STOWE SCHOOL LIMITED
Company number: 00187251
Reporting period:
1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026
Report filed on:
27 March 2026
Approved by:
Simon Cope
Contracts and payments
Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? Yes
Payment statistics
Average time taken to pay invoices: 22 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £8,808,600 (78%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £2,337,672 (21%)
- in 61 days or more: £167,021 (1%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 84%
- in 31 to 60 days: 14%
- in 61 days or more: 2%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £3,079,414
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 15%
- not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
7 days
Longest standard payment period
90 days
Standard payment terms
Our standard payment period is 30 days from the invoice date, unless otherwise stated on the invoice. Small local suppliers and contractors have shorter payment terms of 7 or 14 days. The 90 days payment period relates to suppliers who need to fulfill their service during the length of the school term.
Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?
No
Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?
N/A
Maximum contractual payment period agreed
90 days
No further comment provided
Any other information about payment terms
No further comment provided
Retention clauses
How does this business use retention clauses?
Retention clauses are used in specific circumstances:
Large construction projects which span over long period of time and involve complex build
Does this business only use retention clauses in construction contracts above a specific contract sum?
No
Does this business use a standard percentage rate in retention clauses?
No
Does this business apply retention clause practices that are no more onerous than those applied to it on the same project?
Yes:
Retention clauses are negotiated on contract by contract basis and vary depending on the circumstances
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
Once retention period has ended, we asses the outcome of the project vs the contract specification to determine whether any funds are required to be retained to cover remediation work. This in negotiated with our suppliers.
Is the money released in stages?
No
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
0%
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business
0%
Dispute resolution process
Suppliers are provided with an email address and tel number of the Accounts Payable department on the remittances sent via email and credit application forms. The AP department will receive and acknowledge receipt of the disputes within 24h and request any further information and documentation needed to support the dispute. If internal investigation is required the supplier will be informed that this action is being taken and will receive a response within 3 working days. If the supplier is not satisfied with the resolution by the AP department the dispute is escalated to the Financial Controller for further investigation.
Other payment information
Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?
For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.
No, this business has not signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices.
Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?
This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.
No
Does this business offer supply chain finance?
This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.
No
Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No
During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?
No