Independent school Fees (CoVid19)

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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?

I think if it’s a choice between the school going bust and furloughing the teachers for a few weeks in the summer then the latter would be sensible.

@branwensstarling the important thing he stressed was that even if restrictions are reflexed somewhat, we may be able to move to a regime which will not be normal life, but will be somewhat more relaxed in terms of social distancing and the economy - and rely on mass testing (and we still have some way to go there). Schools have been incubating for long enough, and we are now seeing younger and younger people, the front line staff and parents and teachers being affected. If that is to be controlled, and looking at the rest of the world who are more advanced than us, I can see the return to the school being a much slower transition, and heavily based on testing and phased re-introduction. There is also the issue of borders still being closed and so many children will need to return to the UK from their home country. That’s a national and global balancing act.

Reflexed=relaxed!!

@sirfredfredgeorge - I remember reading that as long as their employer doesn’t object, they can take on additional external (including paid) work, or volunteer roles. So lots of people are taking on work at supermarkets, the national NHS volunteer programme or under resourced local volunteer schemes.

My dd's independent have knocked 12% off next term's bill. I know of another local independent who are knocking off 20%. For the last week of last term, the school was shut but they had live online lessons as a class and teacher together whilst sitting at home alone. They had been practicing the previous week at school how to do this, so I'm happy with the school's response and preparation. As for next term, they will be continuing their online live lessons until further notice.

No, I doubt it will be straight back to full normal school, but given how much the economy depends on parents being able to work, I would have thought that some degree of school resumption would be a priority. And one advantage of schools, compared with pubs, cinemas etc, is that they're relatively closed environments, in that you're seeing the same group of people every day.

Personally, I don't see us going back to school until September.

We find out what discount is being offered next week. However, talking to lots of people about this recently I am slightly concerned that some parents are going to exploit this to just not pay fees.

I am happy to pay fees but I am not happy to subsidise people who are chancers. The schools need to be super clear about how they are going to manage hardship funds in my opinion.

Staged payments seems a very sensible option. I would also pay for a whole year now if offered a decent discount.

My ds is a a senior school and they've written to say that the remote learning is a change to their t&c's, in which case you don't have to accept the new contract, but obviously hope that you will! This is the same. The contract we signed is no longer binding because of their change to t&c's.

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 agree if teachers are not being furloughed children should receive full support, more interaction on zoom.

Schools could furlough and top up the difference, parents can't be guilt tripped into paying full fees if the school haven't responded well. I've had zero feedback online but staff are working full time. Schools should have a BC disaster recovery plan I place since 9/11 I'm tired of these excuses. Full fees means the schools need to put more effort in then parents will be happy to support and pay. Cumnor house boys school has basic online tools, no interactive study what's so ever, this seems very unfair children are isolated and unable to follow the online resources effectively!

Our school said it would prepare the enter next term on zoom. If the school was to reopen, the pupils would follow the online teaching syllabus on their laptops in school instead of home. Boarders or self isolating pupils can then join in from home. Schools have furloughed all their non essential teaching staff - TAs, music teachers, art, drama, pe and DT teachers, cleaners, dinner ladies, pastoral staff, gardeners, mini bus driver etc so can offer reductions on fees to parents, in my area averaging 20%. Peripetetic music and lambda teachers and learning support tutors etc do extra zoom sessions and charge directly; our school stopped doing their payroll for them.

This is not a good look for 'charities'.
www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/exclusive-private-schools-furlough-staff-at-tapayers-expense-a4411321.html

My children are at a north London/ Herts borders prep school. Can I ask what discounts are being offered by prep schools in this area please?

Ok first post . I am a dad that was initially pissed off with the 20% reduction and had the thought process my private school has money and should not be passing into parents etc etc so I got the bill as usual minus the 20% and done the glass of wine thing proctoring against how we should be paying ... but I did ...and yes it's online learning through teams and the teacher is fully engaged and quite frankly making the beast of getting the children learning and doing a great job . Our teacher engages with every child . So yes it is not what we paid for but in these times I feel the fees are warranted .

southdowns78 where is your school situated?

The fact that the standards of online teaching vary so much is the issue not the money l, these schools although regulated just seem to be left to their own devices ! Why someone receives zoom teaching in year 2 onwards in one school or an online PowerPoint, we will never know ! But it seems very unfair !

I believe that security issues have been raised about zoom which why some schools are not using it.

Very easily addressed (no personal names on links, password protect the meeting, us a waiting room)

Exactly seems like an excuse to me . There are no safe guarding issues just laziness between schools who wish to charge, but don't want to put in the necessary work. There are all sorts of tools to make the lessons more interactive and demonstrate that teachers are working warranting the need to continue to pay fees.

Ours is giving a 30% discount for younger children up to a10% discount for the older children. A letter was written at the end of last term and the reduction is being automatically applied to everyone's bill unless you ask for it not to be.

Initially we were told that we would get no discount, but after a huge backlash from the parents and lots withholding fees, the school has backed down and given us 10-15% depending on year group.

Hi, hoping for some advice on fee paying schools...YR4 child with absolutely no online live classes, lessons are set via PP slides or a prerecorded video. We are getting about 30-40% of typical school day & 20% fee reduction.
YR9 child different private school, same 20%, the school have said they will not do any live lessons and sometimes teachers are not even available on google meets for every lesson! School day again reduced to 30-40%. Surely live lessons are far more beneficial for pupils and easier to follow and engage in than being isolated. Every other school appears to be doing it?
Eldest child in YR11 has all live online classes and school is being amazing, it’s brilliant!
Should these schools that are not providing the same level of service by sending out new contracts to parents? Are parents breaking the contract in challenging a 20% reduction in fees? Thanks so much!

I don’t think we can demand live lessons as we don’t know what teachers circumstances are at home eg I have a teacher friend whose spouse is also a teacher and they have 2 primary aged children. Everyone is at home so not sure how that would work. At my children’s school at least 3 of the teachers have children under 15/18 months and nursery closed. I am happy with the lesson being provided with videos and voice overs.the teachers are giving good explanations and a weekly phone call from a TA and also the teacher plus we can email in any queries. We are getting 25% off for all children which I think is pretty generous considering that it seems other school which are part of large organisations or have a very long history and grounds etc so a lot of money for back up if necessary are only giving around 10% off. My children are at a 2 form entry school, not part of any group or organisation and still have to pay a couple of million for a recent building project. So not perfect but doing their best I think.

The notice period for withdrawing a child is really wrong in these times.

Although we can't really afford it, I'm prepared to pay the summer term fees because the school still has all the same overheads. But because of Covid19 we can't afford to have my son in the school next year. We checked re bursary but would literally have to be so poor we couldn't eat or pay bills before we would qualify.

I went to give notice at the start of May and saw the small print, which says if we don't give a whole term's notice we are liable for an extra term of fees. In other words, we can't afford the fees so they are going to charge us until Christmas!

I protested and the Bursar offered a 50% discount on the penalty. That's still thousands we can't afford and won't be getting anything for. The good schools guide says schools should relax their 1 term's notice period. Meanwhile I'm starting to regret ever going down the private route.

Just to add to previous message, we haven't been offered any discount at all. All the more reason for the school to be sensible about the notice period for leaving.