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.
Tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application.
Try our Grant Eligibility Finder free, here on this site →Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
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 previously offered grants to eligible students, but maintenance grants were abolished for new students in England from 2016/17 and replaced with increased maintenance loans.
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 1998, students have been able to take out loans for tuition fees, only having to start repaying once they have left and are earning over a certain amount.
The five-year repayment holiday that was announced for students starting in 2008/09 was never implemented. It was reduced to two years in 2009 and then scrapped entirely before coming into force.
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)
How do I go about applying and making a really good application.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
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
Thank you!
Regards
Ndiphiwe stofile
Cape town
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 to hear from you,
I cashed in my pension and received £24,000 which I've spent exclusively on my grandson's education. He was 6 and had had an extremely traumatic little life and I felt it best he attend private school with small classes and a more intimate atmosphere. This worked well. I have paid for almost 3 years and run out of money. I'd hoped, despite my age, to find work to enable me to keep paying for him but this has not happened. Anyone know of any organisations that offer financial help for 9 year olds. He has caught up well with his studies and you rarely see him without a book. He loves his school.
My 4 year old son is about to start reception in September. He is really smart he has been going to a private nursery and they have been sending him to their private primary school to attend year 1 class because he's on a 6 year old level of thinking. He already reads and writes at 4. They want to enrol him at their private school but unfortunately we aren't able to meet up with the £500 per month fees. Is there any assistance I can get somewhere be it scholarship or other which I can be met halfway? Where and how can I apply for one?
Thank you.
is there any way we can get help for her.
Regards Yvonne Turner (nana)
He attends a drama school, where he also excels, how do I find out if help is possible? I would love him to achieve his full potential. Many thanks
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