Private school notice period

[Nancys10]

Hi all,
My two children attend a small local private school and their remote learning during the lockdown has been dismal. We only started receiving 30 minutes of live lessons since this half of the summer term and the rest is left for the parents to teach, the school are proud that they link us to suitable youtube tutorials and the odd twinkl powerpoint.

The school refused to open its doors from June for my sons yr6 class and yet still demand full fees.

I want to give notice and pull both children out and enrol them into a state school. Contract terms state a full terms notice, under the current circumstances is there anyway around this?

Check your contract. Is there anything about how many hours teaching you are supposed to receive per week or per term? I am sure you can find something that you can argue is a breech of contract on their part. Use that and say you are pulling them out with immediate effect.

Failing that hire a lawyer, it would probably be cheaper than 2 full terms school fees.

Just give notice. If they decide to chase you for the fees, you can show that they did not provide the service they were contracted for. Keep all evidence you have of dismal performance to date.

You can try to with hold but bare in mind that future schools will dont at the current school and vice versa of you don’t pay and the new school can exclude you on this basis - check the t’s and c’s . Our schools contact says they just need tk make reasonable attempts to teach and that in exceptional circumstances they aren’t obliged to provide anything. I am also moving my daughter but will pay the fees - I’m hoping to come to a monthly arrangement with the bursar

Sorry should say that future schools will contact old schools and vice versa

I don't think a state school will give two hoots about whether you paid your private school bill. Your difficulty might be finding a state school place.