Giving one term's notice to independent schools

[TinseltownLondoner]

We have a place secured at an independent primary school for DS, who starts school in September. Since we enrolled him for this school, our local state school situation has improved greatly and we'd rather he went to one particular local state school. The independent school is now our fall back option.

However, we obviously won't know if DS has got a place at the local state school until 16th April. Its our nearest school and based on the admissions criteria, I'd be really surprised if he doesn't get it. Though nothing is a given in terms of school applications.

As is standard, we need to give one term's notice to the independent school to avoid being liable for a full term's fees. Obviously, we don't want to pay a term's fees for a school place we aren't going to use. We've paid a deposit, which we accept is money we'll loose, we're looking at the deposit in terms of it having bought us some choice.

My questions is, what point counts as a full term's notice? The independent school is still on Easter holidays on the 16th of April. To give a full term's notice, would we have to give notice on the last day before the Easter holidays or can we provide notice while the school is on holiday?

@fiandfrankie You would need to clarify with the school. Is the assumption that you are leaving or staying, and at what point do you need to confirm before they reallocate the place. Not all schools would accept rolling notice.

@FiandFrankie , it depends on the school but yes you can give provisional notice. You can contact/ write to the school head today (so it's during holidays), saying you are giving notice for your child to leave at the end of the Spring term (put date) due to XXX reason but if there is a change in circumstances you would like your child to continue after Easter and the school to accept that 1 term's provisional notice has been given. This means you can withdraw your dc at any point from April & not incur 1 term's fees. Parents use this for job moves, house moves & moving from private to state sector if on a waiting list. It's up to the school whether they accept this.

There are no “rules”. It depends one what was in the terms and conditions that you agreed to (implicitly he or otherwise” at the time with that school.

I have never heard of a rolling tern concept , fwiw

Thank you for your helpful reply.

Our son's school is trying to charge the extra term's fees despite us being in the midst of covid-19. We can't afford the fees for next year and don't qualify for a bursary, so they are going to charge us until Christmas.

A lot of private schools must be grappling for money due to the current climate. Well that's their excuse anyway. Wouldn't you get the deposit back as some consolation shiftynifty?

How does all this work with consumer law? Couldn't some of these terms be held to be unfair especially if a child left and they found another to fill the place?