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Original poster

Independent school fees and Coronavirus

355 replies

Creamegg11 · 19/03/2020 08:18

Our prep school closed on Tuesday due to the Coronavirus situation and the school has given the children some work and also some online learning via an App to do at home.

A parent on WhatsApp mentioned whether parents will get some refund on school fees especially as we don’t know when the children will return. I suppose no one predicted this was going to happen and it’s not the school’s fault but it had me thinking.

OP posts:
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Whyisthisnoteasy · 05/04/2020 16:45

Relating to entry in Year 7

Singingrain1223 · 05/04/2020 17:09

@Whyisthisnoteasy , the contract you signed is a legal document. If you don't think you can pay in Sept then give provisional notice to not take up the place now during the Easter holidays so you may be able to get out of the Autumn term's fees if need be. The school is going to be focusing on keeping the current pupils enrolled by using a hardship fund, not those who are due to start.
Your hope might be if the school isn't full but if there is a waiting list for year 7 they will take the paying pupils.

happilybemused · 05/04/2020 18:09

We can now give notice to leave at the end of May rather than Easter.

The school has also recommended to talk to them in case of financial difficulties so they can help where possible.

For our school the likely impact is on 6th form. We have the top 6th form college which you can get for free and many oxbridge places awarded.

Whyisthisnoteasy · 05/04/2020 18:09

Thanks singingintherain I think I was hoping they may give us a bit more time to assess what happens with the economy in these exceptional circumstances

Stephaknee · 05/04/2020 19:53

Apparently they will be talking about this on LBC tonight.

Whyisthisnoteasy · 05/04/2020 20:02

happilybemused wow! Is this a London day school?

Whyisthisnoteasy · 05/04/2020 20:08

stephaknee will you let me know the time it's on please? I've just tuned in and it's not on yet. Thank you

happilybemused · 05/04/2020 20:26

@Whyisthisnoteasy Peter Symond

happilybemused · 05/04/2020 20:31

@Whyisthisnoteasy Peter Symonds Is our local 6th form. 10 minutes door to door.

There's going to be a lot questions.

Whyisthisnoteasy · 05/04/2020 20:34

Ah, not a fee paying London secondary. I haven't heard of any of those offering to extend the deadline.

Stephaknee · 05/04/2020 20:35

9.00 pm from what I understand, they have a barrister on

vanlea · 06/04/2020 10:08

I have been paying into the fees refund scheme for years through my son's school (insurance policy governed by Marsh Limited) and have just been told that I cannot get a refund despite the policy stating a refund would be made "if the school is forced to close due to an outbreak of an infectious disease amongst the pupils or staff which makes tuition imnpossible". The insurers are saying that the school was closed due to government intervention and not to an infectious disease amongst the pupils. Feeling pretty livid about this and intend to fight it.

ElephantLover · 06/04/2020 10:41

Any updates from the LBC chat? I missed it.

Whyisthisnoteasy · 06/04/2020 11:08

I missed it too.

sunglasses123 · 06/04/2020 11:18

Anyone got the link please?

MGMidget · 06/04/2020 11:25

I have Marsh insurance too. I made a claim many weeks ago as my DS was off with high temp and cough before half term (no coronavirus diagnosisand we qualified for a refund. However, it has all gone quiet and no refund!

findumdum1 · 06/04/2020 11:26

More data about what schools are offering. Very difficult to make this large enough to read as a screenshot and MN will only let you upload pictures, not the file.

Happy to email it out to anyone that pms me an email address.

I know a bursar at one of the school on this list who says they have made significant savings already, mainly through running costs (mainly cleaning, catering contracts, but also furloughing support staff)

Independent school fees and Coronavirus
Independent school fees and Coronavirus
Independent school fees and Coronavirus
bookgirl1982 · 06/04/2020 11:44

Yes Marsh have advised schools that they won't pay for the government closure but that cover continues so if a child is off sick for online learning then a claim can be made.

findumdum1 · 06/04/2020 11:47

I think I have sent the file to everyone that has sent me an email address. Let me know if I have missed anyone.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 06/04/2020 12:05

findumdum, would you mind posting what it says for GDST schools, please, because we've told our we're are going to struggle to pay the fees (lost all income) and all we've been offered is a payment holiday until June. I can just about make out mention of a hardship fund on your photos.

findumdum1 · 06/04/2020 12:22

The original info posted here had this line against lots of GDST schools (but not all):

10-30% Discount - Frozen fees for Autumn term and Hardship fund

Notes - Includes all GDST schools (a group of 25 independent schools) - Please note not all 25 schools are included in this table

Then my own research from local schools, some of which are GDST uncovered:

10 - 30% Discount for the Summer Term depending on year group, Frozen Fees for Autumn Term and Hardship Fund

Includes all GDST Schools, Hardship Fund from furlough and running cost savings

"Hardship Fund from furlough and running cost savings" - this part I was told by a member of a GDST school Bursary Office staff."

"Includes all GDST Schools" - this part comes from the original info posted further down the thread by someone else so I am not sure of the source. Sounds like it might not be accurate if you are at a GDST school that is not offering the same? Seems very unfair unless there are very different circumstances?

One of the schools that my children go to have also not offered anything (the others have). I have emailed the full list to the head to ask on what basis that decision has been taken and why they are so out of step with prevailing attitude.

Alsoplayspiccolo · 06/04/2020 12:35

Sorry, I should have said - we've been offered 10% as standard, but no offer of help from the hardship fund, so I'm a bit annoyed that it's been included; another MN posted told me the hardship fund couldn't possibly be expected to help in the current situation, and actually it's for families who suffer a sudden loss/terminal illness. (And yet, parents who can afford to pay full fees have been told that their discount will go into the hardship fund).😕

findumdum1 · 06/04/2020 12:46

ah got you!

Yes tbh I have absolutely no idea what the criteria is to access the hardship fund and nobody I have spoken to has detailed it apart from one school I know of that has said it is really only for existing bursary famillies, make of that what you will.

We are happy with a % discount and fee freeze for next academic year, where it has been offered (one of our schools has done nothing, has been sent this list) to pass on the cost savings they have obviously made via running costs while the schools are closed, catering, cleaning contracts etc and any government help/furloughing help. I think that is fair and reasonable. I think offering no help is unfair and unreasonable, without significant justification, and will be remembered in more positive times.

I personally think and want any hardship funds set aside to be used for situations where neither parent can work at all and has virtually no income coming in. If that is your situation, you have my sympathies and I hope you get something sorted x

findumdum1 · 06/04/2020 12:47

or indeed, as you say, for children whose parents die from Covid 19

Chapellass · 06/04/2020 14:12

I think the hardship funds (as opposed to regular bursary fund) are commonly used for existing pupils in external exam years

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