Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Should I withold fees for Independent School ?

120 replies

TillyP · 11/03/2011 14:51

My DTS's attend an Independent Secondary school and are in Yr11 about to take their GCSE's.
Whenever we attend parent's evening we are told they are doing fine etc etc but their mock exam results were quite poor so now they are predicted low grades.
The whole point of paying for an Independent School is to get a good education so can anyone in a similar situation tell me whether I would be within my rights to withold fees for their last couple of terms?
In any other walk of life, if one receives poor service you are not expected to pay, but with schooling you seem to have to pay up whether or not the school has done a good job!

OP posts:
belledechocchipcookie · 11/03/2011 14:55

They will hunt you down for them. They have given you a service, whether good or not. I wouldn't have complained way before now to be honest.

AMumInScotland · 11/03/2011 14:58

I think if you read your contract with them, you'll find you are paying them to have your children there, and there will be no guarantees of what results they will get. You have absolutely no legal right to withhold the fees. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

onadifferentplanettoday · 11/03/2011 15:00

So are you saying you will withold the fees but stil send them to school? The school might decide not to allow them to take their exams if you havn't paid.

scurryfunge · 11/03/2011 15:03

Why would the school be responsible for your children's poor study habits?

You can lead a horse to water.....

StealthPolarBear · 11/03/2011 15:06

Surely you must have had some idea of how they were doing before their mocks? Homework? End of year exams?
If their mock results are out of the normal pattern then try to find out what went wrong. If this is normal, you should ahve done something before now.

OliPolly · 11/03/2011 15:10

Taking your children to independent school does not guarantee you good results. Children also need the support of their parents and need to have a good study habit. Not all children are academic.

Its not about the money and I hope you were not expecting a 'return on your investment'.

Concetrate on getting them back on track.

Blu · 11/03/2011 15:14

"The whole point of paying for an Independent School is to get a good education "

A good education can't guarantee that a child passes exams -just that they do as well as they can possibly do.

Maybe they've had a good education. How are other children doing?

theguiltyone · 11/03/2011 15:25

mine go to an independent school and it up to the children first. You have done your bit by sending them and what you pay for is better teaching and if your children have not done what they are supposed to then its not the schools fault. You should of said something to the school before it came to with holding fees. Thats what they are there for you sholud of been in the loop and surely they have practise exams to see how they are going to do? and then depending on them results you can know what needs improving before the real thing. The school should of told you if they had any concerns prior these exams. I do hope you get this sorted and the children do not know what you are intending to do as they will blame the school as well and think it not there fault.

Pagwatch · 11/03/2011 15:29

My ds is at an independent school and we get grade sheets every term and have ample opportunity to engage with the teachers if things are not going.

But if things are not going well it is either because he is less able than we thought. Or he is not working as he should be.

Unless the school is suddenly having a staggering down turn in results across the whole year, then the problem is your. Your children, your responsibility to make them work.

Unless there are social circumstances not in your op?

sieglinde · 11/03/2011 18:08

Thus we see the mistake in thinking - sorry, OP, but it is a mistake, quite a common one...

You can't BUY good exam results.

The school cannot PROVIDE good exam results.

Education is not ABOUT good exam results.

And ultimately, the lesson is that you are still responsible for your children's education, and you can't delegate that.

Outburst over. Is there any reason to suppose the school has failed your children? Missed lessons? Poor supply teachers?

meditrina · 11/03/2011 18:15

There is something wrong with OP. If leaving at end year 11, then there is only one terms fees to pay.

Check your contract: if fees are not paid by a certain date, what are the penalties? Interest? Your child excluded until bill settled?

You are bound by your contract. Schools can (and do) pursue unpaid fees, in court if necessary.

I take it you have lined up a different school for 6th form. Do remember that you will need to give written notice (usually a clear term ahead) of your intention to leave (unless the school has no 6th form).

senua · 11/03/2011 18:46

Have you actually spoken to the school? It is a common tactic for the students to get poor mock results in the hope that it will scare spur them into doing some revision for the real thing.

mnistooaddictive · 11/03/2011 18:51

ffs what a misplaced sense of entitlement. Your children, your responsibility.

Jajas · 11/03/2011 18:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheCrackFox · 11/03/2011 19:02

I know plenty of people who attended private school and left with crap exam results. This was due to the fact that they aren't very bright and didn't study enough.

You can't blame schools for everything.

1234ThumbWar · 11/03/2011 19:04

Paying for a private education gives your child a better chance of good exam results (it may not be right, but it is true), but it not a guarantee.

PixieOnaLeaf · 11/03/2011 19:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

controlpantsandgladrags · 11/03/2011 19:06

It can't just be the school's fault that your DC aren't performing as well as you would expect......do you honestly think that? Hmm

ChorltonChick · 11/03/2011 19:08

WOW - I am shocked at this post!!!

Do you actually think you can buy good exam results. If only it was that easy!

Their natural ability has, erm, quite a lot to do with it too, believe it or not!!

fivegomadinthelambingshed · 11/03/2011 19:09

YOu sound like Gary Linekar did last year when making excuses for his child's poor exam results.

Want2bSupermum · 11/03/2011 19:11

I would call up the school and let them know you are disappointed with the results of the mock exams and the predicted grades given for your child. Ask them to explain where your child went wrong and for help from them to get your child back on track.

If the school don't help you and your child then you have a right to 'not recommend' the school. This is far more damaging compared to holding back fees.

ChorltonChick · 11/03/2011 19:12

Send them to my school! Inner-city.

15 x A grade yesterday out of 42 for A level Chemistry...not a single penny paid.

We bend over backwards for them.

freshmint · 11/03/2011 19:12

no.
pay the fees and help your ds with his revision.

SoupDragon · 11/03/2011 19:20

I'd say your children did f-all work for the exams TBH.

Which isn't the school's fault but yes, try withholding the fees and see how far you get before they throw your children out and take you to court.

exoticfruits · 11/03/2011 19:24

It would be lovely and simple if you could buy exam results! Luckily it doesn't work that way. The mind boggles-my DC deserves a place at Oxford because I have paid more than you paid for your DC!!!