Beaulieu School headmaster Chris Beirne has written to parents to say that a fee rise due in September would be delayed until early May pending a decision by the States on a proposal to lend the school £7 million to redevelop its campus.
However, he warned that ultimately fee rises of between 6% and 10% were on the way. A 6% rise would equate to around £370 a year extra.
Other schools are also reviewing their fees. Last year, fees at Victoria College and VCP rose by 4%, while Jersey College for Girls fees increased by 5% and JCP by 7%.
In a statement, Beaulieu – which currently charges £2,059 a term – said: ‘Whilst being a private school, Beaulieu directly follows the pay policy of the States of Jersey for teachers and support staff, and therefore any changes to the pay of States of Jersey employees directly impacts on our staff costs, as does the annual RPI level. RPI is still unclear for September. However, we are aware of the pay offer to States of Jersey employees for January 2020.
‘As announced to parents last year, at least 2% needs to be added to our inflationary costs annually over the next three years. This will enable the school to manage a balanced budget over this three-year period, to secure a commercial return to the States of Jersey in support of the loan proposition for our necessary capital developments currently before the States of Jersey for debate later this month. In addition, this year we are feeling the full effect of the reduction in the States of Jersey grant to private schools.’
In his letter to parents, Mr Beirne said he anticipated rises of ‘above 6% but below 10%’, subject to States of Jersey teacher pay awards and annual inflation.
In 2017 the States agreed to reduce the grants paid to Beaulieu, De La Salle, FCJ, Victoria College and Jersey College for Girls, and their associated prep schools, by 1.5% in 2018 and a further 1.5% in 2019 to save £600,000 a year.
Fee-paying schools generate their own funding by charging parents, but since 1966 have also received grants from the States. Following the decision in 2017, the schools now receive 47% of the average cost of funding a pupil of the same age in a States school for secondary and 22% for primary.
A spokeswoman for Victoria College and Jersey College for Girls said: ‘School fees for Victoria College and Jersey College for Girls are reviewed every year and this process is under way. The current pay dispute is between teachers and the States Employment Board and is ongoing. Fees for the forthcoming academic year can only take into account existing pay agreements.’
The latest deal offered to teachers, which was rejected by both the NEU and NASUWT unions, was for 2% pay rises for 2018 and 2019, supplemented by a 1.1% and 1% lump sum in each and a guaranteed wage increase of inflation +1.3% next year.
This week the NASUWT warned that students’ education could be disrupted next term as the threat of further teacher strikes remains in place amid the ongoing pay dispute.
De La Salle decline to comment.
Current fees
Beaulieu £2,059 a term
Jersey College for Girls £1,822 per term
JCP £1,761 per term
Victoria College £1,916 per term
VCP £1,899 per term
De La Salle £2,029 per term
FCJ £1,570 per term
How that compares to those receiving no States grant:
St Michael’s School £3,250–£5,020 per term
St George’s School £3,460–£4,920
