Deposit private school

[HJA87]

Is it common practice for private school to want the deposit paying before the national offer day (for primary schools)? We’re hoping to get into an oustanding primary however we are slightly out of catchment so might not get in. The other state options near us as not good. We’ve found a private school we like as a backup option but they want their deposit asap (plus obligation to pay the fees for the first term should we change our mind). Anyone else in this position?

Yes, both the schools DC attended wanted the deposit within 7 days of an offer being made.

Yes it's normal to require you to pay the deposit as soon as you accept your place, and quite normal for the deadline to be before you get the state allocation. Naturally they want to fill their places with people who are actively choosing them rather than using them as a backup option if their #1 choice fails.

Once you have accepted the normal cancellation Ts&Cs apply which for most schools means you can still give notice before the first day of the Summer term and not be liable for the Autumn term. If your specific school has a longer Cancellation requirement for new starters than for existing pupils that would be unusual but not illegal.

Yes totally normal to pay the deposit to hold your space- I think we had 7 days from the offer bring received to pay. IDK if you actually need to do this though. Some schools will have a waitlist and go to that if you don’t the offer. Others would probably still have space even up until term starts in September. Personally I think it’s worth paying for the peace of mind that you will definitely have a school you like, an insurance policy if you will, and if the preferred state does come through you can think of it in terms of saving on fees not wasting on a deposit! Just check the contract for when you’d need to give notice if you don’t take up the place. I’d guess probably it’s 1 terms notice so by the end of the Easter hols but I have heard of cases where it’s longer for new starters so double check and note the date. It’s one thing to lose the deposit, it’d be another to be on the hook for a term’s fees!

Yes, totally normal

When we were looking at 11+ schools, the schools which had an attitude of you're so lucky to have an offer from us. Why would you possibly consider anywhere else?" had their deadline shortly before you found out about state schools. Those which were more "we think we're a great school and have a lot to offer your DC but we realise it's going to cost you £25k a year and most children do really well at the local state school" had their headlines a few days after you found out about the state school.

Of course that's normal, just accept that a terms fees plus deposit and application fee is nothing compared with full fees if you don't need it in the end.

Thanks all. Yes I know it’s not much in comparison to the fees we would pay over the years but basically throwing away a few grand will still sting a bit 😬 I do get why they do it though.

Ours all asked for deposit within 2 days of state school offers (London). Sounds like a money making scheme if they insist on offer! Unfortunately not illegal but it should be.

@roses2 to be fair to them, they’ve not insisted we pay now but said they might not be any places left by offer day. It’s not a super popular school but it is small so not many places.