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Secondary education

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Original poster

Has anyone tried to negotiate for a scholarship/discount on school fees? Go on, show off your negotiating skills here...

31 replies

Uberelf · 04/02/2009 12:52

Dd has had 2 offers from independent schools we like, but we will be stretched to pay the fees. We need to go in and see if we can negotiate some kind of scholarship or reduction - apparently dd did very well indeed in the entrance exam, so they do want to have her.

I'd love to hear from people who've successfully negotiated some kind of financial concession - and of course from people who tried and failed!

OP posts:
AMumInScotland · 04/02/2009 13:03

I've never heard of anyone "negotiating" a scholarship - the schools either do them or they don't IME - but you could certainly contact the school bursar and ask what might be available. I think the school will be more swayed by how she did in the entrance exam than by anything you can say.

SheherazadetheGoat · 04/02/2009 13:04

why is your dd sitting exams for schools you cannot afford?

willali · 04/02/2009 13:04

most independent schools have a separate exam for scholarship candidates so if she did not do this then it is unlikely

HOwever a bursary could be available but it will probably only be a smallish proportion of the fees

Can I ask (nicely!)why you went for the schools if you knew it was going to be financially difficult?

willali · 04/02/2009 13:05

X post with Sheherazade!

abraid · 04/02/2009 13:06

I've heard two examples of musical children being made good 'offers' recently, so I would go and be honest, say you're stretched and see what they say.

Good luck!

traceybath · 04/02/2009 13:06

Some schools offer discounts for siblings but not sure thats applicable with you.

To echo the others you normally sit the scholarship paper separately so your daughter may have missed the boat.

scarletlilybug · 04/02/2009 13:11

I think your best chance is with a bursary - you could always try asking. You couold always ask about a scholarship, for that matter.

If they were going to offer a scholarship, I would imagine thay would do that at the time when they offred the place. I don't think you can just negociate one.

I've never heard of anyone being able to negociate school fees - if a school did do this, it would most likely be to allow an existing pupil to finish their education, rather than to accept a new one.

Litchick · 04/02/2009 13:13

A scholarship is usually given for academic/musical or sporting prowess but it is usually only a small % of the fees. It is for the kudos a lot of the time.
Most schools however offer full or part bursaries..to get these you have to a. do well enough in the entry exams and b. earn below the financial threshold as set by the school.
Just ask them about both.

Original poster
Uberelf · 04/02/2009 13:15

As I understand it, every independent school seems to operate differently. I'm interested in hearing MNers' experiences, and it may help others too.

Goat and Will, there's a difference between financially difficult and financially impossible. Was I being provocative by saying she did very well in the exam?

OP posts:
willali · 04/02/2009 13:23

Not at all - delighted she did well!!

Whether you get any leeway will probably depend on the length of the waiting list - if they can fill your daughters place with a full fee paying pupil they will. If they will otherwise have an empty place they may decide SOME fees are better than NONE.

HOwever this presuppposes they have a fund to support bursaries. I am a Governor at an Independent school and many schools do not have a handy slush fund to support Bursaries. In any event if the fees are affordable (but at a stretch) I wonder if you would satisfy income requirements for a bursary - you would just be in the same boat as a lot of us!

HOwever as everyone has said you must contact the school(s) and ask....

LIZS · 04/02/2009 13:39

Some award scholarshisp to the top performers in the entrance exam, others would ask your dd to take a further paper and interviews but that is normally agreed before the first exam is taken. Check the terms and conditions for such an application as they are unlikely to vary from those. If she qualifies for a scholarship they may be able to use discretion to top it up , with "extras" such as free music lessons if that is her thing even if she doesn't qualify for a bursary (family income of £45k-ish or below). Scholarships themselves are often worth a relatively nominal reduction ie nearer 10 % rather than 50%-100% as schools are anticipating awarding more bursaries to meet the Charity criteria.

MotherOfGirls · 04/02/2009 14:00

I agree with Willali. I used to work in an independent school and there is often room for negotiation if the school anticipates not filling all the places. If it is oversubscribed you have much less chance of a fee reduction.

My advice would be to ask - at both schools. Good luck.

