Difference in fees

[tryingtoimprove]

I'm currently looking at prep schools, and am shocked at the range of prices
£2,000-£9,500 per term.

Now some things are obvious i.e. one school has no grounds to speak of, so go elsewhere for games, others have very flash facilities.

But am I being wrong to think £2,000 school can't be good with offering the best teachers/specialist skills etc, whilst £9,500 I'm paying for the best teachers to have the best cars.

Does anyone else have any logic they apply to fees, or do you effectively "ignore" the fees until the last moment, when having decided everything else is right for you. Or do you choose a school on fees first, then hope it ticks all the other boxes?

If it's not too far to travel, King Edward VI in Southampton might be a good secondary option too (no boarding though). It's an academic school but the entrance exam isn't as hard as Winchester - no Latin.
Was going to suggest Clayesmore. Also Bryanston? AMAZING for the non-academic stuff. Sherborne?

DS is at an outstanding academic prep Y6 and the fees are £3.2k per term through to year 8 with very few extras. DD is year 3 at an ok girls school with a guaranteed place at the very good senior school, fees are £3.9k per term and a list of termly extras the length of a roll of wallpaper, we seldom pay less than £4.4k.
DS's school may be better value, but there is a lot of competition for boys schools in the area and that keeps the price down. I do feel that with DD we pay a premium for the guaranteed senior school place, but what can we do about it? People are queueing up to get into her school.
I can't honestly believe any prep school can justify day school fees of £9k per term, that works out at £200 per day! What school is this? I can't wait to see the website.

Just found post re Port Regis, missed it the first time. It does look very nice and £5.8k per term for a prep with boarding school facilities doesn't seem that bad to me. You are paying for the facilities, so if you are not going to use them non-sporty child etc it's probably not for you.