Independent school Fees (CoVid19)

[0RedandYellowandPinkandGreen]

Please be kind - first post and still finding my way around the site.

Our DC is at an Independent school (upper end of the junior years). The school has said that they are freezing fees for now, and next term's fees are due in full as usual. However, they will be looking to credit any cost savings they can find, later (for example the savings on food and trips). No deferred fees nor other direct discounts have been offered at this point. Does this seem reasonable in the circumstances? The school appears to be working hard to provide some online teaching, and is usually fantastic otherwise, but at the moment, it leaves a lot to be desired

Apparently a number of other schools have already offered a % discount.

Also, do we know if any schools are looking to make certain members of their staff furloughed (for example, maintenance staff...) as a way to make savings?

My kids school has offered a scaled discount depending on how much schooling they can provide next term. DD1 in Y8 & they can provide most of her curriculum online / via Zoom & Google Hangouts - so they're giving us 10% discount (& have said that this basically covers food & utility savings). DD2 in Year 5 & will have some teaching daily but they're acknowledging that they will need more parental help with lessons - so 20% discount. I don't know for children further down the school but think there may even be a bigger (though not by much) discount for lower classes without access to school ipads / needing more parental help. I think mine will get a good schooling considering the circumstances next term but that's partly because of their age.

If they were a lot younger (KS1 or below) then I'd be looking for a bigger discount because there is only a small amount of online content that would work for them without a lot of input from the (frequently working from home) parents.

I think they're missing a trick by not breaking the term's fees into three monthly installments as it would ease the burden on parents & allow them to make changes to match the changing situation.

I do have a friend who works in a different prep school & she tells me they are using the government scheme to furlough all but teachers & IT staff - of this is happening in a lot of schools then that will be a fairly large reduction in their costs.

Some schools are going to find it incredibly hard to offer a discount - some will find it easier, but have faith that will do the best they can. I’m aware that my school was under a tremendous amount of pressure to shut before the official guidance was given. Many parents chose to take their children out and the teachers were being asked to provide home schooling in addition to the full teaching day for the pupils that were still attending. Many staff were off ill and self isolating with suspected symptoms. Think schools are working even harder than ever, with many incredibly tough decisions to make and new systems to implement. They are key workers - we need to love, respect and support them as much as possible because we will desperately need our schools - more than ever - after this crisis.

Nursery - 100% discount
Reception / Y1 - 30% discount
Years 2-8 - 25% discount

We have a full online school day including PE. I am very happy with that. It’s a pain in the backside having to deal with my younger daughter as she needs lots of tech support, particularly when I also have to work, but I don’t see school as childcare. School is about education. They are providing a proper education still, albeit very different to the one we used to have.

The childcare bit is my problem, as it is for every single other parent trying to work from home at the moment. We are adapting and being flexible. It’s not perfect and sometimes we do the work a bit later in the day, but our school is providing the means for us to do that. If we miss the “face to face” then there’s an online lesson pack to go through.

I am exceptionally happy with both the education and fees discount!!

ceejay I totally agree - whenever my kids go back to school, I'm going to want the school to be in the best position it can possibly be in. Not just because of a need to catch up with their learning, but because they both absolutely love their time at their fantastic school, and I can't wait for them to get back to it. I would hate to think that the school experience would be worse in future due to a lack of resources, so I'll be paying the fees in full because I'm lucky enough to be in a position to do so. I already feel so desperately sorry for anyone whose children are facing the prospect of having to start afresh at a new school in September because they have lost their jobs and can no longer afford the fees - and presumably at a not particularly good school because these will be the only ones with spaces. I'm lucky that our household income is not affected by the current situation, so I will do whatever I can to avoid this same situation being forced on me by the children's school having to close. And to those saying that parents shouldn't pay fees because they wouldn't continue to pay any other business that can't provide its usual service - frankly, I think that depends on how much you value the business in question, and how you feel about it continuing to survive and thrive.

@branwensstarling that’s a lovely post. I’ve worked in both the state and the independent sector. The independent school I’ve recently worked at is beyond outstanding. I’ve never seen a group of people work so hard - and care so deeply about their pupils. It would be devastating if the school had to close. They are in an ok position financially but not full - due to very high competition in the area. I think whatever discount is offered could vary a lot between schools - not necessarily reflective of how good or bad the school is. Therefore comparing discounts between schools may not be helpful. It’s just so great to hear a supportive post like branwens - but very different for people who are now in financial difficulty because of the current circumstances.

Lots of staff furloughed at our indy senior school, all the maintenance and support staff and some teachers. I know this because my friend is staff there. I've no idea if they are passing savings on to parents. Last day of term before easter seems the perfect day to furlough as many staff as you can for maximum cost savings.

We've been offered 30 per cent discount, they've asked anyone who feels able to still pay full fees to let them know and also any parents struggling to get in touch.

refusetobeasheep that sounds like a sensible comprise.

Compromise I meant to say!

MTwhyowhy it’s a tough choice you have to make. How competitive is your school? I know in recent years our school has been so over subscribed at every entry point, so people literally fall over themselves to get their LO in at 4+ to avoid having to go through later entry points! That said, things might change in the coming months and even years depending on the finances of the school.