Original poster
Uberelf · 04/02/2009 16:12

Thanks for these posts. It is oversubscribed, but I feel it's worth asking.

OP posts:
Lilymaid · 04/02/2009 16:14

We got a bursary for DS1 after discussions with the head teacher. However, this was means tested so that as soon as I increased my working hours and income it was reduced.

scienceteacher · 04/02/2009 18:10

You can't really expect evidence from anyone who has negotiated a reduction for financial reasons. It is generally part of the contract that you never mention it (for obvious reasons). I would think that it is risky to give any details on an open bulletin board.

One thing I would say is to be honest with yourself as to what you can afford, and then offer this amount to the school. You can't really do better than that.

scienceteacher · 04/02/2009 18:12

Have a look at this website for tips and financial info:

www.mydaughter.co.uk

Original poster
Uberelf · 04/02/2009 22:11

Thanks, Scienceteacher, that is fantastically useful. I haven't gone into the site in detail, but it looks excellent. I see the sense of your first post too.

OP posts:
Swedes · 04/02/2009 22:25

Most schools offer academic scholarships where they are deserved and otherwise have a comprehensive range of means tested assistance with fees. I wouldn't think any school worth its salt will give discounts to pupils just because the parents are good negotiators.

My sons' school sent a letter home to remind parents that there is financial help available to people whose circumstances may have changed.

senua · 05/02/2009 10:21

There are two responses to this:

  1. If you don't ask, you don't get. What have you got to lose? I know someone who said he negotiated a package when (years ago) he moved three clever daughters. Have a 'practice' run on the least favourite school first!
    Any discounts will be dependent on continuing circumstances eg your continuing financial situation or your DD continuing to do well in exams.

  2. If your DD is that bright then she will do well wherever she goes. Send her State for KS3&4 and think again for sixh form? Perhaps the money would be better spent helping her through Uni?
    What advantages are the independents giving your DD - is it worth tens of thousands of pounds?

Original poster
Uberelf · 05/02/2009 15:47

Thanks, Swedes and Senua. The advantages of the independents are safety in terms of travel to and from school, mainly. One of them is in easy walking distance.

OP posts:
slummymummy36 · 05/02/2009 23:49

You can ask the bursar if you could apply for a bursary. These are usually means tested. They ask loads of questions about assetts, income, outgoings, savings etc etc . You also have to provide statements and relevent paperwork. They will then go away and work out what (if anything) they are willing to offer you. If they are willing to consider you for a bursary then I think they may well ask you at the start what sort of bursary you think you need. So do your sums and work out what you can afford.
ASK!! If you dont ask you certainly will never get.
Good luck!

senua · 06/02/2009 09:53

"Over 30% of children receive some help with their school fees; many of those receive scholarships or bursaries from the schools themselves." here Don't know how many of the 30% are made up by grandparents.

"the Government, through the Charity Commission, has ordered private schools to justify their charitable status by proving that they benefit families on low incomes" here

Sorry to state the obvious, but have you looked at other sources? There are a surprising number of charitable bodies out there but the problem is findng them. Even if the school can't help, they may point you in the right direction (e.g. Old Girls Association?)

Original poster
Uberelf · 06/02/2009 10:31

Thanks, SEnua, much appreciated, especially that first link. I am such a new girl at this. Maybe I should have said at the start, the choice has been occasioned by a legacy, and when she sat the exams we didn't know how much the legacy would amount to. Now we do.

OP posts:
senua · 06/02/2009 11:35

I'm just worried that you are entering into a BIG commitment when you "will be stretched to pay the fees".

It's for seven years which is a loooong time.
School fees always go up faster than inflation and pay rises.
Do you have other DC, whom you would also feel obliged to send independent?

willali · 06/02/2009 12:34

Totally agree with Senua. It's not just the fees - its the uniform and trips and "extras" which can really mount up. Your leagcy will not grow with interest rates so low and the stock market up the spout, but fees will every year. Are you sure your job(s) are safe? These are uncertain times...

You say that the independent school is "safer" to get to, but you don't say it is the BETTER school for your daughter. The latter is the only reason you should undertake the huge burden of Private education.

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