Private schools are going to extremes to get bankrupt parents to pay overdue fees by taking them to court, a report has said.
Around 70 parents have been declared bankrupt after being chased for unpaid fees by a private education firm in charge of several independent schools, an investigation has revealed.
According to Schools Week, Cognita – a firm which runs more than 30 private schools in the UK – has taken scores of parents to court since 2012, with debt sometimes reaching more than double the original amount owed.
One mother who arranged to gradually repay £7,000 saw her bill rise to close to £19,000 after being pursued through the courts because the school added interest and legal charges, the publication revealed.