price place at a highly academic school. We went with the full price place. It was a question of wanting dd to fit in, as she didn’t at primary, and we worried that she would also stick out ability-wise if they’d offered that high a scholarship. She’s very happy where she is, but of course you never know the path not taken.

Agree with dinosaurinmybelly. If the other school is a medium or large London private school, it’ll be at least fine in terms of academics and extracurriculars, and unless there’s small print meaning the massive reduction is at risk of being taken away, thats a LOT of financial difference.

I would personally consider JAGs too ‘hothousey’, however, so do have some bias!

It's a difficult one - for me the support for the co-curricular scholarships would probably count for a lot as well and how well JAGS would support your DD in those.

We had a similar choice - full price place at JAGS or scholarship (not that level though!) and we went for JAGS - very happy so far, although as HighRopes says you never know the path not taken. Our reasoning ended up being that JAGS felt like a real opportunity for DD and we'd always have some whatifs about turning down the place. Plus it just felt like the best fit for DD.

JAGS is very hothousey and has a high incidence of mental health issues (anorexia, self harming etc.). Academically, it's excellent and has great facilities.....but.... sometimes it comes at too great a cost.

I disagree with that from personal experience and also from those who have DD higher up in the school or recently left. However, that’s not to say your experience was different.

Unfortunately, eating disorders and mental health disorders are more common in girls (and increasingly recognised in boys) so there are more likely to be incidences of these in girls schools.
I would be wary of any school that doesn’t acknowledge or claims to have a low incidence of mental health issues amongst pupils.

Without wishing to be glib, I'd take the 80% scholarship in a heartbeat, especially if that reduction would have a significant impact on your finances.

You could have a wonderful family holiday each year.

Your daughter is clearly bright and will excel in almost any environment.

Did you reach a decision @Wendlty?