Furloughing of staff in Independent schools

[jeanne16]

The small independent school my DD attends appears to be furloughing a large number of staff. This not only includes all support staff, all SEN staff but also at least one teacher in every department. Given that there are only 3 or 4 teachers in each department, this amounts to around 40% of the staff in total, including all support staff.

They are offering only 10% reduction on next term’s fees.

I am completely outraged by this. Does anyone else know how many staff are being furloughed in their schools?

[Comefromaway]

Several have been furloughed at dh’s school. The process has been very fair. It’s a small specialist school and a lot of what they do can’t be done by distance learning.

[Musmerian]

@mrscampbellblackagain - sorry not clear. Teachers at DH’s school get an extra 1500 pa known as the school allowance that is an acknowledgment of co curricular input etc. They’ve agreed to forego this until school opens again.

[Longdistance]

We’re paid pro-rata at my school. It’s spread over 12 months. That’s where the ‘cut’ is, it’s possibly from future or past work iygwim. We don’t get paid holiday, therefore the money will come out of past/future work.

[cabbageking]

Usually teachers don't accrue holiday pay and they don't get 13 weeks paid leave. They are paid a set amount over the year regardless of whether they have 5 weeks off or 13 weeks. it is calculated on the 195 days you work and you may get a bit more the longer you are there.

[cabbageking]

If they have contracts with providers for services they will likely continue to pay these to keep the companies in place for when they needed.

Hence there may not be any large savings in out goings. The 80% claim back is great but is how long this will continue is an unknown. it is presently only for 3 months.

They may be cautious on any discount until later in the year when they know what is what and the costs of any changes to be put in place.

The cost of keeping children in school has risen as school may be providing FSMs over the Easter period without any payment from the Government or LA. The vouchers don't start until later. Staff delivering FSM to some homes incur petrol or taxi costs.

The cost of cleaning has risen as we do a weekly deep clean. The cost PPE needs to be considered. The savings may not be ask much as you think especially with a smaller school.

It would be prudent to not offer too much of a discount yet, or even do it over a longer time frame.

[Bromeliads]

DS's prep school has offered 30% off fees, but furloughed the entire teaching staff for the Easter holidays. I don't think it's in the spirit of it either.

[Chapellass]

I think furlough doesn't apply if employees are taking annual leave. I'm not suggesting that teaching staff are all on leave over Easter holidays, I don't know how it works - but furlough can't be used to cover periods of paid annual leave.

[Longdistance]

I’m school admin. I am currently furloughed and am being topped up 20%. I finished for Easter early as my dds needed homeschooling and dh was still working and still is. He’s not furloughed yet, but an email went out Friday suggesting some staff will be.

[Mumto2two]

This is what our school seem to be doing, furloughing for a brief spell, with some but not significant cost saving. Not very helpful when you’re presented with a bill for a future term that may involve no attendance whatsoever, and you’re furloughed without the generosity of a top-up for a minimum of 3 months...

[Greendayz]

The school I know of that is furloughing all the teachers over the Easter break are topping them up to 100 percent. They're all paid their salary evenly over the year, so it's just a means of getting 80 percent of three weeks' worth of salary paid by Government.

[Mumto2two]

@missyB1 same here. I don’t know anyone who is getting more than 80%..and many like ourselves..are getting less

[Mumto2two]

Our school and others I know, are furloughing staff. I have teacher friends who have been furloughed too. However, I’m not sure I understand the sentiments of disgust towards this treatment; we are ALL being furloughed, few professions are safe right now. And 80% of 2.5k maximum pre tax earnings may seem good, but it’s not if you are London/SE and have school fees to pay yourself, which are either minimally discounted, or not at all!

[AppleKatie]

Yes they’ve committed that everyone gets 100% working or furloughed.

It’s a good thing. Fingers crossed they’ve got the reserves to cope!

[missyB1]

Wow wages getting topped up? I’ve had mine topped up for the Easter holidays, but it was made quite clear that after that I’m in 80%.

[AppleKatie]

Yes the approach is being backed at my place. Rare support of the senior team - crisis seems to have brought out the best in them/everyone!

[highdudgeon]

Sounds similar! A good approach in the circumstances, I think.

[AppleKatie]

Teachers not furloughed but no pay rises next year. Some support staff furloughed but salaries topped up

Same - I wonder if we work at the same place! Some fee reduction for parents but not much.

[highdudgeon]

Teachers not furloughed but no pay rises next year. Some support staff furloughed but salaries topped up.

[Piggywaspushed]

Yes, there was a thread that suggested exactly that.

[mrscampbellblackagain]

I agree @piggwaspushed. I also think some parents will look to exploit this situation sadly.

[mrscampbellblackagain]

@musmerian - what do you mean by losing school allowance? I know all staff at my children's school get 50% fee discount although it is pro-rata.

Was only recently introduced for non teaching staff which I suspect the bursar may live to regret.

[Piggywaspushed]

I think we could all foresee that this whole situation was going to be a nightmare for private schools, Sadly, I do think some might fold.

[DelurkingAJ]

This is what one of the unions says staff may do...given that some of this will be seen as inadequate by parents being asked to still pay fees there may need to be furloughing for schools to survive.

neu.org.uk/advice/coronavirus-distance-teaching-and-learning-secondary-teachers

[Musmerian]

Me and DH both teachers in independent schools. Mine is big city day school- currently everyone on pay roll and 10% fee reduction to reflect savings school is making. DH’s school boarding and smaller so more vulnerable. Furloughed some support staff but not teachers. SLT taking pay cut, teachers losing school allowance about 1500 pa and fees cut by 10% for day pupils and 29% for boarders.

[mrscampbellblackagain]

We are always told that the school's biggest cost is staff so I imagine that is where they are looking to make savings but who knows?