Problem with private school

living_in_hope_3

My child attends a private school. We chose this school because it teaches in a very specific way. My child has been at this school for 18 months. During this time the school has changed, it is slowly moving away from its original ethos on to a very different regime. The changes are because the school has taken onboard a lot of pupils which have "issues". The disruptive nature of the children means the school has put in very strict regimes. Due to the change of ethos with regard to behaviour management I would like to withdraw my child from the school. The contract states that we have to give a terms notice. I don't want my child to be there another term it isn't a nice place to be. Obviously I don't really want to pay for a term if I don't have to. I am not the only parent thinking along these lines. Do you think I have a case for saying the school has breached its contract?

Obviously the contract doesn't state the ethos but the prospectus does and I believe this is no different to any other advertising literature. The methods being used are at odds with the ethos advertised. Sorry to be vague on what has changed but as you may appreciate this school is quite different and I am concerned if I write too much then the school may be identifiable.

dmg24

What was the original ethos, and how has this changed? On the limited information given, I doubt that you have a case. However, further details will enable people to give a more informed response.

living_in_hope_3

dmg24 wrote: »

What was the original ethos, and how has this changed? On the limited information given, I doubt that you have a case. However, further details will enable people to give a more informed response.

Well that's the part that could identify the school. Suffice to say the ethos and teaching methods are quite different to what would be found in a normal school. The ethos including how the children are managed (but not taught) has changed significantly.

lucylucky

Can you "prove" that there is a change of ethos?

Is it in any way measurable?

Who have you spoken to in the school about this?
Head, PTA, Governors?

Do you know if other parents feel this way?

DVardysShadow

living_in_hope wrote: »

Well that's the part that could identify the school. Suffice to say the ethos and teaching methods are quite different to what would be found in a normal school.

I would be thinking Steiner, not that it is relevant.

Given the choice between this school and the best available state school, which would you take?

I would think that if the state school is preferable, take the child out of the private school and swallow the loss of a term's fees.

living_in_hope_3

lucylucky wrote: »

Can you "prove" that there is a change of ethos?

Is it in any way measurable?

Who have you spoken to in the school about this?
Head, PTA, Governors?

Do you know if other parents feel this way?

Yes the change in ethos can be proved to have changed negatively.

I have spoken to the Head but there is no PTA nor any Governors.

Yes I have spoken to some other parents and I know of at least 2 families that will be pulling children out and are considering non payment of fees for the term not used.

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I would be thinking Steiner, not that it is relevant.

Given the choice between this school and the best available state school, which would you take?

I would think that if the state school is preferable, take the child out of the private school and swallow the loss of a term's fees.

I'm not going to get into guessing games.

I have already decided to home educate so that my child gets the individual education I desire for him/her (and yes I do know my child's gender!).

lucylucky

I think in that case you have to inform the school that you find them to be in breach of contract and that when you withdraw your child there will be no financial penalty.

It may well be worth talking to a solicitor about this first.

EDIT - could you start a PTA?

living_in_hope_3

lucylucky wrote: »

I think in that case you have to inform the school that you find them to be in breach of contract and that when you withdraw your child there will be no financial penalty.

It may well be worth talking to a solicitor about this first.

EDIT - could you start a PTA?

We did try but it isn't that easy and for various reasons it didn't work out.

Thanks

dmg24

You have given us nothing to go on, I can't see how anyone can give you an informed opinion.

A change in ethos will need to be pretty major to constitute a fundamental breach of contract - something along the lines of a CofE school becoming catholic. I am aware of a case where a single sex school started to allow girls in the sixth form, and that did not constitute a fundamental breach.

living_in_hope_3

dmg24 wrote: »

You have given us nothing to go on, I can't see how anyone can give you an informed opinion.

A change in ethos will need to be pretty major to constitute a fundamental breach of contract - something along the lines of a CofE school becoming catholic. I am aware of a case where a single sex school started to allow girls in the sixth form, and that did not constitute a fundamental breach.

I would equate it to sending your baby to a childminder that claims to follow an attachment parenting style and then finding out they let your baby cry it out. It's that kind of level.

lucylucky

dmg24 wrote: »

You have given us nothing to go on, I can't see how anyone can give you an informed opinion.

A change in ethos will need to be pretty major to constitute a fundamental breach of contract - something along the lines of a CofE school becoming catholic. I am aware of a case where a single sex school started to allow girls in the sixth form, and that did not constitute a fundamental breach.

I think we have enough to go on.

School promotes a learning environment/ethos and on this basis OP signs up child to attend

Ethos has demonstrably changed so OP, and others, no longer wishes child to be part of school.

As the school has altered it could be argued, I would hope, that the OP suffers no financial penalty.