SHERBORNE SCHOOLS GROUP
Company number: 04002575
Reporting period:
1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026
Report filed on:
7 October 2026
Approved by:
Christopher Samler
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: 27 days
Total value paid:
- within 30 days: £13,617,165 (74%)
- in 31 to 60 days: £2,811,038 (15%)
- in 61 days or more: £1,907,364 (10%)
Invoices paid:
- within 30 days: 75%
- in 31 to 60 days: 15%
- in 61 days or more: 10%
Late and disputed:
- total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £11,837,444
- payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 55%
- not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%
Payment terms
Shortest standard payment periods
7 days
Longest standard payment period
Answer not provided
Standard payment terms
Invoices are paid according to supplier payment terms, so there is no standard contractual length of time.
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
60 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:
Dependent on the nature, scope and overall cost of the project.
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?
No
Releasing money under a retention clause
Process for releasing money this business has deducted or retained under a retention clause
Released once satisfactory delivery of the project has been received, subject to any warranty
Is the money released in stages?
Yes:
Generally based on onsite completion and full commissioning
Amount retained from suppliers in the reporting period
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the money retained from this business by its clients
20%
Amount retained stated as a percentage of the total construction payments made by this business
1%
Dispute resolution process
We have very few disputes relating to payment with suppliers, and those which do arise are quickly resolved. Telephone or email correspondence would take place in the first instance, between our Purchase Ledger team, the approver and the supplier. This could involve dealing with individuals at an increasing level of seniority in the supplier organisation; if no resolution, the case would be passed through the different levels of management depending on severity.
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