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Finding a Scholarship to the School of Your Choice

By: Jennifer Lowe - Updated: 21 Mar 2023 | comments*Discuss
 
Paying For School Education Private

Education is often at the top of a parents list from when their children are born right up to their late teen years, and most of the time it is the costs that are keeping mums and dads awake at night.

But it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. Around one fifth of children are eligible for financial assistance to pay for school fees, many of which are awarded scholarships or bursaries.These scholarships, or 'exhibitions' as they are sometimes referred to as, are usually reserved for those children with exceptional talent - typically in music or a similar art form.

Grab-a-Grant

The majority of this type of funding is supplied to students attending secondary schools and even though there are a handful of scholarships available to primary school children, these are very rare.

The process of receiving a scholarship of bursary of this kind usually involves a competitive examination in the specific talent field, and the funding available does fluctuate in size rarely covering the schools fees.

Some schools in the UK have now also look at the parents means before awarding bursaries or scholarships to potential students. This is because the funding is only enough to cover around 50 per cent of the fees and the parents are eligible to contribute the outstanding amount.

If you don't want to place extra pressure on your child by making them sit an exam in order to qualify for a scholarship, you could apply for a bursary if your school offers one. These are sometimes awarded to children whose parents fall into a particular category, such as teachers or the armed forces.

Government Help

The government has also stepped up to the challenge of giving children a better education, and is offering more financial to those from low and middle income families.The aim of this funding is to get more children to aim for university education. It is becoming increasingly necessary for children to gain a degree as it opens many doors to them as far as a career goes.

So, with this in mind, the government are offering a third of students that are eligible a non-refundable grant of up to £2,835 and a further third a partial sum of this amount.

It is estimated that by gaining a degree most students will enter the working world almost £30,000 in debt, and for those from low-income families, this burden of debt can be tough. The government have realised, especially recently, that many youngsters are put off going on to study at university because of the financial worry and have introduced this grant system as a way of helping these people into higher education.

And they haven't stopped there. Since 2006, students entering university education have not had to pay tuition fees before their course begins, only having to start repaying the fee loan once they have left and are earning over a certain amount.

And students that started university this September (2008/09) are set to get an extra helping hand when they complete their studies and want to buy a house or start a family. They will be entitled to a five year repayment holiday on their student loan, provided they remain in university education until 2011.

