Private school parents ordered to pay up

Parents fighting to withhold almost $40,000 in owed fees to a Perth private school because their son was bullied are unlikely to pay up if their latest appeal fails, a judge says.

The self-represented parents have lost every appeal since Wesley College took them to court in 2013 and also had their counterclaim for previously paid fees dismissed.

The Supreme Court of Western Australia has now ordered the pair pay a $12,000 security or their case will be dismissed.

Justice David Newnes said the parents appeared to lack the necessary financial capacity to pay if they lost the appeal and had declined to provide evidence to suggest otherwise.

He said neither parent appeared to have land registered in their name and a bailiff sent by the school who seized three vehicles from the couple had to return them because they didn't belong to the pair in the first place.

Justice Newnes also said based on the limited material before him, he had formed a preliminary view that the parents did not have a strong case.

He said it was appropriate to order the parents to pay a security because the school had already spent a significant amount defending the unsatisfied judgment.

The parents have until April 3 to pay the $12,000.