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Original poster

School fees and redundancy

107 replies

bettertimeshope · 06/11/2023 14:41

Please be kind, I am on the floor with worry and panic.

Our small business has gone into administration making a total of 4 people redundant. A combination of cost of living, covid and non-payment by customers has finally taken its toll.

DH is now out of work and I am working every hour on basic living wage to keep a room over our heads. He is currently looking for any work he can get

DD is in year 11 at an independent school. Bluntly we can no longer afford the fees; our tiny savings pot will go towards living costs. We have a meeting with the school owner tomorrow to discuss options but frankly fees are bottom of our priorities even with cutting everything else back to the bare bone.

Am wondering if anyone has any thoughts or advice on how to approach discussions regarding way forward with the school. The timing is horrendous; if it was any other school year I would just pull DD out but she is due to sit her mocks in 2 weeks and suffers from poor MH.

I just don't know how much leniency to expect from the school or what they will suggest.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 06/11/2023 14:44

As she’s in year 11 I’d do everything possible to keep her there. Work in a pub at night, get DH doing anything.
Sell clothes on Vinted, flog the family gold, and sell your trinkets on eBay.

Zimunya · 06/11/2023 14:48

OP, I am so, so sorry to hear this. What an awful shock for you all. Given whereabouts she is in her education (about to write mocks and then GCSEs) the school may be able to offer some assistance. It is definitely worth asking. My DH has been made redundant twice, both at really bad times in our DD's education, and my heart absolutely goes out to you.

YourNameGoesHere · 06/11/2023 14:48

Honestly I agree with the previous poster and hopefully if the school is in any way compassionate they too will want to try everything possible to keep her there for her final months.

I don't agree with private schools in principle and I'm so sorry that you're in this situation but I would be moving heaven and earth to keep her there until she's sat her exams. I hope the school and yourself can come to some agreement and they feel the same way.

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General education
YikYok · 06/11/2023 14:52

Can you borrow some money from family (assuming your DH will get work db pay it back?). Given your dd has mocks it would be really harsh to make her switch school and exam board. Alternatively could she rejoin Y10 in a state school?

cocksstrideintheevening · 06/11/2023 14:54

I'd do everything I could to keep her there at this point in Y11. The school will hopefully be able to help with a payment plan or something. You would need to fins a state school, with space, that was doing the same exam boards as she has studied to this point.

Soontobe60 · 06/11/2023 14:55

I am vehemently against Public schools, but I would advise in this instance that you do all you can to ensure your DD gets to stay on there until her GCSEs are completed. Anything else is just too harsh on her. Id even go so far as to take out a secured loan on my house! Does the school have a hardship fund you could apply to?

user701 · 06/11/2023 15:01

I agree with everyone else. You can’t move her at this point. Sell anything you can. Car? Jewellery?

FiveCows · 06/11/2023 15:02

DustyLee123 · 06/11/2023 14:44

As she’s in year 11 I’d do everything possible to keep her there. Work in a pub at night, get DH doing anything.
Sell clothes on Vinted, flog the family gold, and sell your trinkets on eBay.

This. Because of the timing I would beg or borrow to keep her in till June.

Doggymummar · 06/11/2023 15:04

how much a month are the fees. I assume this term is paid for, so it's just 6 months until June.

Mariposista · 06/11/2023 15:08

You need a very upfront discussion with the school. Moving a child 6 months before their GCSEs is no an option, and is not in anyone's interest.

Original poster
bettertimeshope · 06/11/2023 15:09

We pay monthly so the fees are spread over 12 months.
Have missed October payment (£1.3k)

OP posts:
FallingAutumnLeaf · 06/11/2023 15:10

Your contract (unless school release you from it) is very likely to be a full terms notice - so you owe them until Easter. Therefore there is "just" one term to find.
I think talking to school to reduce your commitment as far as possible, and find a way to pay the rest.

I hope you get back on your feet soon.

Original poster
bettertimeshope · 06/11/2023 15:12

Thank you. I totally agree that it is critical DD completes her GCSEs there; I just can't see how we can currently afford even a small amount.

With DH still trying to find work I can't think straight

OP posts:
enchantedsquirrelwood · 06/11/2023 15:13

Do you have a mortgage - if so, can you take a payment holiday on your mortgage until April?

Sorry to hear that non-payment by customers was a factor in this mess - companies that don't pay invoices on time or at all need to be fined heavily.

iomd · 06/11/2023 15:13

I'm in a similar situation, actually dire financially. No bursary available.

I'm very fortunate my relative has stepped in to help. I don't know what we'd have done otherwise. The number of people who have said just move to state, for the final two years, have no idea.

Original poster
bettertimeshope · 06/11/2023 15:13

FallingAutumnLeaf · 06/11/2023 15:10

Your contract (unless school release you from it) is very likely to be a full terms notice - so you owe them until Easter. Therefore there is "just" one term to find.
I think talking to school to reduce your commitment as far as possible, and find a way to pay the rest.

I hope you get back on your feet soon.

Yes one full term notice

OP posts:
FiveCows · 06/11/2023 15:21

Move to state for the last two years is a sensible solution if there are two years left and you can’t afford private.

Moving in December of year 11 is quite a different thing. I hope you can find a solution for your DD.

Zippedydoodahday · 06/11/2023 15:25

A lot of schools offer discretionary bursaries when these sorts of things happen in an exam year. Hopefully your school does similar.

TeenDivided · 06/11/2023 15:28

I agree with the others. You are committed to Easter anyway. So I would do whatever you can to keep him there to the exams. What is the total cost to the end of the school year?
Can you increase mortgage, invoke parental help, sell a car, put on credit card? None of which I'd usually suggest but you really don't want to disrupt the schooling.

TeenDivided · 06/11/2023 15:29

Agree, could ask for discretionary bursary, or delayed payment plan?

Undunne · 06/11/2023 15:40

She really has to stay at that school to do her GCSEs- it would be so disruptive to move her and you can't guarantee other schools will do the same exam boards anyway.

I really hope the school are sympathetic to that and can help you eg with a repayment plan - as it's only till June.

I'd suggest you and your husband take any job, minimum wage whatever, immediately to get money coming in. Check if you're entitled to any benefits. Ask family or take out a loan. It's only till June then your daughter will have to move to state 6th form if she wants to stay on.

theworldiswarmingup · 06/11/2023 15:55

There are several educational charities that may be able to help. I will pm you details.

Original poster
bettertimeshope · 06/11/2023 15:55

Thank you all for being so kind; it's moments such as these a hand hold is everything.

It's also given clarity to the situation; moving her can't be an option.
We own nothing worth selling, don't even think my engagement ring is worth much.
I am doing all the overtime I possibly can but will see what else is out there.
Unfortunately we are now down to 1 car and live rurally so DH and I will need to share it

OP posts:
Original poster
bettertimeshope · 06/11/2023 15:57

theworldiswarmingup · 06/11/2023 15:55

There are several educational charities that may be able to help. I will pm you details.

Thank you

OP posts:
pumpkinfarm · 06/11/2023 15:58

Assuming if you could afford private fees up until now that your DH was earning well. So hopefully has some good experience and transferable skills to get another job quickly? Things could look very different in a month or so, so try not to panic! How's the job search going? Could you take a mortgage holiday?