Withholding fees for now - anyone else?

[Chocstar]

My DC attend a prep school and I've been so utterly disappointed by the provision so far that I am holding back from paying the term's fees at present. I don't think the school is providing any work in a way that is engaging in any way shape or form. Just wondering if anyone else has held back paying this term's fees for now for these reasons?

Yes you did come across as only being willing to pay if you were fully satisfied.

30% is a large discount given the schools costs. 70% of fees is unlikely to cover their costs and is unusually high. The big day schools, which probably have more reserved and greater demand for places are only tending to offer up to 15% because they are taking the longer view and recognise the huge problems caused by giving significant discounts,

Big discounts now might feel good whenyou rite the cheque, but the implications longer term can be serious, especially for small schools. Ironically, it is often the smaller, less able to weather this storm schools, which are being pressurised to give bigger discounts to parents who are perhaps taking just a short term view. It will hasten their end.....if not right now, but in the next few years for lots.

Keep engaging with them. And check what you are thinking is reasonable actually is in the circumstances for the age group. MOre online time with a teacher doesn't necessarily equate to better education at the moment, especially for small children. However, lots of parents seem to think paying means they should get more hours with the teacher in front of the computer looking at their child. There is definitely a balance, but many people just see the provision of education as minutes they see the teachers face and forget all the time spent producing and providing resources too - it isn't always easy to see, but things are very different at the moment and so what you see as 'value for money' might be quite different to usual.

'All other lessons are mostly 'read what you have to do' (this has sometimes amounted to several pages) then do the work set'

I work in a school and tutor a boy who goes to another, and he has had so many 'packs' and 'booklets' thrown at him he's completely overwhelmed. I think (and completely sympathise) that some teachers have panicked, had the pressure piled on by management, and think that setting a load of inane booklets they've found on TES looks good. It looks good until you start trying to complete the work and it's often poorly designed and not clear what they're supposed to be learning.

On the other hand, my school (private) is doing fully timetabled days of live or pre-recorded lessons. It's a lot of pressure and parents are very involved, giving feedback and often sitting in on lessons! But it's keeping me sane being able to see my students online, and giving them all a small sense of 'normal'. My school has offered a considerable voluntary fee discount and started a hardship fund, as well as furloughing a significant proportion of the workforce.

But to answer your question, you're contractually obliged to pay. I think the best course of action is reasonable communication about your expectations.

So, term has started now, if you haven't paid, you are already withholding the fees. Your thread title certainly suggests you have or intend to refuse to pay.

When do you plan to pay and meet your contractual obligation (late)?

Are you facing financial difficulties yourself and struggling to find the 70%, although a few weeks ago you'd have expected a bill for 100%? If so, have you told the school. Have you told them you are withholding fees or simply not paid up?

All seems a very odd way to go about things and not to be the level of communication required on your part, given your extreme disatisfaction and pretty extreme action you are already taking.

You are managing to be short termist, presumptuous, patronising and in breach of contract all in one go.

Ask yourself this, are you and your children happy with the school in ‘normal’ times?

Would you really throw away their school places for the sake of a term?

Bloody hell! i’m still paying for my child’s swimming lessons because I want the pool to reopen after all this. Stop being so tight and unrealistic and get your wallet out.

Do you want the school to exist once this is over?

If you do then you have to help them to pay their costs so they can survive long enough for their still to be a school with employed teachers (and other just as important staff) for pupils to go back to.

My Dp works for a private school (not as a teacher) and they are struggling, they are really praying parents don't pull their funding because it'll end them. as with most schools they have a small reserve but they absolutely rely on the fees because they don't get the same funding as other schools.

I think my action is a reflection of my frustrations. I'm not saying it's the right thing to do or that I won't pay within the near future, but there is no need to be rude.

I have paid my fees and we were offered no discount. I am WFH full time and having to oversee 2 DC education so don't have time to do everything that the school wants, already at breaking point after 2 days. Would gladly pay more to be left alone until September.

The rudeness is down the frustration you and you actions are causing.

Speaking as a wfh parent/teacher. Your post is basically saying because you don’t think people like me (who are desperately working around our own families to completely change and upgrade our provision in the middle of a national emergency) are not working in the way you (even less training, experience and expertise) want, you want to pull my salary not just now but for the forseeable.

You are either extraordinarily naive or goady. Either way try a rethink.

You will be charged interest on the balance until you pay.
If you are unhappy then discuss it directly with the school, but in the meantime you have a contract to pay. If you don't, they may assume you have withdrawn your child (though if it's a term notice you still have to pay for this term). If they do that what will you do in the autumn?

