Can’t afford school fees, does this sound ok?

[Rightmovestalker]

Ds is year 11,GCSE year, going to state school in September for A levels. DH has a job but I now don't. The fees bill covers Easter - July and is £4.5k. My pay would have covered it but I’m not entitled to any state help.

We are overdrawn but have £3k available credit of our overdraft limit. We have another overdraft available for £1.5k. If we pay the fees now we will have no cash at all until 30th April when dh is paid and we have other bills to pay.

We are thinking of proposing that we pay £500 now and then chip away at it until it is cleared. Dh usually gets a bonus in July but it may not be paid this year. If it is we can clear it. Our other child went to the same school and we’ve spent c£160k in total with the school. This is the last year of fees. Does our proposal sound reasonable? Thanks.

YABU = borrow more to pay
YANBU = your proposal sounds ok

[Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe]

OP Ring the Bursar...they themselves may not have all the answers to your questions in what is a fast moving and ever changing situation,however they do have a certain amount of discretion and I know they are very willing to engage with parents during this time. There may be options available to you that you havent thought about. Please call and make a telephone appointment to speak with them. at least then your mind may be at rest and a solution may be found.

[lmcneil003]

Just pay it. Stop trying to wriggle out of it.

[HugeAckmansWife]

Cannot believe someone suggested the school would sabotage the gcse grades over this. That's bloody outrageous!! Im absolutely gutted for my students who want to prove what they can do. Fewer than you might think are going 'yay, no exams'. OP, all schools have different financial situations. Mine is pretty strapped for cash and we are not currently reducing fees but all parents have been told to contact the bursar if they have difficulty. Especially given its the final term, I'd be very surprised if they didn't help you with a plan.

[HugeAckmansWife]

Imcneil003, yes, she'll just pull 4.5k out of her arse and not eat for a month.. Great idea.

[lmcneil003]

They would have found the money if COVID hadn't happened.
By people not paying for stuff they should destroys the economy

[Lordfrontpaw]

Explain to the bursar. Be candid and say what you can offer. They will be busy with parents worrying about jobs and income right now.

[Hippee]

Imcneil003 is on fire at the moment - this is about the third thread I have read this week where he/she/it is winding everyone up.

[lmcneil003]

I just think the OP should pay. I am paying school fees for summer term, even though is rather have the £10k..

[Astoatora54]

How can she pay if she has lost her job? I don't know the answer but I wanted to ask is £4.5k really just for four months schooling??! I had no idea it would cost this much. If there is no schooling going ahead, realistically surely they have to offer a discount anyway?

[HugeAckmansWife]

But people have lost their incomes because the virus so they can't pay.. Do you really not get that? Do you really not understand that not everyone has thousands on savings? The OPs child is leaving private Ed for 6th form so presumably this has been a stretch for them anyway.

[Notdonna]

Do not get yourselves into debt. Do not use your overdraft!
Call the bursar and ask what they can do for you. There will definitely be options and they may offer you something easier to adhere to than your plan.
Call them today! Good luck!

[LeMarais]

I wondered about private schools and how they would justify fees when children are at home. Online/ remote learning just isn’t equivalent (although it’s probably a real pita for teachers to change lessons). I’d be loathe to pay as much for that.
Just clocked that @lmcneil003 is paying out 10k for school fees. That’s nice for your parents, paying your own school fees.

[AugustaLoveday]

Definitely agree with those who suggest writing to the bursar and explaining your change in circumstances. I have done this with both my children's schools, and have said I can't afford to pay anything at all at the moment (true).

One school has waived the fees entirely for next term (A level child). The other said they would be in touch (GCSE child).

[Tonyaster]

Remember you will have gcse fees to pay iirc 400

[MadameJosephine]

@lmcneil003 did you miss the bit where she said she’d lost her job and couldn’t afford to pay it? I’m sure if she had the money she’d pay it just like she has for all the other years of school. Is it too difficult to grasp that her circumstances have changed.

Sounds like a sensible idea to me OP, our school have given a discount on fees for the summer term and have said that they are open to discussing payment arrangements for those who are struggling

[missyB1]

Imcneil003 struggles with the concept of empathy - and is clearly finding lockdown a tad boring......

[coconuttelegraph]

Why on earth wouldn't you ask for a payment plan? It's highly unlikely that you are the only family struggling to pay the fees, dont be so meek about it, tell them what you can afford and when you'll be paying it. Leave the ball in their court, don't spend all your are money on school fees, that's madness.

[AugustaLoveday]

They would have found the money if COVID hadn't happened

You don't say, Imcneil.

[Tonyaster]

Call the bursar. I expect you will have to fill in a very intrusive form and prove you have lost your income and show proof of the change in earnings etc.

[MadameJosephine]

@Tonyaster even if the exams have been cancelled?

[Bakedbrie]

Pay what you can OP. Don’t pay what you can’t. I’m in similar position, final year and we’ve just had pay slashed. We are paying fees minus 10 percent.

[coconuttelegraph]

@lmcneil003 we don't all have to do the same as you, people are different and have different circumstances but I'm sure we're all giving you a clap for being so well off

[Tonyaster]

even if the exams have been cancelled?

Ooh, i don't know! Not sure if it's just an exam fee or more general!

[coconuttelegraph]

My DC go to state schools so I don't know all the details but I'm rather surprised that private schools make the parents pay exam entry fees, what happens if a parent doesn't pay @Tonyaster are they not allowed to sit the exams?

[Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe]

Yes its about right ..however schools still have lots of staff to pay even if we arent there.Porters,grounds staff,catering staff,office staff,cleaners,and the visiting staff may also have to be paid on retainers.I think in terms of our school our teachers are all working online with pupils and trying to school them in the most appropriate ways still. Plus still being open for key workers children,we still supply a clean safe enviroment,teaching and catering for the pupils...life is still going on in our school to provide education for all be it at home or in school due tot he present circumstances and obvious limitations.