Private school bursary - how it’s decided?

[dragondrive]

We’ve received an offer from a private school with a 25% bursary. I’m really grateful that my son passed the exam and was offered a place, and I do appreciate the bursary.

That said, given our financial situation and what I disclosed, I was honestly expecting a bit more, as 25% still isn’t affordable for us. I thought bursaries were means-tested, so I’m feeling a bit confused about how this figure was worked out.

Has anyone been in a similar position? Is there usually any room to ask for a review or an increase? A friend mentioned that other schools sometimes offer much higher support in similar circumstances.

I’m also wondering whether bursary levels are based purely on finances, or if a child’s academic performance or competition plays a part as well.

Well, they do have to be accepted first, and the application process is such a long-winded palaver.

I’ve been on these threads for years and years, telling prospective public school bursary applicants that it takes knowledge of the system, organisation, optimism, determination and a clever and willing child.

Thousands and thousands of people might love the idea of a ‘Hogwarts’ style education (obviously it’s not that) but how many realise they need to start the application process maybe three years in advance?

Or that you need to aim for the grandest school you’ve ever heard of - not the nice little place with a fancy uniform down the road.

Or that there is every chance your child won’t get in so you need several back-up plans.

While it’s true that international interest in British public schools is secure, the local populace is wary and uninformed - so that keeps the number of bursary applicants probably relatively low. Though still more than schools can accommodate and support.

@dragondrive good luck in your conversation with the school but remember - private school may or may not be affordable, but your son is smart, and can work hard, and did well enough to even get this offer over other applicants. So whatever happens with this school the future is bright!

were you hoping for like 30% or 40% ? or a full bursary ?

Most schools' accounts are publicly available. The Charities Commission publishes them for schools which are registered charities. These almost always mention the number and value of bursaries that the schools provide.

OP states that they're in London. Here are recent numbers for some prominent London schools:

Westminster School - 54 bursaries, of which 45 are 100%
St Paul's School - 138 bursaries (representing 14% of their senior school students), of which 101 are 75% or greater
King's College School - 73 bursaries (6% of their senior school students), of which 45 are 100%
Latymer Foundation - 265 bursaries (21% of their upper school students), of which 139 are 100%
St Paul's Girls School - 80 bursaries (10% of their students), of which 54 are 100%
North London Collegiate School - 70 bursaries (9% of their senior school students), of which 57 are 100%
GDST - 984 bursaries across all their schools, of which 447 are 100%

N.b., the number of bursaries is always indicated across the entire school, so perhaps 1/7 the number were available in each year of senior school. Also, there's no indication whether the bursary policies have changed since the imposition of VAT.

how many realise they need to start the application process maybe three years in advance?

out of interest @Eucatastrophilia why would parents need to start 3 years in advance?

Financially, we’re already running things very tightly, and even with extreme budgeting, I don’t realistically think we could save much more

To be honest op I don't think private school is going to be manageable for you. In addition to ever-rising fees (which means student numbers will fall, leading to ever-reducing funding for staffing never mind bursaries) you need to also consider other costs such as uniform, sports kit, trips etc. If you're struggling to manage as it is, the long term viability of paying for private education when the costs will undoubtedly rise faster than wages seems doubtful.

Read here, as an example, @minipie:

https://www.etoncollege.com/admissions/entry-to-eton/

This is a school where 100% bursaries are available every year to a number of pupils. But, as I’ve emphasised, as a parent you need to know what the process involves and how to slot yourself into it. Most parents who, for instance, can’t afford to move into the catchment of their local leafy state school, would never dream of approaching Eton. Or wouldn’t realise they could until it’s far too late to apply.

Ah I see, yes, if you want 13+ entry to many private schools you need to start in year 5 as they do pre tests in year 6.

So it’s not that there is a separate timetable for bursaries, but I agree that many potential bursary applicants would have no idea that the process for a year 9 place starts in year 5.

I didn’t expect %100 to be honest but 40-50% perhaps? I heard ( from my close friend) someone with similar situation with me received 100% Epsom college so just wondered.

Thank you so much for this — I really appreciate it. I wish I’d known this earlier, although I’m not sure we would have passed those schools anyway.

Could you please let me know where I can find details of other schools?

I normally start at the Charity Commission website:
https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search

Sometimes the formal names of the schools can be a little tricky, e.g., St Peter's College (otherwise known as Westminster School), or Sir Roger Cholmeley's School at Highgate, but most schools which are charities will also put their Charity number on their website.

