Pat's Schoolhouse

[pishako]

arielle08:

Hi Pishako,

yours is which branch?
Its either yours have no increase, or the letters has not be circulated yet for your branch.
They attached together with the registration form for next year.

Hi Arielle, there is an increase on my side, but in the first place, my side's fees are already on the higher end as compared to aroozoo for 7am to 530pm slot. Prior to my son entering the school in 2012, there was already a 7% increase, now is 16.9% for 2013 ad another further 5% expected for 2014.

[rosnyus]

hi woodstock07


my son is in aroozoo, K1 picasso. let me know if you need me to do anything, i will give you my fullest support.

rgds
rosnyus

woodstock07:

I also received the notice of price increase from Aroozoo last week.

I'm going to speak to Anita this week about the price increase and understanding the reasons, etc. If I don't get a satisfied answer, I'll request for a meeting with Patricia Koh. If enough parents make noise, they will feel the heat. There is little effect if we simply complain on this forum. I'll have 2 kids going to Aroozoo from 2013 onwards and am quite concerned with the situation.

[pishako]

i called up the principal at my branch too.. she said the price increase is largely due to rental.

[woodstock07]

One parent is not enough. Any parent who is concerned about the price increase should raise their concerns with the school. Waiting for other parents to do it on behalf of others is not the way to go. I’m not advocating confrontations. But imagine if more parents just request to speak to the principal to understand the reasons behind the price increase and express their concerns, the feedback will go upwards.

[rosnyus]

okay, i'm not waiting for others. just wanting to have an idea of what i can do. no need to get so worked up

[Mylittlegirl]

But rental increase and manpower costs increase is real right? Then what can we do? Lobby for government to give more subsidies?

[zenith56]

I spoke with my son’s school and expressed my concerns about the price increase as I may eventually put 3 kids at Pat’s.


Apparently, I’m one of the first few parents who called the school. So woodstock has a point, if parents are concerned, they are not letting the school know, as of now, at least.

The reasons given to me were:

1. Rental (this is the main reason for the difference in cost between branches. Centrally located branches like Claymore are more expensive than suburban branches for example).

2. Retention of teachers - they need to match the salaries paid to teachers as they are losing experienced teachers to their competitors.

3. Other operating costs like utilities and groceries are smaller factors but add to overall costs of running the branch.

When I told my friend I was going to call the school about the price increase, she told me not to as she was afraid the school may treat my child differently, ie. the child with the mum who likes to "complain". But I’m sure there is a way to do it without coming across as aggressive.

At the new fees, including $300 subsidy and 7% GST, I will be paying roughly $1250 per month or $15000 a year. Assuming each child goes to Pat’s for 4 years, without factoring future price increase, that is already $60,000 per child. I have 3 kids, so multiply that by 3? That is a scary sum.

Anyway, I think the point about letting the school know about concerns over price increase is very valid. I work in the consumer sector and whenever we attempt to increase price for our products, we consider the severity of the customer’s reactions and one of the way to gauge that is how they responded to the last price increase.

Just imagine if you are the management of Pat’s Schoolhouse considering the next fee increase, if there were not many negative response from the last increase, would they not think twice about the next fee increase? Ultimately they are a for-profit education business. However, if there were many parents who raised concerns, if the concerns are serious enough and made it to the press (hypothetically), if there are lots of noise in the internet forums resulting in potentially negative reputation of the school, would the school not think harder about the next fee increase? Collective action definitely helps.

Of course at every point, the price increase will result in parents seeking a cheaper alternative. For me, I’m at that crossroads, so I will be looking at cheaper alternatives either for my younger children or all 3 of them.

[Shoegirl]

I would like to seek comments on Pat’s Schoolhouse Buckley . Currently my son is at BRMCK and he dislikes it very much. After 5 months, with no sign of improvements, we decided it was time to change the school. Appreciate any feedback on Buckley Pat’s. Thanks

[Zeng]

Shoegirl:

I would like to seek comments on Pat's Schoolhouse Buckley . Currently my son is at BRMCK and he dislikes it very much. After 5 months, with no sign of improvements, we decided it was time to change the school. Appreciate any feedback on Buckley Pat's. Thanks

Buckley has a very good principal. Halifax is also a decent alternative as both places are very close. You should visit both.
Principals and teachers make the difference.

[empressplace]

pishako:

empressplace:

2012 PSH fees


Full Day I (7 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.): $1364.25. Subsidy is $300 for working mothers. (fees after sub $1064.25). Increase of $294.50 in 2013.

Full Day II (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.):$ 1471.25. Subsidy is $300 for working mothers. (fees after sub $1171.25). Increase of $347.75 in 2013

which PSH is this? does diff PSH have different rates? I am paying 1417.75 before subsidy for 7am to 530pm. Anyway, the form teacher doesn't even come in till 8+am.

Claymore