A Tasmanian private school has announced changes to its fees during online student learning

A private school has announced a shake-up of its fees during an extended period of online student learning.

AN elite southern Tasmania private school has announced how it will manage its school fees during an extended period of online student learning.

In a letter sent to parents and carers on Wednesday, The Hutchins School said its Board had approved a fee rebate of 25 per cent on all full fee-paying families for the duration of home-based learning.

While speaking about the school’s “smooth transition” to online education, Headmaster Rob McEwan said the Board’s decision was made after learning students would not return for face-to-face classes in Term 2.

He said “despite our best efforts”, the breadth of experience, personalised pastoral care and learning support form teachers could not be delivered to the same level in an online or remote learning environment.

“At the time the decision was made to move to home-based learning, two weeks ago, the full school budget was reviewed and all non-essential expenditure was suspended, as well as postponing the construction of the middle school building,” he said.

“At this time, we remained hopeful that boys might return to campus for the commencement of Term 2. This is no longer the case and as such, the Board has applied a fee rebate.

“With the length of time required for the school to continue using a home-based learning approach being unknown, rebates will be refunded midterm and again at the end of term.”

Mr McEwan said the fee rebate would be applied from the commencement of the home-based learning approach on March 30.