Even if the school were providing nothing I'd still pay fees as I don't want it to go under (and I'm contractually obliged to or presumably no one gets paid!). Naturally no one trained to provide online education so it's never going to be perfect off the bat. I also don't think it's ideal for kids to be having online lessons. In a real school enviornment kids would mainly be spending their time doing rather than listening anyway. My prep is providing work - kids read what they have to do and sometimes listen to videos (sometimes generic, sometimes produced by a teacher) and a teacher is available to help on google meet but there aren't online lessons as such. The kids hand in work and get feedback too. I think this is fine - i Know other schools are doing things differently.

This post makes me sad and frustrated. I had a parent complaint today that provision in my independent school wasn’t good enough We are working from home with new technology, trying to look after our own dc, and doing the best we can.
I’m still paying my dc’s school fees and I’m sure their teachers are doing their best too. It’s a lot harder than parents think.

I’ve worked another 11 hour day today and no, my lessons weren’t perfect, but I’m bloody knackered and trying my best!

@Chocstar they'll be stupid to offer u a place again. You might be laughing now, lets see who'll have the last laugh, karen!

You mention that you don't believe the work that is being provided is engaging, so I presume that you know what work your children would find engaging. If so, do it yourself, if not then muddle along as best you can like the rest of us.

Your teachers don't know how to teach online any more than you do. Everyone is learning at the moment and there will be trial and error. Be patient, feedback constructively to the school and ultimately, pay your fees otherwise there won't be any education for your child, engaging or otherwise.

Teachers and schools seem to be getting a right bashing on here at the moment. I don't understand what people expect when there's a pandemic, the schools were told to close with no notice and there's been 2-3 weeks of school holidays in the 4 weeks we have been under lockdown.

You're getting a 30% discount OP. That's a good discount on what I can imagine are large fee's for two children. So what you need to do in return is make allowances for the school being in a situation they've never been in before and also that they are giving you a substantial discount. It's only Wednesday so why is two lessons and reading and completing set work not good enough? In reality, because the school have no control over being told to close, they could charge full fee's and offer nothing. That's not happening though, is it?

We've got 25% discount for youngest DD and 10% for sixth form DD.
The structure sound similar to yours 3-4 online chats a day where the work is explained then time in between calls for work to be completed, which we obviously have to help with.
Our teachers are doing a fantastic job and I'm happy with the level of support offered.
As others have said you need to discuss this with the school.
What are your expectations from the school?

You might be laughing now, lets see who'll have the last laugh, karen!
Interesting thread on FWR at the moment about the sexist and ageist use of the term "Karen".

I'm with the OP here. If the school is charging full fees and providing very little to facilitate learning it is fair to withold at least part of the fees.

She's getting a 30% discount Vivienne

Bb

What @AppleKatie and @CanICelebrate said. We are working hard and doing our best.

My kids are at an independent school and we've paid. The school gave a 25% discount for this term but we made the decision to pay the full amount in order to support the school. However, what I'm concerned about is the coming academic year and the prospect of another disrupted year due to coronavirus.

Are people really willing to continue paying school fees if some form of lock down continues indefinitely??

I note a lot of you have had large discounts. Can’t say we’ve been offered the same.

That said, I sympathise with the op and believe those bashing her on here are mostly teachers possibly worried about their jobs next term if parents don’t pay, so there is a clear bias.

While I’ve barely managed to pay this term’s fees, not sure I will be able to do the same for September coming. Also unhappy with my child playing online games all day in between the peace meal home learning work provided by school.

This is unfair on all parties. A little more understanding for the op wouldn’t go amiss. Under no other circumstance would anyone ever be expected to pay for something when it clearly falls short of expectations.

While I note it is constantly being stated we are all contractually obliged to make payment, I must point out, we have never had such a situation as exists today. If this were actually adjudicated, I don’t think this line of reasoning would be so cut and dry as these contracts have clearly been frustrated beyond reasonable limits and the school’s ability to carry out their element of consideration for the fees paid.

Just my two cents

I think you're getting an unfair bashing OP. As a PP said, you wouldn't be expected to pay fully for a service that you're not getting u set normal circumstances. I think 30% discount is fair and there needs to be some communication with the school on expectations etc.
The whole "may not be a school to go back to" line annoys me as this could apply to any number of companies - how many of those would charge the same for a vastly reduced service? If mobiles only worked for an hour or two a day, people would complain about the rates, if urgent repairs needed doing in a flat, tenants would expect a discount in these circumstances etc (crap analogies, but I'm tired)!