School fees policy

Our commitment

Raphela Junior School (RJS) is a private education institution. This fees policy sets out, for families, the expectations, responsibilities and arrangements for the collection of school fees, and it supports families whose financial circumstances change or become difficult to maintain their child’s enrolment at the school.

RJS is committed to providing a holistic educational experience for learners from diverse backgrounds. Tuition is the school’s major source of revenue, levied to finance our operational activities. With this in mind, the school aims to keep fees at a level that is workable both for the running of the school and for the affordability of parents and guardians.

What fees pay for

• Resources, materials, facilities and educational equipment
• Compensation for administrative, teaching and ground staff
• Maintenance of buildings, grounds and other facilities

Where fee information is published

• On the school website
• At enrolment interviews
• Within the school circular
• On request

Parent and guardian responsibility

When enrolling a child at RJS, parents are advised of the fee structure, and it is important that parents understand and commit themselves to meeting these obligations. The seriousness of this commitment cannot be overemphasised.

That makes prompt payment of all fees the responsibility of every parent or guardian of an RJS learner.

Board responsibility

The Raphela Junior School Board has the responsibility, on behalf of the whole school community, to review and recommend fee levels. The key factors taken into account when fees are adjusted are inflation in operating expenses, the staff compensation growth curve and the targets set by the school directors.

In carrying out these duties, the Board makes every effort to ensure that increases in tuition are reasonable and are communicated in good time, so that parents and guardians can plan and adjust their budgets.

Paying tuition fees

Accepting a place at Raphela Junior School assumes the ability to pay fees in full by the due date. Several payment options are available, and the school’s preference is for payment:

• Directly to the school’s bank accounts
• Through direct transfer
• Through School Pay

Billing schedule

• A fee note or invoice showing the fees due for the next academic term is issued at the end of every term, which gives parents ample time to arrange to settle the fees by the first day of school re-opening.
• The fees account must be paid before the first day of the following term.
• Learners admitted to RJS before half term are required to pay the full term’s fees; those admitted after half term are charged 50% of fees.
• Reminder notices and phone calls are sent to parents and guardians whose account is past its due date.

If an account is unpaid

• Any arrangement to vary the conditions of payment must be made through the school administration and may involve discussion with the school directors.
• If an account remains outstanding, the school will contact the parent or guardian to organise a meeting with the Bursar or Head administration at a mutually agreeable time. The meeting discusses the issues around fee payment and reaches an agreement on payment terms, and the outcome is confirmed in writing to the parent or guardian.
• If the parent or guardian does not communicate with the Bursar or Head administration about the outstanding account, the Head administration decides the action needed, which may include referral to a debt recovery agency.
• On rare occasions, where parents or guardians fail to pay their account, do not respond to reminder notices and do not contact the school to make alternative arrangements, the school will reluctantly be forced to consider engaging the services of its legal team.
• Any fees the school incurs in collecting outstanding fees, including fees for dishonoured cheques, are passed on to the parent or guardian concerned.

Admission fee

A one-time mandatory admission fee is payable upon admission to the school for each child, whatever the length of the learner’s attendance or the time of enrolment. The admission fee and the tuition fee may be changed by the school Board depending on prevailing circumstances.

Tuition refund

We appreciate that changing family circumstances will sometimes require a student to transfer to another school. Parents are required to give the school ONE academic term’s notice IN WRITING, and to receive an acknowledgement IN WRITING from the Head administration, when withdrawing their child or children from school. This gives the school ample time to re-work and adjust budgets for the next term.

Fees are not refunded in cases where fair notice is not given, or where fair notice is impractical. The school administration reserves the right to accept or refuse a given tuition refund request.

Space retention deposit

This deposit is payable when a learner is to pause schooling at RJS, for whatever reason, in order to guarantee a place for the following term or academic year. The space retention deposit is a non-refundable payment and is 25% of the tuition fees. Paying this deposit confirms your space at RJS — the spot will not be given to another learner.