Chased for notice term fees

[Lost1982]

Hi All, Need your help.We moved to UK couple of months back and enrolled our daughter in an independent school here. A few weeks into the school, my daughter was bullied by fellow students and also witnessed racist comments. Obviously, my teenage DD was extremely upset and become a loner. I did highlight this to the school, but the school stated they can only do anything about it if we name the girls who were involved. My DD was extremely petrified to name the girls since she felt they would trouble her more. The school did not bother to call us, nor did it provide my daughter counselling to get out of this incident post their 1 mail asking for the girls' names. There was also security issues in the school, and my daughter was left stranded in the school by the transport number of times since the activities teacher did not inform the transport team that the activity was cancelled for that specific day. At one instance, my daughter was untraceable after her activities club post school - which the school managed - we tried calling the teachers, school, activity coach but none of them responded. In fact the activities club receptionist told us my daughter was not there, while she was all the time there in the club in the basement practicing. Horrified, we did then got in touch with police helpline. Thankfully, by then, my daughter called, and we got her back home. After witnessing the above, we withdrew her from the school since the school was not bothered, nor concerned for the well being of my daughter. I informed the school in July that we are withdrawing her from the school. The school is now following up with us for their terms notice fee around 10K for the same. We had a really bad experience with the school, and it took months for my daughter to come out of this trauma. We understand this as per contract, but it seems extremely unfair that you are tortured and then expected to pay for the torture. Please advise since we are too new to this and not sure how to take this ahead.

You are liable for the fees. How could they do anything if you wouldn’t name those involved?

And your daughter is 15 for goodness sake, not five.

Honestly this reads like along list of little niggles that you are trying to use to get it of paying the fees. Ultimately, had you given the names of the bullies the bisque would have been dealt with and your daughter wouldn't be experiencing such 'trauma' as you describe it.

It’s not just the bullying isn’t it?
it’s also the very low level of safety, transport etc…..

I think you have two options

• pay (and you’ll have ample opportunities to tell people how crap the school has been anyway) and draw a line under it all. That way everyone, and esp your dd, can move on from a crap experience.
• review the contract in particular the breech of contract. Yes you should be paying this term if you haven’t told them early enough. But at the same time, they’ve made numerous mistakes and might well be in breech of their own requirements. So I’d review that first and foremost.

Let's look at these incidents separately;

1. The bullying - what were the school meant to do if your daughter wouldn't say who was involved ?
2. The school have no obligation to provide counselling for an alleged incident of bullying they have been unable to investigate or deal with. Surely it's your job to arrange counselling if you think it's needed?
3. Your daughter observing a racist incident - she's 15 , surely she's heard these things before. Not great, but if it wasn't aimed at her personally why the drama?
4. The transport not available on the days the activity was cancelled - surely she wasn't the only one in that position. Its not clear who is responsible for arranging transport if this happens. If it's the school the they should have sorted it. But it's a minor issues overall and I would expect a 15 year old to go and speak to someone to ask.
5. Going missing during an activity after school - presumably your daughter was there at a time you would expect given she was still practicing the activity? . I'm not sure why you called the police though so maybe it was significantly past the time she was meant to be there ? If so, the onus is on your daughter to tell you she's staying late.

None of the above mean you should wriggle out of paying the fees if thats what the contract says.

You sound rather dramatic. Your daughter is 15 and you need to stop babying her.

Me too. Your references to her being stranded made her sound like a much younger child.

You signed the contract so you're held to the terms.