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.

Alsoplayspiccolo Do you plan on challenging the discount currently being offered.

Interested to know what those who are unhappy with the % discount will do.

I think we will wait and see what they are offering in terms of teaching still.

I realise they have a business to run (don't we all) but current fees stand at

Boarding (including extras) 16000
Day pupils 10000

Am quite prepared to pay 50% of day fees as he obviously wont be returning, but I can't see how they can justify charging even 50% for boarding?, given the people they employ for pastoral care/cleaning etc. will n olinger be needed regardless of Furloughing.

silverback, at the moment, we’re not in the position to pay anything, so I’m not sure what we’ll do. We’re waiting for a letter that outlines the provision for year 11 and 13.
Initially, we’re going to have to respond to the proposed payment break.

Good luck Alsoplayspiccolo

Thanks, silverback.

@ Alsoplayspiccolo

I feel for you, however.

The hardship fund will, in all likelihood, be completely closed to any parents seeking financial support due to corona. Why? Because it would be emptied in hours and still most wouldn’t benefit.

Hardship funds are usually drawn on in such circumstances as the main earning parent is killed or has a serious / terminal ill need diagnosis.

It is not for a financial situation that almost all of the school parents, including the school itself and the teachers will endure.

I am afraid that you need to be clear on this point that the fact your earnings have eased, along with many many others and there will be others in same boat at your school, it is almost a certainty you will have no access to the hardship fund.

In addition - it is very unlikely they will bend according to particular parents situation.

There will be an offer to all.

If they begin bending and adapting for some - then it’s a road to ruin for the school.

Bringbring, then maybe the school should have made that clearer when they said that parents who choose to pay full fees, rather than the offered discount will see that money go into the hardship fund; it made it sound very much that parents who could afford to would be helping out those less fortunate. Also, nowhere does it explicitly say what is and isn’t included in applying for the fund; it simply says change of financial circumstances.

Sorry I don’t understand

What should the school have made clearer?

Can you not see that the hardship fund would be obliterated if all the parents impacted negatively by corona applied for it. The school is simply being sensible.
You partner diagnosed with a terminal illness and the main earner - I’m sure the school would have no problem referring to the hardship fund

But aren’t you both right?

Yes, hardship funds weren’t designed for a situation like this and can’t support every family who has been affected by the current situation.

Yes, the school could have been explicit and explained that when asking parents who could afford full fees to pay them so the extra could go into the hardship fund. Families are so stressed right now it isn’t the time to rely on them thinking everything through. It would not be unreasonable for parents currently enduring hardship to hope those funds would be able to help them.

It’s just a terrible situation all round where everyone needs to be extra sympathetic.

Oh I do have sympathy, very much so

Just trying to manage expectations

Highly unlikely the hardship fund will be drawn upon

So, right now, when hardship is affecting many families, the school is suggesting the discount parents choose not to take is being put into the hardship fund for use in the future, when this is all over, and IF a family at the school suffers the sort of hardship you describe?
Really?

Probably. Like everyone else they’re making up the rules as they go along.
Right now I’d have thought they’d help as many people as possible (and keep more pupils) if they were completely transparent in their decisions and reduced fees as much as they can for everyone.
One thing private schools certainly can’t afford to do right now is alienate parents.

Our school have said that those who are suffering financial hardship due to corona must go and talk to the school. Their priority is the well being and education of pupils.

Having read some of the stories on here I am more grateful for dds school. They've been transparent and organised right from the beginning.

20% for prep and 10% for secondary, and full bursaries and scholarships value amounts are still being given, so those recieving them will benefit a greater percentage in real terms
some parents have already contributed to a hardship fund to further help other parents who are struggling, which we have been invited to apply for if we need it.
Bording fees have been refunded in their entirity, as are nursery fees

we are also still getting nearly full time live teaching via Microsoft teams apart from of course sports.

