Private school bursary - step parent finances included?

[Penguin143]

How do secondary schools means test blended families? My son lives with myself and my partner (not married and not my sons father). If we want to apply for a bursary, do the school use both of our salaries even though he isn't directly financially responsible for my son, his actual Dad is.

I don't think there is a general rule. You need to speak t9 the Bursar of any schools you are interested in. If your ex pays maintenance that may be taken into account. Whose choice is it? Will ex pay towards fees?

IME of talking to friends about this is that schools look at individual cases, no hard and fast rules within the school and certainly no rules that apply across the board to all schools which seems a fair way to do it as there are so many different family set ups that it would be almost unworkable to have a one size fits all rule

The reason I ask is because my partner comes from a wealthy family has money in savings / trust but this is nothing to do with myself and my son. We don't share finances and this money isn't something that could be used for this. I saw on one schools application it talks about step parents and also the family as a "household" so wanted to know how it works.

Some schools do, others don't. It depends how in demand their bursaries are. I've known of some schools that take grandparents' wealth into account as well.

Yes … Each school will decide on a case by case basis.

Which is fair. Because quite honestly, if a child were living in a household that leads a billionaire lifestyle - multiple homes, expensive cars, limitless holidays, first class travel - it would be deeply unjust for them to be able to access bursaries simply because the resident source of the household money declares they will not pay school fees.

@TottersBlankly

Yes … Each school will decide on a case by case basis.

Which is fair. Because quite honestly, if a child were living in a household that leads a billionaire lifestyle - multiple homes, expensive cars, limitless holidays, first class travel - it would be deeply unjust for them to be able to access bursaries simply because the resident source of the household money declares they will not pay school fees.

Oh totally agree. This definitely is not us!! 🤣🤣 I wish haha

I think if you're living as a household, his income will almost certainly come into play. He has a clear relationship with the child.

Seems somewhat unfair that somebody on benefits would receive pretty short shrift from Universal Credit if she said 'Oh, he lives here and I call him DS's stepdad and he's exceedingly well off/paid but he doesn't pay a penny above his own expenses', but somebody wealthy enough to consider private education could say that and expect to get an entirely optional private education subsidised for their child.

I think it should be Household income, especially as so many parents are in relationships with somebody who isn't the parent of their child.