THE PERSE SCHOOL
Company number: 05977683
Reporting period:
1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026
Report filed on:
30 March 2026
Approved by:
Graeme Proudfoot
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: 29 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £10,638,418 (81%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £2,338,009 (18%)
- in 61 days or more: £119,098 (< 1%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 77%
- in 31 to 60 days: 19%
- in 61 days or more: 4%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £1,117,423
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 10%
- not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
30 days
Longest standard payment period
Answer not provided
Standard payment terms
The School sets a payment due date of 30 days from the date/receipt of invoice as standard. BACS payments are made weekly and invoices are included on the relevant payment run according to due date. Some suppliers are paid by direct debit. Where this is the case the School settles invoices on terms agreed with the supplier. Smaller companies may request to be paid on receipt of invoice. Where this is the case a due date of zero days from the date of invoice is set and payment is made on the next payment run after the invoice has been authorised. In addition, specific arrangements with a different regularly recurring payment date are made with suppliers if required by the contract.
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
201 days
Related to an invoice raised in advance of work being completed, with the final instalment only due on completion of the works.
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:
Only applies to major construction works and we have no standard retention %, it is negotiated on a case by case basis.
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:
N/A - we are the end client.
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
Released in accordance with contractual terms and conditions, which vary depending on nature and size of contract. Typically released when all work completed and a reasonable period with no additional significant issues identified has been met. Most often ratified by a third party project manager or contract administrator.
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
If an invoice is not paid, suppliers contact the finance department. A copy of the invoice is requested, if applicable, and passed on to the relevant budget holder for authorisation. If a budget holder disputes an invoice, the supplier is advised and a resolution sought between the budget holder and supplier.
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