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Original poster

Please send me your advice - unable to pay private school fees

214 replies

amy676 · 24/08/2022 20:42

Hi everyone!

I hope someone can help with advice. My two children were attending private school up until before the summer term when I took them out as I can no longer afford to pay due to personal circumstances. The children don't attend the school anymore but I have been getting letters demanding payment of up to £10K but I did explain my situation to the school and my intention to take them out in March 2022 but they said I should have given them written notice and not just verbally and now keep asking for payment.

What would happen as I don't have means to pay what would the school do and what action could they take against me as I'm worried. Please do kindly advise.

Thanks, Amy

OP posts:
Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:42

The problem is after Easter I was worse in my condition than I am now as I got Covid again ( I already have long -Covid) so this is where the lack of communication about me resending them back took place and the kids were sent to school but I did send an email to the principal that I do have the intention of leaving but its just taking a bit longer as the finance was on holiday too that time.

OP posts:
dribblewibble · 25/08/2022 09:43

I'm really sorry op I'm finding your posts hard to follow which I appreciate is due to your long covid.

What did you say to the school about sending them back after Easter?

Johnnysgirl · 25/08/2022 09:43

amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:28

Thank you you explained this better than me as with the long Covid sometimes its hard for me to express and this is exactly the timeline of what happened. The reason why the kids went back after Easter was that I was just so unwell after Easter I was very sick and trying to arrange a state school and the whole prospect of moving them is already emotional for the kids as they have made friends at this school and I was already feeling terrible for them and it was too much to deal with at that time so I had kept them on thinking that it would be easier to deal with over the summer as I had more time to apply for a place for a state school. With long Covid it takes me mroe time to do things.

So you intended taking them out before applying for a state school place? Confused Your posts are incredibly difficult to follow.

Johnnysgirl · 25/08/2022 09:45

amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:42

The problem is after Easter I was worse in my condition than I am now as I got Covid again ( I already have long -Covid) so this is where the lack of communication about me resending them back took place and the kids were sent to school but I did send an email to the principal that I do have the intention of leaving but its just taking a bit longer as the finance was on holiday too that time.

But you surely did communicate? They weren't expected back, you must have communicated something?

Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:45

I said it was taking a bit longer as I had got covid for the 2nd time at that time but no response from the school so I assumed they understood

OP posts:
SafferUpNorth · 25/08/2022 09:45

amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:28

Thank you you explained this better than me as with the long Covid sometimes its hard for me to express and this is exactly the timeline of what happened. The reason why the kids went back after Easter was that I was just so unwell after Easter I was very sick and trying to arrange a state school and the whole prospect of moving them is already emotional for the kids as they have made friends at this school and I was already feeling terrible for them and it was too much to deal with at that time so I had kept them on thinking that it would be easier to deal with over the summer as I had more time to apply for a place for a state school. With long Covid it takes me mroe time to do things.

Oh OP, really feeling for you. Regardless of exactly what was said when to whom, it's simply heartless of the school to automatically assume that your written notice of Nov 2021 was no longer valid because your kids returned to school after Easter. Any member of staff who bothers to understand your circumstances would see that.

Can you speak to the finance manager again? Is there a parent representative or even a fellow parent you can ask to help advocate for you? And have others have suggested, maybe try get in touch with Citizens Advice. If you have been under the care of a GP, they might even be able to advocate for you.

I doubt the school would get very far if they tried to pursue this socalled 'debt' - so whatever you do, don't admit to being liable for it, or try to pay it.

Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:46

Yes I did and the school were aware that I wouldn't be sending them back after the summer.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 25/08/2022 09:47

It’s an odd unusual situation as you have noticed but kept them in

In your email about this did you confirm how long they’d be staying?

Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:48

Thank you for your kind message. I have emailed the finance manager explaining all this and still awaiting response and will update on the outcome if they choose to reply.

OP posts:
Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:49

Yes i made it really clear about how long up until they were staying but the school were not responsive.

OP posts:
Johnnysgirl · 25/08/2022 09:51

amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:49

Yes i made it really clear about how long up until they were staying but the school were not responsive.

Not trying to be nasty, but are you sure it was really clear? Your posts here are not. Sorry, I know that's due to your illness, but it's a fact nonetheless.

dribblewibble · 25/08/2022 09:52

But you told the school they were finishing at Easter. Did you then tell the school they would be returning after Easter? And what did the school say about this?

Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:53

That is true, you are right it could be that they did not understand what I was trying to say but I did say they will not be coming back after the summer and I have it on email.

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MarshaBradyo · 25/08/2022 09:55

amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:53

That is true, you are right it could be that they did not understand what I was trying to say but I did say they will not be coming back after the summer and I have it on email.

Was this before the first day of summer term? When did you send it

I don’t see why this wouldn’t be written confirmation

dribblewibble · 25/08/2022 09:55

But you sent them back for the summer term? So the school may have taken that that you needed to give a term's notice again.

On what date did you tell the school that they wouldn't be back after the summer and did you do so in accordance with the school policy for giving notice in your contract?

Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:59

It was at the beginning of the summer term that I told them again, I did tell the principal it was taking a bit longer to move them than expected but got no response from the principal. Finance manager was on holiday at that time.

OP posts:
dribblewibble · 25/08/2022 10:00

amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:59

It was at the beginning of the summer term that I told them again, I did tell the principal it was taking a bit longer to move them than expected but got no response from the principal. Finance manager was on holiday at that time.

What exactly did you tell them? And when. Was it "it's taking a bit longer to move them than expected" or "the children will be leaving at the end of June"?

Have you got this on email?

Does it meet the requirements for giving notice in the contract?

dribblewibble · 25/08/2022 10:01

And what did you say to the school when you sent them back after Easter? Did you say to the school that you had changed your mind and have you got a record of that?

Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 10:02

I told them both of those things that its taking a bit longer than expected and that they would be here until June and then not returning. Yes, this is on email however none of them responded to me even with follow up emails.

OP posts:
dribblewibble · 25/08/2022 10:03

Did you say that before or after you returned the children to the school after Easter?

I'm sorry but your posts are hard to follow. I'm finding it hard to construct a timeline and work out of what you said and did meets the requirements in their contract.

Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 10:04

I told them this after they went back after Easter on that week I told them that its taking longer but got no response. I'm so sorry for not being clear.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 25/08/2022 10:05

amy676 · 25/08/2022 09:59

It was at the beginning of the summer term that I told them again, I did tell the principal it was taking a bit longer to move them than expected but got no response from the principal. Finance manager was on holiday at that time.

Which day?

eg it will be a clear date ie first day of summer term for it to be accepted

It'll be in the contract for your school

dribblewibble · 25/08/2022 10:06

I'm sorry for all the questions.

So.

You told the school the children wouldn't be there after Easter.

You changed your mind.

You sent the children to the school after the Easter holidays.

After the children had started attending again for that term, you informed the school it was taking longer than expected to place them in the state sector, and you'd be withdrawing them in June?

PritiPatelsMaker · 25/08/2022 10:06

Did you say that before or after you returned the children to the school after Easter?

I'm sorry but your posts are hard to follow. I'm finding it hard to construct a timeline and work out of what you said and did meets the requirements in their contract

I'm not even bothering to try and figure out a timeline from the OP's posts.

It seems pretty clear cut that she owes £10k and is trying to think of reasons to get out of it. Not sure a Jusge is going to accept that she didn't give formal notice because she had long Covid-19, especially when an email would have probably sufficed.

Original poster
amy676 · 25/08/2022 10:07

Yes thats correct

OP posts: