School Fees 2006

The fees at independent schools in 2005-2006 (from ISC Annual Census 2005):

Boarding: £18,828

Day fee at boarding schools: £9,915

Day fee at day schools: £7,668

Day fee average: £8,388

Tutorial colleges
GCSE:
£1,400 - £3,000 per subject per annum

A Level:
£2,500 - £5,000 per subject per annum

Accommodation (guide):
With family- from £150/week

Hostel (bed & breakfast)- from £120/week

Parents are normally expected to pay fees termly in advance. If you wish to move your child to another school, the school will normally require you to give a term's notice. Otherwise a term's fees may be charged in lieu.

The overall annual cost of educating your child is likely to be higher than the cost of school fees alone. Additional expenses could include school uniform and sports kit, school lunches, music lessons and school trips as well as weekend wear and additional items for boarders. If you live overseas, there will be further costs, including guardianship, travel, any specialist dental or medical treatment and pocket money for day-to-day items.

Many schools offer scholarships for children who show potential for high achievement in academic studies or in music or art. These are normally awarded on the basis of performance in an exam or audition. Scholarships normally only cover 10-25% of the fees, although in some cases this may be supplemented by a means-tested bursary.

Bursaries, which are means-tested, may also be available to cover part of the fee for pupils whose parents could not otherwise afford the full cost. They are awarded at the discretion of the school, which may set specific criteria. Schools may also reserve awards for children in specific categories, for example, if parents are in the Armed Forces or in the teaching profession.

Financial assistance may also be available from educational charities. These normally reserve awards for children whose parents can demonstrate a genuine need for an independent education or to enable a child to complete the current stage of education in the event of an unforeseen change in circumstances. Such organisations receive far more requests than they can support. They do not consider applications made purely on the grounds that parents would like an independent education for their child but cannot afford it from their own resources.

Many parents want to plan well in advance for the cost of school fees or even university costs. There are many ways of structuring your plans. You will need to take into account the amount of time available to build up funds before they are needed as well as your own wider financial circumstances. You may wish to talk to a reputable financial adviser who can guide you on the options best suited to your requirements.