Dear Parents,
We do hope that in these very difficult times that you and your family are all safe wherever they may be in the world. We are very conscious of the adverse impact COVID-19 is having on the world at large, and our thoughts are with those afflicted.
Having completed our first two full weeks of remote learning we have been pleased to receive positive feedback on the learning we are providing for our students. Our teachers are working harder than ever to ensure remote learning is of the highest possible quality and to continue to nurture our students as IB learners. They are putting in even longer hours than usual and I am sure you recognise their passion and resilience as they deliver enjoyable and stimulating on-line learning experiences for your children. Their dedication is also evident as they continue to provide social and emotional support to your children during the learning weeks and the Easter break. Whilst we adjust to this new way of learning we will continue to seek feedback from you as we constantly look for ways to improve our learning provision.
As you will be aware, the government has provided some avenues of support to businesses during the disruption caused by COVID-19. Where we have been able to, we have taken advantage of this support. However, in order to continue to provide a quality IB education for your children our teachers and staff are working tirelessly and we are fully committed to paying the salaries of our highly qualified and valued teachers and staff. To do this, it is essential that we collect our tuition fees for the summer term.
Dwight School London as an enterprise, has for many years been putting all surplus funds back into the school to improve the education that we provide. Our fees are among the lowest in comparison to other premium IB continuum schools in London. For this reason we do not have cash reserves and like other businesses we need to be prudent in managing our finances during the current world crisis. Whilst the school buildings are closed, there are some savings that the school can make, but the overall savings will be marginal and not sufficient to provide a significant discount to families. For this reason, after consultation with the School Consultative Group and the Senior Leadership Team, we have decided not to offer a discount on the summer fees, but to put any cost savings we can make as a result of the school buildings being closed, into a hardship fund to support fee payment for current families who are facing financial difficulties.
We know that some of you have raised questions regarding the possibility of discounting the summer term fees. Therefore, we have attached our frequently asked questions which provide greater detail and clarification as to why we have chosen to pursue this route.
Though these times are challenging, we are inspired and heartened by the collective community spirit that has flourished around us. Please keep safe and continue to look after the well-being of your families. We are all in this together.
We do look forward to welcoming you back at school but until then we are enjoying supporting your families in your homes virtually.
Thank you for your understanding and your continued support. Frequently Asked Questions - Dwight School London - Will families get discounts during the distance learning period? Other schools are giving discounts, why aren't you?
- School costs continue, with our teacher salaries comprising the majority of our costs.
- In these critical times, it is imperative that we protect the salaries of teachers and staff who are continuing to work tirelessly to ensure seamless learning for all of our students.
- The impact of the Coronavirus will vary from family to family, with some families relatively unaffected financially, with other families suffering significant hardship. The school is establishing a coronavirus hardship fund rather than giving all families a small discount. In this way we can support those families on a discretionary basis who are most in need of financial aid.
- Will I get a refund if I have paid for lunches or the Door to Door bus service for the Summer Term?
- Any lunch or bus fees already paid for the Summer Term will be credited against your account. If you will not be returning to Dwight next year, please contact the finance department regarding your refund.
- Will I receive a refund on international trips payments that have not been delivered?
- Any activity where money has been collected that has not been delivered due to the school closure will be credited against your account. If you will not be returning to Dwight next year, please contact the finance department regarding your refund.
- What options are open to me if I am facing financial hardship as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic?
- Please send an email to finance@dwightlondon.org by 30th April 2020 so that we can discuss your individual circumstances and how we can support you.
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