My daughters new schools seems to be swindling me? Or is what they are doing just fine?

rainallday

I have recently enrolled by daughter in a private school, (Removed by Forum Team).

There was a waiting list and part way through the term, we were informed there was a place, and with much excitement she started as soon as we could.

The terms and conditions of the school, which of course we have had to sign up to, clearly state that a full term will be charged for if even if only part of the term is attended, and they also state that if you leave with less than a terms notice you are required to pay the full term.

I calculated that if a discount was offered on a pro-rata basis, we would be due a refund of about £1385.51 or about 20%. I am not saying that a discount should be offered on this basis but I do feel a discount should be offered, and that if it is not pro-rata I'd like to know why.

According to the terms and conditions the school are entitled to charge the full rate for the term to both myself and the person who left to make the place available, and the schools solicitor has refused to engage in any discussion or argument about this. I feel that this is immoral, just because the terms and conditions say so does not make it right. School meals are also charged on a termly basis and the full term has been charged. I know of someone who left part way through this same term without notice, and is refusing to pay for the term. I feel that the school is making me pay for it as I am an easy mark because I am a new parent.

So really my question is, have I got this wrong and what they are doing is just fine, or should I be expecting a higher moral perspective from a school.

As a gesture of good will I agreed top pay the terms bill in full. Not sure if that was a good idea.

I'like to hear the thoughts of others.

pinkshoes

Given the cost of private schooling, plus all the other costs along side it (school trips, exam fees etc...) then £1385.51 isn't actually too bad...

Morally it would annoy me, and if they insisted on that rule, I'd wait until the next term to start. No doubt they told you the place would be offered to someone else if your daughter didn't start straight away?

pramsay13

It seems to be a moot point as you've paid anyway.
They are certainly entitled to charge the full term if they wish, and you are certainly entitled to not take them up on their offer. 

k12479

First thought is that the time to have considered this and discussed it with the school or the school's solicitor was before going ahead with enrolling and paying the fees.

eskbanker

This board relates to consumer rights rather than morals, so you'd need to make a case that their Ts & Cs were unfair, in the context of the unfair terms provisions within the Consumer Rights Act.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

It's £6925 a term? Wow.

Terms in a contract can be classed as unfair, I don't know if you are a consumer in this instance, others might have thoughts on that. 

You'd have to weigh up whether chasing this will affect your daughter, whilst you'd hope the school would treat her impartially you wouldn't want any resentment over the matter to affect her education or well being whilst at the school. 

Aylesbury_Duck

It doesn't surprise me, and in their defence there will be some cost involved in "changing" pupils mid-term.  It does seem ridiculous when applied at the extremes - a pupil leaving and another joining on the first or last day of term, for example - but if those are their published policies and parents are made aware of them before any commitment is made, I don't see there's any right to anything other than a goodwill concession.  Surely it's just another downside to private education that parents have to weigh up when making the decision?

I think you have to decide while your daughter is still settling in whether you want her educated at an institution you consider to be acting immorally on a commercial basis and which won't entertain a discussion about it.  Are you confident they will provide a good educational experience?

[Deleted User]

Why name the school?

Probably not the best way to start your relationship with them or the wider school community (other parents).

Your post makes you and your child very identifiable (how many other kids started mid-term?).

Washing dirty laundry in public isn't really the done thing, particularly on one of the most popular public forums - maybe edit your post?

k12479

Aylesbury_Duck said:

It does seem ridiculous when applied at the extremes - a pupil leaving and another joining on the first or last day of term, for example...

But if one pupil left on the first day and the new pupil started on the last day and they both payed pro-rata fees, then the school would effectively have £0 fee income for that place in that term, potentially putting their budget at risk, especially as most of their costs would be fixed costs rather than variable.

eskbanker

Aylesbury_Duck said:

It does seem ridiculous when applied at the extremes - a pupil leaving and another joining on the first or last day of term, for example

However, OP considers that a pro rata discount of about 20% would be appropriate, so by implication the child will be attending the school for 80% of the term, i.e. full payment is far from ridiculous in this case!

DullGreyGuy

The unfair term in this case seems much more on the leaving pupil than the OP but they aren't posting here.

Inevitably changing school mid term will mean extra orientation, extra efforts to understand what the pupil had covered in the part term at the other school and what they need to catchup on in this school and support for them doing so. 

As a child I switched mid year from state school to private, it was a massive change to me and undoubtably a lot of extra efforts for the teachers as they were clearly much more advanced than where I'd got to under the state school. Ultimately it did the trick as I moved due to failing the entrance exam for a school and when resitting it 12 months later I not only passed but got a scholarship