School fees undertaking/order

[ElleWoods15]

Hi all
Just wondered if anyone has experience of how schools apply these in practice.
I have an undertaking in place pursuant to which I pay all school fees. (Don’t ask why - but suffice to say ExH made it a condition of agreeing a consent order).
My view is that school should not allow ExH to authorise anything added to the bill (trips, music lessons etc); school disagree and are insisting that he will be sent all comms, should be allowed to sign up for anything and it’s my problem to recover it.
Just wondered how other schools apply these orders/undertakings if anyone has any experience?
Thanks!

I suspect you will have to go back and get agreement as to what "school fees" means, because from the school's point of view anything that goes on the bill needs to be paid for and it's nothing to do with them who pays for it. And both parents have parental responsibility so they can't exclude the non-paying parent from school comms and decisions about activities. It's up to you guys to resolve any conflicts, not them.

This blog mentions the extras "Whilst there is no standard formula for school ‘extras’ such as music lessons, costs of uniform and activities etc., these are also elements that you may want to consider incorporating into an order to ensure that there is clarity in the order sought.": https://www.familylawpartners.co.uk/blog/school-fees-and-divorce

It sounds like this wasn't done when your order was drafted so you might need to go back to your solicitor and go back to court to vary the order (or whatever method of dispute resolution you've been using, mediation etc).