How much does the private school cost?

It’s a case of good news and bad news with private school fees right now. Recent research by Halifax Financial Services has found that school fees in the UK have increased by 41% since 2003. According to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), the average increase in members’ school fees was 6, 2% in 2007/8. In some schools, however, the increase was as much as 10 percent, with some principals pointing to rising staff costs as the reason for the sharp increase.

The credit crisis has caused some directors to slow down and limit their raises to stay around the inflation rate. However, others are getting ahead of themselves, with St Paul’s School for Girls leading the pack with a 14 percent increase in 2008/2009.

This year, Vicky Tuck, principal of Cheltenham Ladies College, has restricted her fee increases to four percent “in anticipation of more difficult times to come.” With current inflation at 3.8 percent, it is a competitive move. The City of London School for boys is one of the few colleges that maintains its current rise below the inflation rate, with an increase of just two percent. The school is based on Square Mile and educates large numbers of bankers’ children, so with the rumors of jobs in jeopardy and falling bonuses, it’s a prudent move.

Prestige has a price

Sending your daughter to Cheltenham Ladies’ College in 2008 will cost £ 28,735 per year or £ 9,578 per term. These figures are representative of the cost of the famous, exclusive and established independent boarding schools in Britain, such as Eton, Roedean and Harrow.

Small class sizes mean more attention Search within a slightly lower price range and you will find a host of boarding schools that may not have the prestige of famous schools, but do offer an excellent comprehensive education. For example, in 2007 at St Catherine’s School in Bramley, 93.7% of students achieved grade A / B at level A and the school was ranked 43rd in the Sunday Times ranking of independent high schools. In 2008, the rates for interns are £ 6,840 per quarter (or £ 20,520 per year), representing significant savings for the more famous freelancers.

To get a great education at a competitive price, you must weigh what is important to you and your children. For example, Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth may not have Charterhouse’s dream towers and Eton heritage, but it has a strong academic record and is competitively priced at £ 2,150 per term for interns.

It is interesting to note that in the 2007 Sunday Times leaderboard for independent secondary schools, Talbot Heath was ranked 79th along with Benenden, which costs £ 9,180 per quarter.

Day schools that don’t break the bank

Private day schools can be a more affordable alternative to boarding schools. Fees tend to start at around £ 2,500 per quarter and some schools will allow you to pay off your salary on a monthly basis, which many people find more manageable than three hefty bills a year.

Fees at prestigious inner London day schools range from £ 3,500 to £ 6,700 per term, but outside of capital costs they tend to inflict less damage on the wallet. Also, the further north you go, the lower school fees tend to be.

For example, the High School of Glasgow, which ranked first in the Sunday Times’ Scottish Independent Secondary Schools leaderboard, charges fees of £ 2,460 per term in high school. The oldest school in Scotland, it dates back to 1124 and includes two prime ministers among its students (Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman and Andrew Bonar Law), as well as the announcer and ‘Grumpy Old Woman’, Muriel Gray.

In the Midlands and the North of England, many former primary schools that are now independent day schools offer similar value for money and excellent all-round education. For example, fees at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle are £ 2,354 per term in primary school and £ 2,793 in upper school, and can be paid at the beginning of the term or by direct debit in 10 installments. The results are impressive, with 90.5% of the students earning an A or B grade at level A.

Savings for families

Some private schools offer a 10-20 percent reduction in fees if you send multiple children to the same school. However, there are caveats. The reduction may only apply to the third child in a family and all of your children may have to attend school for you to qualify for the discount.

Scholarships and scholarships can make private education affordable for some families, and 30% of children who attend independent schools receive some form of assistance. Read our articles on scholarships and scholarships to learn more.

Once you have budgeted for fees, it is very important to consider additional costs such as uniform, school trips, sports equipment, and club membership. A typical invoice shows all these extras in our function on reducing costs.

School fees: 2008/9

Interned

Cheltenham Ladies College £ 28,734

Eton University £ 28,080

Charterhouse £ 27,480

Day schools

Abbey, Reading £ 10,980

Leeds Grammar £ 9594

Manchester High School for Girls £ 8634