Advice with a School fee retained Deposit - Private School

[JulianaJuliana]

Hi All - question regarding withheld school fees I am hoping someone can advise me on.
My son is enrolled in a private school and we have recently (late April as we only got the school we waned on the waiting list ) been offered a place at a local state school.

The school policy regard school fees and deposits is that we have to give 1 term written notice before removing my/our child from the school.

Next term only starts at 6th of September, so in my view we have given a full 3 months notice - our email was sent at the beg of June.

What the school claims is that a term refers to a "full school term" which they do not specify in the contract. So now they have retained our deposit to pay in lieu for the next term

Would you any of you have had a similar experience, and/or could advice if we have a chance of claiming this in court?

I appreciate your help
J

OP got caught out because he got a place off the waiting list.

Primary offers day was 16th April - possibly just about in time for schools that had their cut off as the first day of term (if the school started latish back after Easter). Way too late for schools that had their cut off at the end of the previous term.

Thai is an old thread but I’m now in the situation of not wanting to take up a place having paid the deposit. I understand that we would lose the deposit of £1000 but the conditions say only that any deposit will be retained if you don’t take up the place. I will be telling them next week, 25 June. The section on a term’s notice only refers to those who are ‘returning’ students. It does not mention new students who are about to start. I have looked very carefully. Anyone else experienced this?
thanks

Start your own thread or people will reply to the OP and not you