Boarding schools, fees, notice periods and coronavirus.

[Effzeh]

Does anyone have any insight into how this is likely to work?

Assuming the school is closed for the whole of the summer term, can they still demand fees? Or if I want to keep my y11 child living at home and just bring them into school for exams (assuming exams go ahead), can they insist on us paying the boarding fee anyway?

I know nobody knows how this is all going to pan out, but wondered if anyone had any idea what might happen in these very exceptional circumstances.

I think a discount will be offered to parents, the combination of Govt pressure to ensure business interruption insurance will be paid out and proposal to pay 80% of salaries of those who can not work - drivers/cooks etc - means there is more flexibility to pass on to parents.

I mean, we have to collate evidence and demonstrate to the exam board that your son would achieve that grade. Presumably he was hoping to make progress between his mock and the real thing?
Also, how much teaching is he actually even missing before study leave? He's pretty much had the full years teaching already.
The 'predicted grade' is not the 'calculated grade'. The calculated grade is submitted officially to the exam board along with evidence (presumably up for moderation). So no, if you don't pay your final fees installment, in the same way that would have meant school wouldnt have to let him take the exam, they dont have to submit the calculated grade and evidence.
I actually have the least sympathy for U6 parents. Lower years are missing a whole term of teaching. Your son has already had the teachers' main focus and completed the whole course. You are essentially refusing to pay for a service after receiving it

We will be paying next term’s fees in full as usual (13k full boarding). It’s not easy (as we are not higher rate tax payers). I see the summer terms fees be it third form, fifth form or upper sixth as one fifteenth of the cost of the whole education my ds will receive over five years. Whilst summer exam terms do not equate to fresh teaching, A level students receive a lot more one to one guidance than in younger years and my expectation is that sixth form teaching is actually more costly to provide. It is not appropriate to not pay the last term’s fees imo just because you don’t rate value for money for one term. Look at the bigger picture I would say ....

Both my children are at State Boarding Schools. One has offered a complete refund as we’ve already paid for the summer term. The other where we pay by Direct Debit says it will not demand any boarding fees while the school is closed.

Of course education is free at these schools. My two are in Years 11 and U6th. One school is doing quite a few online lessons and setting work. The other is doing less but may start up more once the summer term starts. One uses Microsoft Teams and does video classes the other uses Google Classroom but sets work rather than running classes.

Our school has now pointed anyone who can't afford the fees in the direction of their hardship fund.
The thing is I doubt we'll be eligible unless my dh loses his job despite definitely not being able to afford it with our current outgoings. In normal circumstances we could get a different job, move to cheaper accommodation or take a second job on even. We have savings but these are going on rent now. All of our usual options for an emergency fee plan have been taken away from us. I don't want to get into debt for the school either.

We've decided to probably pay this term despite them doing almost zero for the fees (all print offs from well known education sites that I can easily find myself and I have to teach it all) and not return to the school in September. I'm so worried as I can't see state schools being set up for accepting sudden new students in September either so maybe dc will have to go at least a term with no education but at this point I don't think I have a choice. I wish our school would just put staff on the 80% pay scheme charge us the remaining 20% if they're not actually going to make the teachers work anyway. But I don't have a say in all of this.

Both my children are at State Boarding Schools. One has offered a complete refund as we’ve already paid for the summer term. The other where we pay by Direct Debit says it will not demand any boarding fees while the school is closed.

That’s really helpful, thank you. We’re in the same situation (state boarding school) and haven’t heard a squeak about what the plan is for next term’s fees, but since the fee only relates to the boarding provision, I didn’t in all honesty see how a fee could be payable if there is no boarding.

It will of course blow a massive hole in those schools’ budgets, since the permanent boarding staff will presumably still need to be paid, but the prospect of not being stung for next term’s fees is a welcome relief.

@fourleafs in all honesty, in your shoes I would either apply to the hardship fund or point out that you don't have a contract with them for remote learning and pull out completely.

