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.

If you can’t afford the fees send to state school

i imagine that given the choice of paying nearly £2000 per year for another child to go to the school, or having a fee reduction, then a lot of parents would probably opt for a fee reduction… .

@Treesinsummer i have reread and reread and I really cannot understand what you are saying !
I believe English is not your first language , either that or you are talking a lot of cock and ball

When I was paying full fees, my DC was going in second hand uniform. When they got a scholarship, they kept going in second hand uniform 😁 I found out second hand uniform is quite popular even among fintech parents :))

The attitudes depend on the school and families. I've heard people bitching about other's children's scholarships and bursaries, but I don't think DC has ever experienced anything from children.

Bursaries are often linked to academic achievements or talents in music/sport. Children don't care but patents can easily guess if they have nothing else to do :)

So can you afford 50%ish?

You are not that stretched if you can afford that!

At my DC's private school we had no idea who the DC on a bursary were. And many stretched themselves to pay fees and used the (excellent) second hand uniform shop, or just chose to because they were frugal, I don't believe that indicated bursary or not.

@Tobstar106 you are getting very boring trying to bait me but be assured your comments have been noted

@Treesinsummer trying to bait you ? Ok now I understand where you are coming from !
gosh I give up with you , I do not do slang ! Nor should you !

@Tobstar106 👍

To think we are here discussing children!

I just about grasped your holiday analogy…and I remain unchanged. If there were no bursaries, then the fees would remain unchanged! Prices continuously go up for everything with very little justification normally.

Yes, I am happy for my school to have a charity status (there are benefits, incl’ tax ones) and it’s unlikely most schools would change because of their ethos & commitment to communities & the lack of diversity & full elitism it would bring. I am happy for a percentage of my fees to go towards this and the increase for the pot since VAT has been minimal- I spend more on 1 holiday than I would for the entire school duration!

This is my final point & 3rd message to you abt this. Whilst it doesn’t bring you “joy” as you said and you deny you’re upset-that’s clearly a lie. You’ve derailed this thread several times for somebody who states they’re not that bothered!

I hope you have a lovely day

I was friendly with parents/grandparents who said dc had a bursary! Some don’t hide it. It’s also known who gets the large fees bursaries on offer at well known schools because they are also charitable scholars. They are admired and are often very bright dc. I think where money comes from fee income, it’s a bigger issue to keep finding it. Full fee payers might not have much spare money!

@555Stars again, noted. 👍

@555Stars well said !

It depends how much of a % of fees is supporting bursaries. Where schools are not attracting many wealthy parents, some parents will resent this and would rather fees were reduced. Some are definitely feeling the 20% and where I live, there’s fewer going to some of the “bargain basement” private schools where are bigger % of parents scrimp and save. The schools do see diverse entry as important but, from what I’ve seen, bursary dc tend to tick academic or sport boxes. They are not poor average dc.

My child is at private school and it surprises me how many of the children don’t go on the school trips so I don’t think for one minute that your child would stand out at all.

FWIW we aren’t in receipt of a bursary and I do not begrudge any children that do receive them, please don’t feel that all private school families hold the same opinion as a previous poster.

We also, don’t know which children have a bursary, they do give out scholarships badges though so if the children wear them then you know who has a scholarship.

Well done to you Son for doing well in his exam and I wish you well with whatever you decide to do.

@Georgieporgie29Thats not fair. I personally do not begrudge bursaries and paid boarding fees from which bursary money was paid. However it is very clear that 20% vat has caused finance issues at some schools for some parents. They cannot easily find the extra money and you might well be rolling in it, but it’s not fair or accurate to think all parents are and that they would not welcome lower fees. At secondary we had a good idea who bursary dc were. I don’t care that they were but there are parents funding bursaries at day schools who are not significantly better off than the bursary parents so of course they have to think about fee levels and might be keen to look at the generosity of bursaries. It’s inevitable.

No, all dc don’t go on all trips but if that will worry dc or you, be careful about always saying no. I know bursary dc who hated that.

@OhDear111 sorry I’m not sure what’s not fair? I gave my opinion on the bursaries at the school my child attends, I have certainly not meant to offend anybody and I apologise if that is how you have read my message.

@Georgieporgie29Maybe I wasn’t fair? You seemed to be pointing the finger at cash strapped parents who resented paying for bursaries. I’m only saying that’s inevitable.

@OhDear111 i absolutely wasn’t pointing the finger at cash strapped families. There was a poster earlier on in the thread that, I thought, was being quite rude in their replies, however, they were not a cash strapped parent by the sounds of things. I was just reassuring the op that not all people feel that way, as you have said yourself that you don’t begrudge them and neither do I, so that’s at least 2 of us.

@Georgieporgie29 Agreed! Schools do have to be so careful now though as many have lost parents and we have many more parents seeking state places in my LA. This means less bursary income as the schools affected are not very old male establishments with centuries old endowments. Fewer paying pupils equals less bursary money.

I don’t look favourably at schools with generous bursaries subsidised by full fee-paying families, but I don’t hold anything against the bursary recipients. They simply make the most of the existing setup - good for them.

But from my perspective I have already contributed to the education of other people’s children by: 1) paying income taxes; 2) not using state a school place; 3) VAT on school fees. I don’t welcome the bursary subsidy being built in the school fees and incremental VAT on it.

I don’t mind if the bursary places are funded by dedicated endowment funds or optional donations.

I’d also like schools to be more transparent about their bursaries - how much per year is being spent, how many recipients and what’s the average subsidy, what’s the eligibility criteria, etc. I think today the schools that openly talk about this are elite schools with dedicated endowments. Most schools that actually use school fees to fund bursaries remain quite vague (with exceptions).

After all we are customers. We can and should absolutely question the service providers’ strategy and offerings. Good businesses should value their customers’ opinions.

I also don’t mind the hardship funds to help existing families undergoing change in circumstances to smooth out the transition (such as completing important exam years).

Loads of kids use second hand uniform -
the secondhand sales at my son’s school are heaving!! And a majority of kids don’t go on the expensive trips. These really aren’t things to worry about.

I don’t think this is true at all. I know several kids on 100pc bursaries at top London independents and they are indistinguishable from any other pupil. They all come from very middle class families, and fit in perfectly because of it. Maybe smaller houses would be the only clue. These bursaries aren’t going to very impoverished kids from tower blocks

And this is why schools don’t want parents to be completely impoverished by fees. Bursary guidance warns against excessive spending on luxury holidays or cars - it doesn’t preclude modest holidays or having a normal home. Because they need children to be able to fit in and build good relationships with their peers.

(Every year there’s a headline 100% bursary award child in the newspapers - a refugee or someone whose parents are on NMW in unglamorous jobs - but the vast majority will have the same Apple products and the same sweatshirts as all their full fee paying friends.)

My DC is on scholarship, we don't have a "smaller house". We rent a small flat and drive a 16yo car. If the school fees are 50k+, it's pretty obvious, don't you think?

It's irrelevant to OP question anyway as normal people do not care and greedy ones will never have enough for themselves, but children are usually fine.