An integrated school found by the Ministry of Education to be overcharging compulsory fees is refusing to refund parents.

The ministry found that all parents who paid Hutt International Boys' School more than $2100 for the last three terms of 2010 and all of 2011 had been overcharged.

But despite charging $2400 in compulsory fees during that time, the school has ignored ministry advice that parents were entitled to refunds.

The 650-pupil school, which receives nearly $1,185,000 in annual operations grants after it was integrated into the state system in 1994, would have unlawfully received more than $300,000 from parents during that time.

The school issued a statement to parents saying its fees were correct, sanctioned by the Ministry of Education, and noted in the Education Gazette in December.

A former school parent who was denied a refund said the school was showing an "arrogant attitude" towards parents.

The woman had previously had two sons at the school, and wanted what was owed to her.

"It's my money. It's only right and fair and Christian. It's the right thing to do."

She knew other parents were requesting refunds too.

"We're not all doctors and dentists and can just flick money at education.

"I don't care if it was $5, I want it back."

Another former school parent thought it strange the school referred to last year's gazetting when she had asked for refunds from fees overcharged until her son left at the end of 2010. "How can it apply retrospectively?"

She was not surprised the school was going "down the denial road".

"For me it's not about the money per se, but have they done the right or wrong thing?

"If they have done the wrong thing, then they should come right with it."

Hutt Intermediate Boys' School board chairman John Ross last week told The Dominion Post he had written a $742.98 cheque to former parent Max Shierlaw "out of the goodness of my own heart", believing him to be hard of cash.

He denied that it was the refund for overcharged fees of exactly the same amount requested by Mr Shierlaw. Mr Ross refused to comment yesterday.

A ministry spokeswoman said a notice in its Education Gazette was the only lawful authority under which the compulsory fee amounts were set.

The school's fee had been set at a maximum of $2100 since 1995, which should have stayed in force until a new Gazette notice dated December 6, 2012, increased the fees by $140, she said.

Despite this, the school's principal since 2002, Grahame Duffy, told parents: "I can assure you that the compulsory fees charged by Hibs during my time as principal are true and correct in accordance with the [ministry]".

Labour education spokesman Chris Hipkins said state integrated schools should not be exempt from following the rules, and called for the ministry to step in.

"Integrated schools should not be able to overcharge parents any more than state schools should be forcing parents to pay donations."