Extras at independent schools

You need to check each school specifically for items such as lunch, school bus, text books, exam fees, drama/dance/music lessons, sports coaching, day and residential trips, D of E, CCF , art and Food Tech materials etc Some may be included in fees or a bursary cover certain extras.

Also, I think for some schools if you get 100% bursary (rare but do exist I am told) you might find some of the exam fees etc are covered.

For the uniform most privates have really good second hand stuff which no-one seems to bat an eyelid at.

Look through the small print carefully. Some fees include lunches and exam fees as mentioned and some don't. It also depends what extra curricular things your son likes doing. Music lessons are usually the most expensive extra (although no more expensive than at state school I don't think), also drama (if doing Lamda) and more expensive sports such as equestrian. Mine are at prep not secondary but some of the other clubs are either free (including things like rugby/football) or small amount such as £15-40 per term.

Also school trips. They don't have to go on all of them though and many don't. These of course will also be extra in state school. If he's into geography and/or languages you might want to start saving!

None of my DC had any above the kind of things you'd be expected to pay for at state school.

Exam fees at GCSE and A Level is one actually. I didn't think of that as they were a one off rather than regular.