I also know that the finances of some schools are being openly circulated, and so if you have thought about asking, I probably would.. You wouldn’t buy a second hand car without looking under the bonnet - and before you all shoot me - ordinarily (we certainly didn’t ask when we choose the school) I wouldn’t have suggested that, we are in a very different situation now. I shouldn’t think the school would find it rude, and yes it probably is an unusual request but we are in unusual times and I’m sure they’d understand. I think many people are going to go through the same thought process as you before notice needs to be served at the start of next term.

We didn't get a discount and I have complained. I wouldn't have complained if it wasn't that my year 5 hasn't had any live lessons and has only received some tasks for maths, english and a couple of other subjects. She has had entire afternoons off most days as her work is often completed in an hour.

My older children have had a much better virtual schooling experience, so I don't mind paying even 100% for them, but for my youngest it's a disgrace.

I do want the school to stay open but they do have to help themselves a little too.

@0RedandYellowandPinkandGreen Private schools are social businesses and the way they respond right now will feed into what happens to their charitable status after this crisis. Eton has been brilliant even offering state school pupils access to some of their online courses. A few schools have given discounts of up to 30% but many schools like your children's school are still trying to make a profit at this time which is why they have refused to give a discount. Many are trying to keep up their cash in the bank because Rishi Sunak had warned them that they are about to lose their charitable status and will soon need to pay business rates etc. This will probably happen in the March 2021 budget. I know of one big school with deep pockets who rather that cancel fees for kindergarten children they are only offering a small discount. The kindergarten fee is usually staff + food. There is no online provision for kindergarten children. 80% of staff costs will be paid for by the govt. Parents are now providing care + food for the children. Why not just write off those kindergarten fees for the summer term? Some of it smells like greed to me, if I am honest. These schools will find they've lost the goodwill of many parents if they are not seen to be behaving fairly. And sadly, the public school alumnus who is now in charge of their fate will be watching how they act in this crisis but who firmly believes they shouldn't be called charities.

I don’t think many support staff could be furloughed - especially those engaged with fees, bursaries and cash-flow forecasting - I imagine they are busier than ever.

The majority of staff could be furloughed. They don't need to make teachers go through hoops like they are doing now just to justify their fees. Even the schools have admitted that they have been offered government support.

I suppose teachers could be furloughed during the summer holidays if the retention scheme goes on longer than the initial 3 months.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive an offer of 10% discount for next term, despite the fact that the school have TOTALLY stepped up to cover a full 'regular' school timetable with online lessons and the usual quality of lesson content/home learning tasks (in the circumstances). The school has also been amazing in its support for my Y11 and Y13 children in regard to the public exams situation.
The programme planned to replace Study Leave/exam season is brilliant and as a teacher myself, I can only imagine how many hours of planning and reorganising have gone into it.
Thankfully our family finances are not currently under threat, so we don't have to consider having to withdraw our kids for that reason.

Got our school fees through today. 50% reduction and scholarship and bursary on top.
I think that’s pretty fair

Ohwiseone !!!!! 50%!!!!

Year 9
Day fees for all pupils (inc boarders) reduced by 10%
No fee increase until January 21

Our school have still not communicated anything to us regarding fees which I think is appalling and really reduces any good will the parents have had. I’m hoping they are smart enough to offer a reduction. 2 x hours of webex a day (each Webex for the year group and not per class) , was shambolic. I am also a key worker, but can be based from home and I don’t have time to home school my children with PowerPoint for the other 2 lessons they got per day.
We are also now at the point, when we have all heard how much more extensive the online learning programme are for other schools nearby. In the name of transparency, I think that schools that are not offering discounts should at least be disclosing their accounts to explain their reasoning.

The only discount we’ve been given is for school lunches. I am more than happy to keep paying fees as I want the school to be there in September.

However, the level of teaching (none) and support has made me rethink this. They are now on Easter break with no further guidances as to what the lesson plans will look like in two weeks. The communication has been awful and I’m slowing loosing my empathy with them. Especially as we’ve had to forgo ours and our staffs holidays and work all hours to look after our own clients.

I honestly can’t see what they’ve been doing over the last two weeks (10 pupils per class). I’m now going to spend the next two weeks putting my own plans together as I’m not going to spend another three months of online apps as a substitute for learning.

I want to support the school, but it works both ways.

My dd is Year 8 and has finished her curriculum (sat scholarship papers in Feb). We are self employed with no reserves - dd on 50% bursary as it is. We literally cannot afford to pay. As it is, she has just been sent through projects to do - even if we were in a different financial position I would be thinking twice about me paying for her to self directed projects. As a qualified teacher myself I think I will be just home schooling.

mulv222 but presumably you are legally obliged to pay the fees or come to some agreement rather than just stop? I'm in the same position so totally sympathize. Self employed and will be earning nothing. Will be giving notice on this term even though my child is year 5 as can't afford to pay from September but I still have to pay this
term somehow!?

Interesting, one of the govt scientific advisers has said this morning that he's hopeful that restrictions will start to be lifted in a few weeks. I'm still optimistic that schools might go back after May half term.

I suppose teachers could be furloughed during the summer holidays if the retention scheme goes on longer than the initial 3 months.

What would the teachers normal role be during this time that they would be unable to do to enable furloughing - either they're doing nothing, or they are preparing for the new school year. Both of which roles they can do, furloughing just over the holidays would not be within the support, and with the teachers actually unable to do any work, I wouldn't want a load of completely unprepared teachers teaching after this. They actually need to be working on how to support kids after many months of educational isolation, and very different paths.