You can also go to Companies House for some schools which are not charities.
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/

Look for Accounts and annual returns (or Filing History for a company) and have a look at the latest.

Highgate School's 2023-24 annual report states on page 16:

107 pupils received means-tested fee remission: 97 in the Senior School (including 8 refugee pupils from Ukraine, supported by the Refugee Family Support Officer) of whom 61 received 100% fee remission, consistent with the policy to concentrate bursary awards amongst children whose parents or carers are able to pay very little or none of our fees, and; 10 in the Junior School.

This doesn't work well for all schools. You see that all the GDST schools report together so there's no information about how many bursaries were awarded specifically at, for example, South Hampstead High School. Also, schools like City of London and City of London School for Girls seem to be organized in a different manner, which makes it harder to get the information.

Was this a London school?
Do you mind saying how much your household income is? How much equity you have in your house? Savings?

Why would anyone want to give that information, even on a supposedly anonymous forum?

@dragondrive

You might also find it interesting that a few schools publish indications of their bursary eligibility criteria, for example:

St Paul's Girls' School: From September 2023, to qualify for a bursary, the total household income threshold is £140k (gross), meaning that parents earning a combined total above this amount are unlikely to be considered.

South Hampstead High School: If your family’s annual income is less than £49,500, you may be offered a full bursary. If your family’s assessable income and resources are below £107,500, you may be eligible for some support.

AFAIK, St Paul's School is unique in putting a bursary eligibility calculator on its website. If you put in some high numbers, you get things like In order to qualify for a bursary, the total figure for Gross Household Income should be less than £144,000 per annum and In order to qualify for a bursary, the total figure for Net Assets should be less than £1,600,000. I've no idea how accurate it is; having a play around, £75,000 income and £1,000,000 net assets returns Based on the information you have provided, you are likely to qualify for a bursary funding between 90-99% of school fees.

Have fun!

Hi there. Yes we didn’t get any offers from them.

I agree with this.

Well done to your son for passing, all that work, they should be uber proud of themselves! If they keep up the work ethic, they’ll do great wherever they go.

Regarding bursaries, yes there will be a certain amount from their bursary pot available…. But the larger amounts will go to: those that qualify for that level & your performance on the exam! So if 50 people apply for a full bursary, 30 pass the exam, then the top 5/6 will get a full bursary and smaller amounts will be offered to the remaining in ascending order…probably up to 15/20. The remaining candidates will be offered a spot with no assistance.

It’s a harsh reality, that’s why people on bursaries have to do twice as much to get in. They have to beat the total number of applicants and then also beat to get to the top of the bursary candidates.

You sound very bitter! It’s not needed on this thread at all! I suggest you take it to your school WhatsApp group!

But the larger amounts will go to: those that qualify for that level & your performance on the exam! So if 50 people apply for a full bursary, 30 pass the exam, then the top 5/6 will get a full bursary and smaller amounts will be offered to the remaining in ascending order…probably up to 15/20. The remaining candidates will be offered a spot with no assistance.

Whilst some schools might do this, I don’t think you can generalise at all

Our school has separate scholarships and bursaries, but you can have both. A scholarship is a maximum of 20% and the bursary is usually similar but has quite a strict criteria; for example you wouldn’t get it as a new pupil as it’s there to enable existing pupils to be able to stay.

Unfortunately you have to remember that these schools are actually businesses.
They don’t offer bursaries out of the goodness of their hearts: they offer bursaries to encourage more people to consider attending.
If they can get a few pupils paying 75% that’s better than 1 paying 100%

Thanks a lot for your comment. This was what I wanted to know, but I am not sure if this school offers 100% at all. I don’t think they do but not sure if there is anyway I can find out about it.

It is highly unlikely you would get an increase from 25 to 100%. If he did not get offered the other three they either did not “pass” him or they took the view that an offer of a full fee place would be refused.

ignore I just saw you had provided it earlier on thanks

That’s ok, most London ones do (the big ones) and some are more forward & will say you need to be in the top 10/20% bracket to get it.

But the websites should provide that info-if you don’t mind saying the school I can check for you & any other info I know abt said school. Another option for you is to call back and ask if there is a waitlist option and if so can you be placed on there for further assistance. More than anything they will want someone keen. Be sure to let them know that 40/50% is doable for you and you’d happily take a place if that was the case-tell them you don’t mind waiting to hear back from them (that way they don’t need to give an instant decline). There is some movement up until offer day, even w bursaries.

The impact of VAT & less donors available is also very likely to start having an impact this year and the businesses will want to keep a funding reserve.