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Hi, my daughter is 4years and she's brilliant wants to be a medical doctor. I'd love to give her the best education she deserves but my income is too low for it. Please, be of help to her.
Adeolaaaa - 21-Mar-23 @ 9:45 AM
Hi I am lema Oscar Praise Iive in Uganda I just completed my P7 this and my who pays for me school fees says that she nolonger has money to for me my secondary level .If any one has something to help me with please help me I will be grateful please. Contact (0742583666)
Ema O Oscar - 4-Feb-23 @ 9:20 PM
Hi looking for assistance to get my daughter a scholarship or bursary to go to a private secondary school How do I go about applying and making a really good application. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks
Jules - 29-Jun-21 @ 2:17 PM
Hi there, My son is 6 years old and he is very intelligent and he was reading when he was 2yeas old and I feel wasting his time in his current school, he is ten times brighter than his fellow classmates
Joe - 9-Nov-20 @ 2:19 PM
Ii I would like to know if there is any sort of help for an online private school?!? During this pandemic our children have lost soo much time with proper education as I'm not a teacher I can not provide such quality support, I have come across an online private schoolwhich considers better according to the uncertainty at schools reopening and being safe!!will there be any help towards the fees?!?
Ahmed - 22-Aug-20 @ 4:09 AM
Hello, my just turned 4 year old is amazing at maths. He knows things secondary students struggle with. Nursery does not challenge him at all. I would like some help regards funding for private schools. Would they at this young age? Thank you!
Kez - 2-Jun-20 @ 6:25 AM
hi my son is a intelligent boy who wants to become engineer but I cannot get the school fees
Papa - 30-Dec-19 @ 10:29 PM
My nephew is due to start reception in September and my sister has been informed by the school that he is excelling in all he learns and that she should maybe look in to funding for a private school how can we get any information on this ?
Natalie Jayne Morton - 4-Jul-19 @ 10:30 AM
Hi my daughter is at a private school where she gets 100% scholorship. The school have just informed me she cannot go on any trips, unless educational, as i dont pay for her schooling. Is this right?
Chris - 6-May-19 @ 11:07 PM
Both parents lost jobs and we have children are school going age.RIGHT now we are at cross road we don't have money to send them back to school.we're looking for sponsorship,they are hard working children in school and very active in curricular activities.the girl is aspiring to be a medical doctor and the boy to be pilot
kitone - 30-Jan-19 @ 9:58 AM
I need help to send my daughter to private school. She is genius, best in her class age 5. She want to be surgeon. Anyone with information to get assistant will be great.
Cool - 2-Dec-18 @ 1:29 PM
My daughter got top achieve in her school don't want to waist all that brain please help age 11 old bussary for him and my 9 daughter the are both in John Pama primary school in Nyanga I stay with them as they father I'm 29 years old please help even they teachers are asking me to find a school that will up grade they knowledge my contact details 0781296973 Regards Ndiphiwe stofile Cape town
Stoffie - 25-Aug-17 @ 7:26 AM
My daughter won a half scholarship for a private performing arts school last year but due to circumstances my partner is not able to work for 6 months so we can't afford to pay the rest of fees until he can return to work in 2 months time. The school have now said we have til June the 2nd to pay the outstanding fees or my daughter will have to leave. She is really upset about this so I'm looking for some help to clear the outstanding fees to let her continue to attend the school and persue what she loves best. Please can you help me find a way for help. Thanks for your time.
Reecey - 18-May-17 @ 4:31 PM
Jones82 - Your Question:
Hi my daughter has just been accepted into a private school. She is is very smart and not being challenged at all at her current school. She's 8 years old and would have been starting Year 5 in September. The school however only pay half the fees and I can't afford the other half. Where can I find someone who would pay the other half of the fees for her? She really wants to go and I'm afraid if she doesn't get this amazing opportunity she won't be challenged enough. She's constantly complaining how easy the work is and the tests.

Our Response:
It's very unlikely you will find funding for this unless there is a specific talent involved (such as music, sport). There are lots of bright children in state schools and trust us, many of them find tests easy at primary school. Once she gets to secondary school she will be challenged a lot more, especially at A level/university once she gets there.
GrantsExpert - 12-May-17 @ 2:21 PM
Hi my daughter has just been accepted into a private school. She is is very smart and not being challenged at all at her current school. She's 8 years old and would have been starting Year 5 in September. The school however only pay half the fees and I can't afford the other half. Where can I find someone who would pay the other half of the fees for her? She really wants to go and I'm afraid if she doesn't get this amazing opportunity she won't be challenged enough. She's constantly complaining how easy the work is and the tests.
Jones82 - 11-May-17 @ 1:10 PM
Bambanani - Your Question:
I am a single mum of grls my first born child is 9years old in grade 4, attending a private school and I find it hard to pay her fees since I am unemployed.i do not know where to get help,plz help

Our Response:
You could apply to get her into a state school if you can't afford private school fees?
GrantsExpert - 14-Feb-17 @ 10:38 AM
I am a single mum of grls my first born child is 9years old in grade 4, attending a private school and i find it hard to pay her fees since i am unemployed.i do not know where to get help,plz help
Bambanani - 12-Feb-17 @ 7:12 PM
Plz i am a boy of 13 years i need secondary school scholarship because my parents cannot afford my fees plz help me. I will be grateful prince
Casey - 23-Jan-17 @ 7:23 PM
Hello, iam in primary 7,iam looking for a sponsor to join secondary level, my bursary for primary level has ended, please help me to connection me to secondary sponsors of education. hope tohear from you,
patie32 - 26-Dec-16 @ 10:08 AM
Am a single mum of three, I had three children in primary level, but now one who is charity who has finishes primary level is to go to secondary next year. During primary level in was hard for me to manage school fees for 3 in that sometimes they would be chased away from school until I got the balance. Am just here seeking for help for them to complete their education, if there can be any sponsorship or bursaries. Will appreciate, because with my job(self employed, no steady income) am seeing their education will be interrupted some how.
Mum - 26-Dec-16 @ 7:00 AM
Dora - Your Question:
My daughter is attending a preschool at a private school and would love to send her to the school when she starts in reception I'm interested in scholarship and bursary how do you qualify or find out if you can have help with fees

