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Original poster

Term fees in lieu of Notice - leaving a school

39 replies

Mjoshi28 · 29/04/2021 14:01

Hi - we are looking to move our daughter to another independent school and gave the current school notice yesterday (28th April) specifying that DD will be leaving the school at the end of the summer term (essentially not starting the new school year at the current school/ Autumn term). The school has come back saying that I have to pay the Autumn term fees in full as I have not given the school a terms notice. I find that quite unacceptable as there are still 4 months to go before the new school year starts and they are a very sought after school that will have no problem in filling up the seat. There is also the school deposit that they may not refund. Any thoughts on this please?

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Hoppinggreen · 29/04/2021 14:02

Contract?

IFionlyhadbrains · 29/04/2021 14:04

You should have given notice by the end of March. You know what these places are like and you've signed a contract. I gave notice on email in writing, on the phone, way in advance to avoid this. It's petty but it's their policy and I doubt they will let you off. it's gutting to be paying twice.

IFionlyhadbrains · 29/04/2021 14:05

When did they break up for Easter ? Prob earlier that the end of March at a private school. That was your deadline.

FiloPasty · 29/04/2021 14:08

Sorry but it will have clearly have been stated in the contract. you need to give a full terms notice.

Your best bet is to be really apologetic and see if they might let you off, if they easily fill the place. If you go in all gun's blazing they will definitely stick to the contract.

ScottishStottie · 29/04/2021 14:08

Its pretty generally known that these sort of things require a terms notice. Surprised you thought you wouldn't need to pay.

If its an issue financially can you not keep her in current school an extra term before moving?

meditrina · 29/04/2021 16:06

Full term's notice means exactly what it says on the tin - last day to give notice is the last day of the holidays.

It's a very normal contractual obligation

Clymene · 29/04/2021 16:11

Your contract says a full term's notice. You haven't given them a full term's notice

MadMadMadamMim · 29/04/2021 16:14

Agree with all the others that you must have known this. If you a miss a deadline there are penalties, in all walks of life.

They are holding you to the contract you signed and won't budge. Why should they?

sweetchillidumplings · 29/04/2021 16:15

Just don't pay surely? Obviously if it's in the contract you should but what can they do if you don't?

ByTheStarryNight · 29/04/2021 16:16

Yep, school are within their rights. We did this because of terrible house move timing. Chalk it up to experience

LIZS · 29/04/2021 16:18

You should normally have given notice before term started, if a full term's notice is required. Are they holding a fee or returnable deposit in advance? Ime they will chase you for any outstanding balance.

ByTheStarryNight · 29/04/2021 16:18

@sweetchillidumplings

Just don't pay surely? Obviously if it's in the contract you should but what can they do if you don't?

Well they can pursue for an unpaid bill, just like any business! All the way to the bailiffs if they want to

meditrina · 29/04/2021 16:19

@sweetchillidumplings

Just don't pay surely? Obviously if it's in the contract you should but what can they do if you don't?

Court action. Schools can and do act in cases such as these. It's a well-trodden path

Lougle · 29/04/2021 16:33

I think a term's notice is very clear. You needed to give notice before the beginning of this term.

ChequerBoard · 29/04/2021 16:41

Totally standard practice to have to give a full terms notice. It will be written in the contract you signed with the school.

You have two choices: 1) pay up and essentially pay both schools for the September term 2) give notice now and start at the new school in January.

80sMum · 29/04/2021 16:47

@Mjoshi28 You might want to consider approaching the new school and explaining your dilemma. Let them know that you may have to keep your child at his/her current school for another term because of contractual obligations to pay fees in lieu.

If the new school is keen to have your child on board, they might be amenable to perhaps reducing or even waiving their fees for the first term, so you avoid having to pay twice.

Do not even contemplate not paying the fees in lieu to the current school! Trust me, they will pursue you for payment, through their solicitors if need be. Besides, it will not be a good start at the new school if they were to find out that you still owe a debt to the previous one.

I suggest that you approach the Registrar (or whoever is your point of contact at the new school) for a discussion. The worst that will happen is that they'll say no. So, worth a try I think.

CaledonianSleeper · 29/04/2021 16:48

Your best bet here is to tell them you appreciate that you’re not giving a full term’s notice but will they negotiate a lower amount. If they can fill the place in time for September they may well let you pay less.

NOTANUM · 29/04/2021 16:51

It's a contractual term you agreed to probably. There is no way around it - you need to give a clear term's notice of intent to leave.

Some schools go legal on this so I wouldn't bet on them not chasing it up.

lamplightnow · 29/04/2021 18:09

"I suggest that you approach the Registrar (or whoever is your point of contact at the new school) for a discussion. The worst that will happen is that they'll say no. So, worth a try I think."

This.

goldenlilliesdaffodillies · 29/04/2021 18:17

We got caught out by this- think we missed the deadline by literally a couple of days (without realising). We still had to pay the full amount and the school we were leaving didn't care (I had worked there for 10 years without any staff discount and been a very loyal member of staff.) They knew my circumstances and the reasons for moving my child. None of that mattered- they just wanted their money.

Sadly I doubt they will let you off the term's fees as they will see it purely as a business transaction.

Brown76 · 29/04/2021 18:27

Can you try and negotiate it to paying half the autumn term, you’re only a few weeks into summer term and surely some of the costs are offset by the child not being there?

GU24Mum · 29/04/2021 21:28

If you think realistically that the school could get someone else in, can you get in touch and say that you're happy to keep you child in the school in the September term but that if they find someone, can you come to an arrangement and you'll definitely go at the end of term. If they have people who would take up a space, they'd probably want them at the start of a year not part way through.

Thingaling · 29/04/2021 22:23

Schools are utter bastards about this. Ours sneakily (without consent and minimal publicity) later changed the T&Cs of the existing contract we’d signed, meaning that parents had to give notice a full term before the end of Y3, when before they didn’t. The other ultra sneaky thing they do is insist that BOTH parents give notice a term in advance. It is not enough for one parent (eg whoever takes care of bills or admin) to give notice, they have to hear separately from both. Lot of people get caught out by that.

Legoninjago1 · 30/04/2021 10:59

Yep sorry it's standard. One full clear term. You can refuse to pay but they'd probably win any legal action.

Alfaix · 30/04/2021 11:01

DS is moving schools in September and we had to give notice before the Easter holidays.
They do hold you to it as well I’ve heard if you forget.

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