Private school fees - are they negotiable?

[Macaronsandcupcakes]

Has anyone ever negotiated private school fees? I don’t necessarily mean because of bursary. Someone recently told me that fees can be negotiated, especially with more than one child attending - is this a thing? Is it school dependent, ie if they’re oversubscribed it’s unlikely. Would love to know everyone’s thoughts. Incidentally with two children what is a bursary threshold on income likely to be?

Some schools offer a sibling discount.

it’s not normally much.

fees were not negotiable in my experience.

It wouldn’t have occurred to me to ask, but now I have FOMO & don’t want want to paying full if it is negotiable

Scholarships are occasionally negotiable if you have an exceptionally talented child who would bring something specific to the school community otherwise no. And nor should they be imho. Not even for siblings (and sibling discounts are fairly rare as tbh the good schools don’t need to offer them.

Sibling discounts for our 3rd child I think 5% so nominal. An achieved in exams and interview scholarship for our 1st 10% academic. But not negotiable. School is full with waiting lists.

Yes, to a degree. For example, if you were looking for places for twin boys in a particular year group which was girl heavy or a small year group you would have more chance of negotiating a discount than if you had one child and were looking for a space in a reasonably equal boy/girl year group.

What about schools outside London - there are lots that seem to be undersubscribed, do you think that makes it more open to negotiation?

One child has a scholarship, but it doesn’t come with a fee reduction.

If the school is strong and well subscribed then it’s most unlikely that you could negotiate.

If its a weak school and undersubscribed then I guess it might be possible - but in that case why waste your money?

My 3 went private and the fees were never negotiable, though there was a small sibling discount. The other parents would lose their minds if discounts were given randomly!

What benefit does it confer then?

Extra lessons, talks, courses & additional homework.

Extra lessons, talks, courses & homework.

Paying upfront fir the whole year in advance was a significant amount cheaper when we were paying school fees a decade ago

You can get (significant) discounts on rural schools from my experience

Is this from your own experience?

That was possible when I was paying fees but the discount was derisory so not worth it.

I honestly think derogates the value of the school if you think you can just walk in and negotiate as if it’s a farmers market (no offence intended to farmers).

Why should you get it cheaper than anyone else? Unless you have something to offer the school that they see as being of value then either find somewhere you can afford or else go state and tutor privately… which is what half the state school parents round here do anyway in order to try to set their kids up better for universities.

There are plenty of things we can’t afford to pay for. Having less money doesn’t entitle us to a discount, it means we have to make different choices.

If the school isn’t full and they are offering discounts to anyone who asks, I would query how much longer they will
remain open for or what they are cutting back on providing to facilitate being able to give fee reductions. The exception being if you can bring something specific to the school.

Doubt it unless the school is really hurting. I think I got a few hundred off for having two at the school.

You misunderstand me. I’m not asking because I feel entitled, or because I want to barter. I have seen adverts for financial advisory companies suggesting school fees are negotiable - which made me question the fees. It could purely be click bait.

Wouldn’t you feel frustrated to discover everyone else has been getting a better deal just because you hadn’t asked? Based on the feedback it sounds like unless there’s a sibling or bursary you pay the full amount - which is fine and straightforward, I just wondered.

I’ve never seen such an advert I don’t know where you’d get that from, do you have any examples?

The only cases are:
Bursary (means tested)
Scholarship (awarded on merit, usually 5-10%)
Sibling (not everywhere, about 5% if they do)

I like the ‘not a farmers market quote!’ Interestingly there were lots of farmers at the school I’m thinking of and I politely disagree with the view that it’s not appropriate to haggle, it’s a massive purchase, they are a business, you are a potential customer, why not ask about possible discounts!

I think they may mean if you pay a whacking amount up front.

OP. We asked and got 20 percent off for my daughter and 5 percent off for my son different schools not means tested. But we are rural and these schools are fighting for numbers.

We’re in a southwest city. I know they are definitely feeling the pinch - but potentially not struggling too much. Some schools are full & others aren’t.