Headmaster recording assemblies and many things being shared via school TV

They are still paying all their staff, including catering, cleaning and drivers for school buses

@bunsygirl I completely agree with everything you say. So do all of the parents I have actually spoken to at the various private schools in my city. No one thinks fees should be waived completely but there is a general consensus that the schools are being deluded about being able to justify full fees. My daughters secondary school has offered 10% - about the cost of lunch which is currently inclusive.

I foresee a lot of schools going under if they don't find a way to significantly cut costs.

Schools also need to look at what they can contribute other than lessons. Pastoral support for pupils and their families is going to be more important than ever and part of that has to be accepting that some parents are going to be very anxious about their financial circumstances. We know the schools are a business, but if they come across as sympathetic and approachable (even if I’m reality their ability to change the financial situation is limited) they are more likely I survive. Schools that appear heavy handed now could frighten parents into giving notice.

Dd school 20% plus cost of lunches

DSs not heard anything yet but there was a hint in last letter from head there might be something

We had a letter this morning outlining the reduction. 17.5% for the summer term and as DS was about to do his A levels they are looking into getting a refund for the exam fees.

Since the school closed he's had 3 on line lessons and completed and submitted 4 pieces of work.

Next term the input will be minimal as he was due to go on study leave on 14th May. The staff will be submitting the information to ensure he gets a grade for each subject.

Not sure that 17.5% is enough of a reduction.

We haven't been offered anything yet and we've already paid for the rest of the school year. Obviously, the staff still need to be paid and a certain amount on facilities maintenance, but I think offering a small discount - perhaps put towards next year's fees - would be a wise "goodwill" gesture. DD says they're already running behind in several subjects, despite online classes and work posted.

Bet they won't though.

State secondary - up and running from day one with lessons, feedback etc even food tech. I haven't had to do anything (Y8). They saw it was going to happen and made arrangements early.

Indy prep - radio silence on whether the school was even closing until the FRIDAY. Long letter congratulating the school/teachers on how wonderful they were all being as only had '2 days notice' with passive aggressive undertones about 'all the supportive messages' from parents. Work home for reception is reams of twinkl sheets with no indication which would be most suitable (only 5 in the class so not that hard). Y4 child slightly better with work set and feedback but no live lessons/teaching.

Worst of all, they are not providing ANY provision for keyworkers. Some people have asked and been fobbed off. School closed to everyone. Nothing been said about fees either. The school is lovely in some many ways but the attitude to all this has been beyond dreadful.

@AsiaEbene Just saw your post with "hinting about 'donations.' "

DD and DS's schools don't "hint" about donations, they yell it from the rooftops! We're happy to give a bit if we can, but last year I was really annoyed when DS's school transferred some money given to the Annual Fund (meant for facilities' improvements, equipment, teaching training, etc.) to the Tuition Assistance Fund.

I have no problem with helping families afford the school fees, but if I make a donation for school improvements, I don't want the money used for something else. I expect there's language allowing them to do that, but it annoyed me. These schools can be irritating!

20% here across the board but just for next term.

DD’s school survives on fee’s only, no historical cash reserves sitting around. They have emailed saying they are furloughing practical staff e.g. DT, PE etc but paying the 20% themselves.

They are offering 15% off, plus obviously no lunches. Exam fees they are discussing with the boards and will let us know. On line provision has been excellent, even the PE department posting video’s of exercising at home during lessons. All teachers available, setting work, assembly talks being video’d and posted.

Apparently when Coro moved out of China the Head decided that there was such a risk of it hitting here that she went straight into planning/expansion of on line facilities and training for staff so they were able to hit the ground running.

After Easter they are doing Pre A Level curriculum. Am pleased with 15%, wasn’t really expecting anything.

10% reduction but asked those who could afford it to consider paying in full as usual. Costs eg school meals have of course also been deducted.

For us, that's very fair as DC would only have been at school for 10 days next term anyway due to study leave. And I am concerned that teaching staff will have mammoth tasks next term, effectively doing the job of the exam boards whilst also teaching online with their own DC at home. ITeachers of yr 11& 13 will have a tough term.