Private school - what fee reduction have you been given for the summer term?

[BunsyGirl]

I would just like to get an idea of what (if any) fee reductions people are being offered for the summer term. We have been offered £150 discount per child to cover lunches. I am not particularly happy as our fees cover 8-6 wrap around care. I have been told that another local private school is offering a 10% reduction and their hours are shorter as after school care is an optional extra. I don’t want to get into a debate about whether we should get a fee reduction or not. I just want to get an idea of what fee reductions are being offered.

@AmICrazyorWhat2 possibly a large proportion of parents are not paying fees. They may have had a large number of people already give notice (so looking at a big drop in numbers later in the year). A lot of schools were teetering on the edge anyway so even small drops in cash flow could be the end for them.

We have to pay the fees in January for the remainder of the school year, so that wouldn't apply - we're on a semester system here in the US.

Even if you wanted to withdraw your child, you'd have already paid so it wouldn't be worth it.

I'm just because this thread indicates that some schools are offering discounts, whereas ours is asking for more. Tbf, I've wondered about their budgeting for a while and that's one reason we're moving DS to another school.

Our independent school has said they will accept lower fees for the summer term (they’ve specified a %) but they have also said that if schools can reopen then the usual rates will apply from that point. I’d have thought most sensible schools would have that in their small print.

My youngest is at the nursery of a private school. They have said no fees for this half term. They have said they will reconsider position, but the inference seems to be they may not reopen till September (I imagine this may be because they are furloughing staff and they may need classrooms for the rest of the school if they are allowed to open, but there is a limit on class numbers).

Apologies for duplication, I posted this elsewhere but have just seen this thread which is more appropriate.
Playing devil's advocate here a bit, but few points occurred.

1. What about cost of getting children laptops, as parents may need theirs for work.
2. Many parents are hocked up to eyeballs to cover fees, if a schools buildings are owned why could they not take out commercial mortgage ?
3. Seems that the pain of all of this needs to be shared more equally. Seen a very well argued letter recently circulated and signed by many parents at one school respectfully requesting a cut in fees of 1/2. All costed out within letter by parent who had gone meticulously through schools accounts.

@Schadenfreude999 my children’s school provided ChromeBooks to children whose family needed one.

I’m really surprised someone managed to argue for a 50 % reduction in school fees. Given salaries make up most of a schools budget were they proposing they furlough a large proportion of staff - how could someone know what staff could be furloughed?

Schools are absolutely going to have to make some tough decisions, because as you say if parents are taking out loans etc to pay fees they are going to want to fee the burden is shared. Those schools that respond will survive (and I don’t mean just applying discounts. I think too many schools have been forced into this and may regret it later), but things like are they prepared for example to shorten the summer holidays to make up lost term time? As I say it may mean asking staff to work unpaid, but they will have to consider that or potential redundancies if schools go under.

We did the same at our school. Circulated a collective letter, manager to get a bigger discount for the lower years but the higher years still only 15% . We now intend to pressurise the corporate behind the school. You are quite right, we have three children and three separate services are not cheap! Not to mention, higher speed broadband, electricity, toner etc.

Private school fee reduction Petition

chng.it/C6GbJMVbRS

I think you have to be a bit careful with very old public schools Eton Radley Harrow Charterhouse all the King Edwsrds etc etc who have been running for centuries and have grown a cushion fund from legacies and bequests and smaller schools especially preps and schools run as businesses which are run more of a cash comes in and goes out on tight margins model.
One can survive a bit of disruption to fee income one cannot

We're concerned...those parents who pay bills termly have been a 20% discount but no mention of a rebate for those who paid the annual fee upfront.
I would have expected all fee payers to have been treated equally but getting increasingly concerned; no response to my emails.

Even if they delayed the refund until end of the summer term we still need the money as much as any other family

Anyone else experienced the same scenario?

Did you receive a discount for paying annually?

The whole situation is a mess.

We have removed our children from their independent school as the headteacher said they will still bill us in July even if they are unsure that school will go back to normal in September - definitely not a risk I want to take with 3 children who would have been at home for around 6/7 months by that time.

Our school has furloughed all TAs, however all teaching staff and management are still on full salary to provide remote teaching, whilst charging parents 80% of fees from the nursery to Y6.

I really think schools should have delayed sending invoices so quickly and monitored the situation more dynamically as our small independent school has lost over 13 children we know about where there were only 115 there at the start of the year.

I think the rubber will really hit the road if social distancing is going to be required in schools with a partial timetable maybe looking like half days a few days a week and classes split - I could all be a total mess.

Yes @AveEldon 2%
Would still expect the 18% difference to be rebated

I'd be chasing that 18% too

None - but DD is still having lessons as normal just delivered via computer instead of the classroom . She also has the option to attend if she wanted as I am a key worker but I have opted to keep her home instead.

30% reduction in fees at Ds school. Full teaching timetable (Ds is in yr10 so essential) online with video and Microsoft teams interactive lessons. Work deadlines and work sent to teacher for marking. Pupils have set up what’s app groups and snapchat groups for each subject and spend all day interacting. DS has spent 9-4 at his desk every day and also has prep/ homework set for next lesson.
We have been impressed by his willingness to work independently and as he has helped friends with homework he is reinforcing his learning (without realising). I think that his year will go into yr11 and yr 12 with far better independent learning skills.
A lot of work has gone into the system they have developed at his school and his head of house and house tutor have been in contact for feedback. So I have no problem with paying the fees.
I am self employed but we ringfenced school fees some time ago to make sure that he was protected should I not be able to work.
Although not mega wealthy we do not stretch ourselves financially. A small mortgage and low living costs mean that our outgoings are probably 50% of what they normally would be.
Not always been good at financial planning but fortunately over the last few years we have made sensible choices to be in this position.

• sorry should have been 20% reduction -mistyped

Asked Bursar about how the 20% discount would refunded to annual payers and have been told it will likely be applied against autumn fees.

Understandable but still a bit that we are not being treated the same as termly payers.

Big Assumption that we don't need that 20% back now!

Just got a very snippy email direct from the Head demanding "space"
Said he is currently focused on bursary and admissions; then he will contact annual fee payers.

I only emailed once to find out what the plan was; certainly wasn't aggressive. It just doesn't sit well that they promptly threw in the discount for termly payers (plus opportunity to pay in 2 halves), yet radio silence for the rest of us.

I think it's probably a very stressful time for heads and bursars and I'd try and let it go for now.
There is always a risk in paying in advance and that's partly why they offer a slight discount although yours was very slight a discount compared to other schools.
The money has been spent.

We've been given 10% off tuition fees

Hi, we live in Purley (near Banstead) and we're thinking about adding a bedroom and en-suite to our house by converting the loft. Has anyone locally or in south London/Surrey borders had similar work done recently? If so, how much did it cost, how long did it take and was the upheaval worth it? Any hints or tips would be appreciated.