6th form options for dd - boarding with scholarship/bursary or day or other?

[TRexHamster]

Dd is currently in Y9 and already discussing A' Level options, largely because we are considering taking her out of private post VAT. We've agreed to see out GCSE's but would be short of funds for her to stay (boarder) for the last 2 years as most of the fees are coming from inheritance - we had planned for a max of 7% rise per year so now the inheritance won't cover boarding at 6th form.

She is currently taking 10 GCSE's, looking at 7-9 for all and interested (currently) in Psychology, Politics and Comp Sci or English. I am trying to decide whether we should ask for a bursary or try for a scholarship where she is or somewhere more local to home (she would prefer all girls but might be OK with co-ed if not chaotic) so we can negate boarding fees. Her current school is on a par academically with a local public school that is co-ed which would be do-able without the boarding fees.

I worry that if she goes for a bursary and scholarship where she is and fails it will hurt more than if we just move her. For context she is near top of set 2 of 6 but the girls in set 1 are getting 97-100% on end of term tests where she is getting 90-97% - and there are about 20 girls in set 1, so I would not be surprised if she is overlooked for an award of £.

I am worrying about moving her when she has a great circle of friends and knows her teachers. I moved for 6th form and wouldn't have chosen some subjects if I had known the teachers I would be having in the new school. I also felt everyone else already had friends and the social side took a lot of energy to build relationships from scratch. I think this would be much harder going to a state school from a private as we have a lot of reverse snobbery in this area (grammar area) where people see private schools as for Tim Nice But Dim types, which puts me off. The only grammar that does Comp Sci A' Level is the boys grammar school (some girls in 6th form), so going from all girls to a largely boys seems daunting.

Am I overthinking this? I feel like I have to plan it sooner rather than later so it isn't just rushed. Have I overlooked any other options? We are South East.

There are some excellent state boarding schools across England.

I worry that if she goes for a bursary and scholarship where she is and fails it will hurt more than if we just move her.

Surely it would just be a bursary? Scholarships are most usually granted on entry, aren't they? Unless the school has a scheme for 6th form open to current and new pupils.

There will be many parents struggling, OP - can you have a word with the school in the first instance to see what they suggest?

Have you already received the inheritance in question? If so, I imagine its size would be taken into account when assessing your finances for a bursary.

There are, but they (a) may not have any spaces (b) will probably prioritise internal candidates over external year 12 joiners and (c) quite often have a priority such as Armed Forces family. So it's not impossible but fairly unlikely.

They have a 6th form one that covers computer science which she would take if it meant money off - another thing though is I keep seeing people saying it's a waste of an A Level, so she would be doing it to stay rather than something she might enjoy more.

State Boarding seems like a good option but also aware places are limited and many are harder to get to than where she is currently. She doesn't really have bells and whistles (no grade 8 instrument or sport).

I don't think CompSci is a waste of an A level (DS is doing it!) but to do it if her heart's not in it does seem a waste. Though obviously a bit soon to say in year 9.

How much of a scholarship would it bring and what is the process (eg is there a coding exam? would she be in competition with external applicants as well?)

Sorry, I didn't meant to be rude - I keep seeing people on here saying you can pick up what you need at University and you don't need to have done it before. It is currently one of her top subjects and she thinks the others who are similarly good will be dropping it/leaving for 6th form for even higher achieving schools. It isn't a well advertised scholarship but I assume it is open application. I think she is lucky in that only girls who went to girls schools that do it are a threat from outside, which many don't because they do "Computing" instead.

I wouldn't have thought with those grades they are scholarship level, a bursary is more likely?

Top Set will be getting 100% on GCSE tests but the school will know there is a big jump to A Level. At my friend's school, they won't take students who don't score a mid to high 7 in their GCSEs for A Levels in many subjects and will discourage unless you get an 8. Plus if your daughter isn't in top set.....

My experience of state grammar at A Level is that it's very focussed and academic. It's not chaotic at all. Students are doing subjects they want to do and if they don't focus and engage, they are asked to leave.

Oh no, I didn't find it rude :-> don't worry.

However... I think if she possibly wants to do Compsci at Uni, she will need to do maths as one of her a levels.

Yes, she will be looking at 7-9 across the board, but as I said I know the top set usually get 8-9. It really depends if they are all staying for 6th form or leaving for higher achieving schools - the VAT has made this impossible to know as a lot are applying to London Grammars now for 6th form apparently.

I am also worried about the inheritance showing for the bursary - where we thought we had a little egg for her in savings we would be wiping that out now though, so by the time we apply for a bursary they will be able to see there isn't enough to cover the boarding fees. Is it worth applying earlier (bit clueless on how bursaries work as we didn't expect to be in this situation!).

What are her local state school options? Even if it's a bad secondary school area, normally things are quite good for A Levels as the kids want to be there. I'd be inclined to save the last bit of inheritance for uni/money towards a deposit.

I am also worried about the inheritance showing for the bursary - where we thought we had a little egg for her in savings we would be wiping that out now though, so by the time we apply for a bursary they will be able to see there isn't enough to cover the boarding fees. Is it worth applying earlier (bit clueless on how bursaries work as we didn't expect to be in this situation!).