Our Response:
Check the school's website or ask the head teacher/admissions manager. They will be able to give details of any bursaries or scholarships available (these are often means tested). Scholarships are generally offered to those with outstanding talent in a particular area.
GrantsExpert - 11-Jul-16 @ 10:16 AM
My daughteris attendinga preschoolat a private school and would love to send her to the schoolwhen she starts in receptionI'm interestedin scholarshipand bursaryhow do you qualifyor find out if you can have help with fees
Dora - 8-Jul-16 @ 10:51 AM
Hello, I have a child who has a half scholarship to a private drama school which finishes when it goes to secondary level. They do not allow current pupils to reapply for further scholarships , being disabled I am unable to afford further costs, my child has had frequent time off school due to a chronic health problem which could be termed a disability. What options can I explore please ? thanks
Gaia - 13-Jun-16 @ 9:14 AM
Plz am a girl of 13 years in junior secondry 2 from Nigeria plz my parents can not afford my school fees and i need to study to make them proud am a obedient and good girl plz help me plzzz
Preciouzy - 12-Jun-16 @ 4:12 PM
My son is in year 6 and he is talented and in top groups in his class. I want him to get a scholarship for year 7 and I wonder if he needs to do the 13+ Exam in order to apply for independent secondary school. His was born in 2004 and is going to a state school but very keen on education. Can you advise me on how to get a scholarship and which schools do offer this kind of help and also whether he is eligible to set for the 13+ pls? Many thanks.
Helen - 10-May-16 @ 8:07 PM
Hey ,am called leila ,from uganda and am longing for someone to pay my sons school fees ,he is 5 years in top class.I am not working ,and am his second mother, his mother got lost no one knows where she isso he stays with me and my parents are not working .he is very smart.please I need your help.thanx
leila ali - 26-Apr-16 @ 10:18 AM
Judi - Your Question:
How can I get a grant or funding to pay for my daughters performing arts class? I need some help finding the rite sites or info. So please HELP ANYONE?

Our Response:
Is she expectionally talented? That's likely to be the best chance of gettting some kind of scholarship or bursary. You have not given us your daughter's age so we can't give any concrete information. Try this link
GrantsExpert - 24-Mar-16 @ 2:06 PM
How can I get a grant or funding to pay for my daughters performing arts class? I need some help finding the rite sites or info.So please HELP ANYONE?
Judi - 22-Mar-16 @ 3:19 PM
My forth child has passed the entrance exam in the uk for an independent school which my other three children attended. She had a letter of congratulations but no help with fees. I have no other family and and a single mum of four. My two boys are at university. I am devestated for my child as she has had a very hard life with bereavements and a mentally ill father. Please help me we have to know by next week. Yours in Christ
Julia - 4-Mar-16 @ 9:51 PM
tina - Your Question:
I am a Ugandan, single mum with two wonderful children (4yr old girl in year 2 of kindergarten and 11yr old boy in Primary 6), seeking for advice on where to get school fees scholarships for my kids. I have not had a full time job for about 4yrs even though I now have a Masters degree. I live with my retired parents and my kids in Kampala. The little I earn from the few part time jobs I get, (mostly typing or secretarial work) , plus my dad's pension, helps us to cover the basic expenses like food and utilities. I have tried to change them to cheaper private schools but am still stuck. School started 22 feb 2016 and they are still at home just like when they missed half of last year's term III. Lucky enough, they are smart, that they managed to be promoted to the next classes. Please help me with advice. I need them to get the best education they can, and not miss a single term of the school's academic year. tina

Our Response:
This site only deals with UK issues unfortunately.
GrantsExpert - 24-Feb-16 @ 12:03 PM
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