Music Scholarships, top-up funding for school fees Options

[HATC]

Dear everyone!

I am writing regarding my son who is at a state school and has just been awarded a music scholarship.

Unfortunately it is only 50% of the fees(4254 per term) which still leaves us needing a fair amount.

I am confused as to which would be the best way to proceed.
Tc just absolutely loves the school and only wants to go to this school.
They have a brilliant music department

Tc (10 yrs) is a grade 6-7 violinist.

I guess what I am writing to you for is advice and possible avenues of funding I may approach to match the 50% offer,

Thank you in advance for your time

PS We had considered The Purcell, but it is too far and Tc does not want to board

[Ayshah]

1. Ask the school that has just awarded you a place, for recommendations of organisations that you can approach

2. Go to your local library and ask for books on funding/charities, it is easier to do this in a library as not all the charities have websites. I recommend the Educational Grants Directory published by the Directory for social change. I would actually recommend that you purchase it..bit pricey but you will use it.

3. Remember that private schools have "extras" on their invoices that can add another £1kp.a. to the fees. Budget for this.

4. Work out how much you need per week. The smaller figure makes it easier to look at rather than the per annum! Get a lodger and charge the absolute maximum you can get away with. Yes, even if you have to put two kids in the same room it generates a good bit of tax free income.

5. Get a second job - seriously!

6. Find out if you or your partner's employers have a fund for this purpose. What is your career? Look for funds from your professional body.

7. Can grandparents/godparents help?

8. Are you a low income family?

9. Of course you can do web searches.

You are undertaking a commitment for a minumum of five years..can you afford it? Dont start if you cant complete.

Since the recession and the loss of fund in Banks in Iceland many organisations that would have given top -up funding have pulled their belts in and are giving little or no funding until this recession has passed.

We put two kids through prep schools with extra income from lodgers and me teaching privately at home evenings and on wknds but we couldnt have holidays, new cars, new TVs etc and I cried if the fridge broke down. They went back into the state system at 11, but both found it difficult to cope in the first year. We were lucky that we lived near schools with excellent music provision and they settled eventually but financially when they were in the prep school, it was extremly difficult.

If you find that you cant raise the money, then be realistic. A state school and a good music teacher for considerably less fee per annum or even a saturday junior conservatoire is another way of not breaking the family bank and your child getting a decent music education. You cannot provide everything everytime, you can only do your best at that particular time. My son cried for days when he didnt get to go to a school that all his friends were going to..but hey he survived, made new friends and met two of the old schoool mates at University! Do look at other alternatives.

Remember back in the old days there were kids who couldnt take up Grammar School places because their parents couldnt afford the school uniforms and extras!

Good luck

[Digby]

Dear everyone!

I am writing regarding my son who is at a state school and has just been awarded a music scholarship.

Unfortunately it is only 50% of the fees(4254 per term) which still leaves us needing a fair amount.

I am confused as to which would be the best way to proceed.
Tc just absolutely loves the school and only wants to go to this school.
They have a brilliant music department

Tc (10 yrs) is a grade 6-7 violinist.

I guess what I am writing to you for is advice and possible avenues of funding I may approach to match the 50% offer,

Thank you in advance for your time

PS We had considered The Purcell, but it is too far and Tc does not want to board

50% is actually really good for scholarship, you must be very proud.

I take it you have already contacted the school to see if there are any extra bursaries available, they all have to offer some these days to keep their charitable status, but they may well consider 50% is enough.

If you haven't, Bursaries come under a different heading to scholarships and have to be applied for separately so it is not unusual to get both.

[Crotchetymum]

Remember back in the old days there were kids who couldnt take up Grammar School places because their parents couldnt afford the school uniforms and extras!

My grandfather was one of them!

HATC, congratulations on your son's scholarship. Ayshah's advice is very sound (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

50% is possibly the fullest amount the shool offer, although it's worth asking them whether there is also the opportunity for an additional scholarship - academic, perhaps?

[SueHM]

Were you expecting or hoping to get more than 50% when you applied?

Talk to the school. They might be prepared to offer more if they really want your son and you can demonstrate genuine financial difficulty.

Re-mortgage your house? Sell your grandmother? If it comes to taking out a big loan or some other such arrangement, ask the school if they will accept a lump sum to cover the full amount - it could be significantly less than you would pay over the 5 to 7 years, with fee increases etc (of course, you will pay interest on the loan, but do the maths - it might be worth it).

Pay the fees by monthly direct debit - more manageable than 3 big bills a year.

[Alicia Ocean]

1. Ask .....
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Good luck

That's such a good post, Ayshah! I do wonder if private education is a bit of a knee jerk reaction sometimes. We have a "gifted" child and considered a private school but then found that it really was better to simply pay for better tutors and send the child to holiday residential courses and activities and have a normal family life. Also the lack of holidays and treats would have been unfair on our other children.

[notmusimum]

I don't have the full web address but you could try egas online. That's educational grants rather than a gas company (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)