Grants for school fees

Sigur_2

I agree, but I guess it varies from school to school on the funding available. Truly bright pupils should be accommodated so as to nurture their potential.

greenwich

Sigur wrote: »

Truly bright pupils should be accommodated so as to nurture their potential.

You're talking about boarding schools now :rotfl:

Seriously, the charities commission is currently going after private schools: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7189874.stm

Sigur_2

greenwich wrote: »

You're talking about boarding schools now :rotfl:

I didn't mean it in that sense.

TangledMemories_2

I attended private school and the only grant we got was a 15% discount on the yearly fees due to me winning a scholarship before I went into seniors.

HappySad

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Back in the Dark Ages, I think me and all my siblings got a small grant from some London charity. And we weren't all at private school - actually none of us were but some of us were at boarding school.

Some of the old livery companies may give grants, especially to the children of parents who were / are employed in that profession. Then I was at a school which had funds available for pupils from a particular town, and RAF pupils - daughters of those who'd served / were serving in the RAF.

All of which is fascinating without necessarily being helpful. So here's the gem: see if your local Voluntary Services Council has the FunderFinder package, and if they do ask if an individual can book a session to see if there is help available for educating an individual child. It's basically a computer program: you say what you want money for, it asks questions about who and what and where the money's for, and it produces a list of possible places to apply. Usually someone helps you answer the questions right so that you only get a limited number of places to apply.

Although my first step would always be to ask the school about other places you might apply for help. They should be aware of any local sources, at least, and they may have extra scholarships for music, maths, art etc.

This is very useful and I will look into the leads that you have suggested.

fengirl_2

You need to consult the Directory of Grants for People in Need at your local library...I think there might be another similar directory, but it will be on the same shelf.

Rikki

The preparatory school my children attended had a common entrance exam once a year where children sat aptitude tests and were awarded scholarship and sometimes bursarys.

Senior school children are either entered for the scholarship exams woth the top scholars getting awards towards fees or sitting the common entrance exam doing exceptionally well and being awarded a bursary. (up to 50% in some cases)

I have never been aware of any outside funding, but thats not to say there isn't.

Maybe if a child has an aptitude for sports, music you can approach relevant groups and ask for assistance. Remember don't ask don't get. Anythings worth a try!

haylibo

HappySad, years ago I got a grant from a charity aimed specifically at helping girls continue education. I wanted to do an OU course and was on a low income. Even with help with fees from the OU there were still additional cost. Sorry- digressing. I think I found something at the local library, accidentally, which listed funds left by benefactors to support various local causes. It was quite obscure and didn't give heaps each year but it was a big help to me.

If I were you I would start by contacting any charities relevant to your disability and see if they have any ideas. Next, I'd phone the local library and ask them. Does the school have a 'friends of (school's name)' ? If so, their secretary may have an idea or two.

Have you googled charities for your given area? You never know...
I suspect it's one of those things where you'll need to keep digging around to come up with something.

Best wishes.

Rikki

Just to add you need to look at the costs for the senior schools. The price jump from the prep school to senior school at age 13 is huge.
You certainly need to be aware of it and if possible start saving as soon as you can.

My sons last year was just over £6,000 a term. £18,000 plus for the year and even if the had been a scholarship or bursary available it would still have cost nearly £10,000. That is without the extras.

I'm not trying to put you off, I'm just trying to enlighten you to the scary reality.

Fifer

HappySad wrote: »

Are there any grants on offer if the parents are disabled?

This thread isnt for a debate on private vs state education.

If it isn't a debate, then it's probably in the wrong section.