Bursary help please

[Reach4stars]

I applied to some very highly selective/competitive secondary independent schools in London for my daughter (City of London Girls, St Paul's, JAGS), and also applied to a non-selective independent school. I definitely need financial assistance if she were to go to any of these schools. We have received acceptances from all the schools we applied to, but only the non-selective school has offered a 95% bursary. All the other schools acknowledge that I need financial assistance, but have said there aren't enough funds available this year, except one who has waitlisted us for a 75% bursary. So the rest have all said they're happy to accept my daughter if we pay.

Q1. If I raise the funds this year by remortgaging my home ( I think I'd only get enough to cover <1 year of fees) and get my daughter in to the most selective school, could they review my financial position from next year onwards if I reapplied for a bursary once in the school?
Q2. Has anyone ever been on a bursary waiting list, and how likely is it that you would get a bursary?

Please any advice/experience would be most welcome. I'm sure someone will have been in this situation before. I'd like her to attend a selective school as she's really bright and these schools would keep her challenged.

Don't start her at a school you can't afford, in the hope of getting a bursary! Even with one the prices rise each year

Are there not state grammars you can apply to if you're in London?

(I don't live in Lonfon but do live in a fully selective area so that's why it came to mind)

In the nicest possible way I think you are hoping people will come along and tell you they have been in your situation and it worked out ok. Even if it did for them there are no guarantees for you so why would you put yourself through the stress? I also think it would be really unfair to start your DD at a school where she might have to leave after a year. If your DD is as bright as you think she will thrive anywhere, I would take the school offering the 95% bursary. Please do think that once your DD is in a school they would not have the heart to make her leave if you can’t afford the fees, they can and they will.

No grammars in my area and all outside of London - too far to commute to...

Yes- did you apply to Tiffin etc?
What's the Non- selective school? Is it genuinely non selective as not many of them around?
It really doesn't sound as though you can afford the other schools without bursary. Please don't get yourself into difficulties. Your DD is obviously bright and I'm sure will do very well wherever she goes.

There are grammars in North London, Tiffin as mentioned above in Kingston-upon-Thames, loads in Kent, Buckinghamshire and, I think, Essex. Are there really none you could get to?

Applied to the ones in Kent and Bexley, and all warranted me moving into the catchment despite ousting the exams - which wasn't an option unfortunately.

@Reach4stars , this doesn't make sense, if you can move to a distance near Hammersmith for St Paul's then you could have considered HBS, slough grammars. I would stick with the state system where you are.

But too late now. Did you name any of the Bexley/Kent schools on your CAF? Dc do commute out and Bexley is not that far. However whether you would be offered from a non Kent address is a risk. Worth ringing the 75% one on Monday to see where you stand. It is possible another will turn their place and bursary down, but if that is still insufficient a discount for you to afford the remaining fees and add ons not much point pursuing. Your poor dd being put through so many assessments with only an outside hope you can afford it.