It's a bit of a new world out there, because VAT is impacting so many. So there won't be a hard and fast rule.

I would suggest an initial conversation with the bursar, laying out your concerns and what you anticipate being able to cover from the inheritance until the end of year 13 and see what they advise/can do.

@Foxesandsquirrels Yes, this is what I am struggling with - as I said it is a grammar area (not London). Until she chooses her subjects though it is hard to know whether to apply for the girls or boys (as I said, Comp Sci is only at the boys) and without knowing the teachers it adds a little more difficulty. I don't know how girls who go to boys grammar schools for 6th forms feel, but I worry they will be rude about her being posh - which seems to be a common complaint from boys we know who went there from private schools - and find it hard to make friends. I just don't want her to be miserable, obviously!

Yes, I think that would be best. I have been trying to think around it and need some more definitive answers - which may not be possible until her mocks/gcse results I suppose.

I went to a 6th form consortium and some of my lessons were at the boys school, I hated it but it was organised badly. Some are really good though, but if you already know it's got a bad reputation for being unwelcome than I wouldn't bother. Go to the open evening this year, and then again the year after. It's good to get a view on different days.
Have you applied for a chance vacancy for y10 at the girls school?

No, as we can keep her settled for GCSE's we have agreed not to worry her before A' Levels which is a natural break when some of her friend group will be leaving. The issue with the girls grammar is if she wants to do comp sci as they don't have it. Also she isn't keen as she was at primary with a lot of the girls who are there and they weren't particularly nice. It depends if they stay on for A' Levels of course. Overall both grammars get worse A' Level results than where she is, so if I can keep her where she is I would rather do that.
I will talk to the bursar.

If you happen to be in my area (where the boys grammar does CompSci and the girls doesn't), it's not chaotic At All, and most of the families are pretty firmly middle class tbh, I would be shocked if they treated your DD with disdain. (Unless she behaves in a superior manner I suppose). Go and have a look? It's not easy to get into the 6th form though, she would need excellent GCSE grades.

Possibly same area!
On the boys website it says they ask for GCSE at 6 and above if taking A' Level with at least 4 Maths & Eng. She's on course for that (+) at the moment and I suppose they give priority to boys who are already there? She is more interested in going to the boys as they have a more STEM bent, which is her forte (she was going to do all sciences until they heard politics and psych were options, so could all change!). We live near the boys so know it isn't too chaotic, but not seen many girls - do you know the split?

It varies every year as you're right, the boys get priority, if they make the 'remainers' grade, they get a place. The new applicants (girls and boys) then get offered places highest GCSE grades first so it's hard to say what the grades are for newbies, changes every year. Suffice to say, they are always very bright! I would really roughly estimate about 20% girls?

Kids can change at lot between 11 and 16, so girls she didn’t get on with at primary may be very different now anyway

I assumed it was quite a low % but that is a bit higher than I expected actually!

I think first off I will talk to the bursar and see if that has legs, but keep an open mind to both of the grammars. She may well veer back to sciences or change tack completely as you say!

Yes, the girls might have changed, but the idea her confidence might be worn away by them again is a worry.

I think I will rule out the public school though as I think having some savings would be preferable to starting anew somewhere as well as paying.

Additionally, in sixth form, you see a lot less of your “year mates” in general as everyone has different free periods, different subjects etc. Even if they are still there and not that nice!

I suspect quite a lot of people will be making the same decision as you. 6th form has always been the point where a lot of kids exit private education as it's not really seen as value for money as much as the earlier years are, I think the VAT thing will only make that switch bigger and competition for places higher.

We would rather stay as they get much better results and have teachers that went to top Uni's/all the extras for clubs. However I think you're right as I say, the top set are mostly all looking to the super selective London Grammars. At least our area isn't that tough for competition!

I understand wanting to think ahead, but at this point that needs to be about info gathering and figuring out what your budget is. Your DD will need to be the lead decision maker on this and that's going to happen in Summer of Y10 (for applications) and beyond. Right now I would strongly encourage her to be planning on applying to multiple options not just one, but I think that's what most students should be encouraged to do.

Figure out what the budget for 6th form is and be clear on that. If she is interested (that doesn't mean committed) in staying on at her current school for A levels then yes you should talk to the school about the potential for both burseries and scholarships, but if staying at her school is dependent on the outcome of that then let your DD know when you're discussing A levels. And then ask her to look at local independents and local state schools and pick at least 2 others to apply to (with one of them being a sure bet). Limit the talk to info gathering right now, and focus on GCSEs and figuring out what she's enjoying studying and not. I wouldn't discourage her from changing to a local independent if it fits the budget just because you aren't keen on her starting new somewhere in 3 years if it isn't to save money. A change of environment may well be a check in the pro column for her by then.

There are local indies but they get the same grades as the grammar options, so really not much point in paying if we go that route.

We've already discussed it as she was asking about the schools in London her friends were going to and they are all aware many parents are struggling so it is a topic they're already aware of.