Legally is there a get out do you think in saying we don’t have a contract for distance learning? @genevieva? (It won’t let me tag you, sorry!)

My ex has had to close his business (abroad) so has no income, I’ve been furloughed. Ds was being badly bullied so we were biding our time to leave at the end of this year anyway, but we were never high earners to begin with. I’m on tax credits I earn so little. We have heard nothing from school about fees and we would have usually had the bill by now.

I am not a contract lawyer, but it is a material change and I think it would be reasonable to say that what they are offering is not what you signed up for. Ultimately, you have to put paying for the roof over your head first.

Are private schools not eligible for the 80% paye support? For the support staff that aren’t working at the moment

Yes @mummy203 private schools can furlough non teaching staff, this will be the quickest way to make a saving to pass on to parents via Summer Term fees discount.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eton-and-kings-cut-fees-as-sop-to-parents-5bzhzr288

@newdadd have you got a share token for that article? Thanks

We have had an email to say that full fees will be billed, I am going to try to claim on insurance.

What insurance is that @vegansarefriends? I suspect we will get full fees billed too. Our trust isn’t known for its generosity!

We have school fees insurance, going to give it a go.

Here's the latest info on what may schools are doing to pass their savings on to parents from the similar thread in Secondary Education.

It's very difficult to make the screenshots readable and MN won't let you upload the actual file.

I am happy to send it to anyone that PMs me an email address.

I’ve just sent you a pm @findumdum1 - thank you so much!

My son's school is a state boarding school and they've emailed to say they will be charging 50% of summer terms fees. I contacted citizen advice bureau and another legal helpline, who both say that the school cannot charge for a service which they are unable to provide: boarding. The educational aspect is free as this is a state school. Some state boarding schools are waiving fees for summer term alltogether so it's unfortunate they're not all doing the same. If I could afford it, it wouldn't be a problem.....but I've just lost my job too.....Not sure how to say to the school in the nicest possible way....."you can not charge me for a service you're not providing"... :-/

My son's school is a state boarding school and they've emailed to say they will be charging 50% of summer terms fees. I contacted citizen advice bureau and another legal helpline, who both say that the school cannot charge for a service which they are unable to provide: boarding. The educational aspect is free as this is a state school. Some state boarding schools are waiving fees for summer term alltogether so it's unfortunate they're not all doing the same. If I could afford it, it wouldn't be a problem.....but I've just lost my job too.....Not sure how to say to the school in the nicest possible way....."you can not charge me for a service you're not providing"... :-/

Our state boarding school has (finally) written to parents to say they will not be issuing invoices for boarding fees for next term until the it is clearer what will be happening. The only invoice we’ve had relates to last term’s expenses for things like trips and music lessons.

I’d have thought yours hook are on extremely dodgy ground in expecting parents to pay for a service that by definition they are not going to be providing. Are you in contact with other parents to discuss a collective response to this?

@Effzeh, unfortunately I am not in contact with any of the other parents, which is a great shame as a collective response would be a sensible way forward. I'm hoping I'm not the only parent feeling this way and when they send the invoices out, there will be a common sentiment, which they will have to acknowledge. I honestly just cannot understand how they think it's ok to still be charging for boarding, when the school is closed :-/

Hi I have DS at state boarding school year 13 they are asking for 70% of fees for summer term. What has your sons school asked for?

Which schools are your children at?

@HJG696, happy to discuss by pm, if you want.

I'm shocked at the idea that state boarding schools can even think about sending out invoices for a service they're not providing - I realise they have overheads that need to be met, but surely that's a matter for them to discuss with the govt and the SBA as to how these fees will be met.

My child is in an exam year and would be leaving anyway, so if they had sent me an invoice I would have not paid it and just waited to see what happened, since they really have very little leverage and I'd be surprised if they could legally enforce payment (although I haven't re-read the small print of the contract). But obviously if your child is going back in September that makes things trickier.