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Original poster

Independent schools GCSEs and Alevels summer terms fees

34 replies

Threeschools · 10/04/2017 14:47

Is it true that despite the DCs being on study leave most of the summer term for their exams, parents have to pay full term fees when the children actually spend 2 weeks in school all together? Plus nearly a grand worth of external exams fees? Are the exams fees free in the state system? This is still a few years away for us but I was quite shocked when I heard this.

OP posts:
2014newme · 10/04/2017 15:23

Exams are free at state schools yes.

WhatHaveIFound · 10/04/2017 15:20

Yes, i'm afraid they are though at my DC's school exam costa are included in the fees.

DD will be doing GSCEs next year though i expect her to spend most of her time in school during study leave as she has extra curricular & musical commitments and it'll save her distracting me as i work from home.

gillybeanz · 10/04/2017 15:18

We too have 3 termly payments, depending on how many weeks are in the year depends on the fees.
Music is compulsory at GCSE and A level plus all music exams are free, well subsidised by the gov.

LIZS · 10/04/2017 15:16

In short yes although I don't think exam fees were as much as that. Also extras like bus and lunches although dd will go in all day if she has a pm exam (she has 20 papers in all) .

Allthebestnamesareused · 10/04/2017 15:08

Ours aren't in for just 2 weeks though!! Where are pupils only in for 2 weeks of term. Anyway although fees are paid in three equal instalments at the start of each term it is based on a school year cost divided by 3 rather than calculated at a daily rate x number if days in the term.

CiderwithBuda · 10/04/2017 15:08

DS is doing GCSEs and we have to pay £475. Plus normal term fees I think. We paid in full up to end of this term a few years ago as we got a discount that way.

Don't know why they don't just add the exam fees into the general school fees.

Eastpoint · 10/04/2017 14:57

For our children they have been included within the fees. Have to pay extra for music & LAMDA exams as they are optional extras.

gillybeanz · 10/04/2017 14:56

Exams are free in the state system and I thought they were free in the indie system too, I know ours will be.
Yes, they pay full fees as far as I'm aware.

Eastpoint · 10/04/2017 14:53

& then university students are paying for a whole term's accommodation & food despite only having lectures for 2 weeks & then 2 exams for DD. Think she'll be studying in the uni library.