Bursaries

[Ponder55]

We're considering entering our DD for the entrance exam for St Helen & St Katharine School (Abingdon, Oxfordshire).

We absolutely wouldn't be able to afford the full fees (circa £26k incl VAT) and if she was offered a place, would only be able to take it up if offered a hefty bursary.

We're trying to think through whether it's worth her doing the entrance assessment, to potentially be really disappointed if she passes but can't go because of finances.

For context, our household income is approx £70k pre-tax, we have a mortgage (approx £200k left to pay off), one car worth about £3k, and about £3k in savings (plus around £7k debts).

I appreciate that there's absolutely no way to tell what level of bursary offer we might receive, if any - but does anyone with experience (either from a school or parental point of view) have any thoughts about whether we would qualify for consideration?

Thank you

That’s only the people you know though.

Of course

People on bursaries aren’t meant to discuss them, so it’s all very private.

They discussed it with me, and they have friends too and friends have other friends and I even spoke to one lady who is working in a body that visits homes...sheer accident that I came across her and found out what is her job.

I say I can only speak for my locality @WomensRightsRenegade and not entire UK. Can you?

It’s a real myth that bursaries are all or mostly taken up by ‘council house kids’ that have been plucked from extreme poverty.

What you are basing that notion on if apparently as you said...People on bursaries aren’t meant to discuss them, so it’s all very private.

It’s a very self-selecting group of families that would even be aware of the existence of bursaries

? ?? Like the school keeps it as a secret? You made me laugh here

It is widely known fact that a parent apply on behalf of a kid for a bursary and it is on the admission pages of the school website if the school offers bursaries. No secrets here. The process is described and some schools even give hypothetical examples

@PeachSalad i think you're hugely overestimating the awareness of bursaries. I think most (not all) have an awareness of the concept of a private school discount, yes. But...

• many (most?) people confuse bursaries with scholarships and think you need to be exceptional to get one

-many people don't have any awareness of what private schools there are in their local area, and whether they're any good, would suit their child etc, let alone whether they offer bursaries

• schools are sometimes very sketchy in what they put on their websites - they might mention bursaries but give no detail on income levels or the assessment process, which makes it all seem very impenetrable

And even if you're a parent who has good awareness, it can be very daunting to take the step of actually picking up the phone or applying, if this isn't remotely your 'world' as a family. And then add in all the concerns about will my child fit in, can I afford the extras etc.

There are lots and lots of reasons why far fewer people apply for bursaries than are potentially eligible - even among those who might like the idea of private school.

It is not quite as clear cut as the name suggests. Each school has its own policy and who they want to spend the money on.

We pay full fee for one of our kids but still have 100% bursary for another due to their talent in academic and sports.

If I were you, I wouldn't pursue this - very little will be available and you would have to have a bursary means-tested annually. Why have the financial worry.

-many people don't have any awareness of what private schools there are in their local area, and whether they're any good, would suit their child

@user578006 Why suddenly you are talking about entire population? I am talking about people who applied for bursary and the outcome of their application to the local private schools.
Why on Earth are suddenly talking about everybody?;

Because you were responding to a comment from another poster which said 'it's a very self selecting group of people who are even aware of the existence of bursaries', and your comment was 'like the school keep it a secret - that made me laugh'. Apologies if I misunderstood that exchange.

@user578006 because it sounded funny as if it was a secret whilst most schools have it on the admission page

Couldn’t agree more! The above posts are appalling, they clearly don’t have a clue but think it’s ok to comment therefore giving an impression to the OP that she doesn’t have a chance. In reality, she has every chance of getting a large bursary but the reality is that she won’t know till she applies.

But how do you know? If they get a large bursary and their income doesn’t change much for the next 8 years then their child will still get the bursary. Why shouldn’t she pursue it?

How did you get on OP? My DD is in the same position - we had a bursary offer from SHSK plus scholarship. Be nice to speak to someone in the same boat!