SA School Imposing on Child's Extracurricular Activities - Legal?

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gauche

Member
22 February 2017
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Hi,

After making a decision to withdraw our daughter from netball on a Wednesday night so that she could concentrate on her academics, I was surprised to have the school push back (via email). She can only pull out, they tell me, if she is not playing sports for an outside club. Well, she is. But it's on a Friday so it does not interfere with her week so much.

I'm honestly not even sure this is a legal issue, and wanted to be sure. It seems completely ludicrous to me having a school that I pay massive sums of money to dictate what my daughter can and cannot do outside of school hours. It's absurd.

Guess I just want a sanity check and to gather some advice before I reply to the school's email.

Thanks for any help.
 

Iamthelaw

Well-Known Member
13 September 2016
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794
Welcome to private schools.

I don't see a legal issue for the moment. If it were me I would reply saying that as long as you're paying the fees you will decide whether or not your daughter participates in said sporting program, regardless of whether she plays sport outside of school.
 

Tim W

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
28 April 2014
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Sydney
I concur. I do not see a legal problem here.

Even if the "she can't, unless she..." thing was not spurious,
she meets the school's own criteria for the exemption.
 
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gauche

Member
22 February 2017
4
0
1
Thanks for the help. I have followed up accordingly.

They have now insinuated that my daughter's enrolment is conditional upon their "sports policy". I will be setting up a face-to-face, but any further advice appreciated beforehand.
 

sammy01

Well-Known Member
27 September 2015
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Ask to see their 'sports policy'

Look it is not really a legal problem. It is administrative (I suppose) you have an agreement to comply with the school's rules and if you don't wanna play by their rules you can find somewhere else to educate your kid... Worth seeking legal help over? Probably not..

Don't tell them you're letting her play on Friday.

Don't rock the boat - say nothing... and hope they don't cancel her enrolment