independent primary school - how much on top of fees do you tend to pay annually?

[deaconblue]

just starting to think about primary schools for ds. Fees for local independent schools are about £8,000 a year but what with uniform, school dinners etc how much is the bill likely to come in at?

Meals are often included (ours were). The main expense is uniform and sports kit - the millions of extras don't seem to kick in until senior school!

At ds's school, lunches and before/after school care are included in the price. The initial uniform bill was something like £200 overall and then, of course, they grow...

Apart from uniform, the only expenditure has been on days out in school time - they do offer lots of those so it's £10 here, £20 there added on to the bill. Probably not more than £50 or £60 a yr in our case but ds is only in reception - the trips get longer and more expensive as you go up the school!

our yearly fees for dd1 in yr 3 are now £12,000. we reckon the fees are £9000 and there is roughly a grand extra each term, this is made up of singing lessons x1 a week, piano x1 a week, learning support x1 a week, 1 or 2 nights as a flexible boarder plus trips and workshops etc, be prepared it really mounts up .

We pay about £450 a term extra, but this includes violin lessons, drama lessons and after-school care.

thanks, that is helpful, gives us an idea what to expect

Too much...

Meals and after school care are currently included at dd's school though they are charging £60 per term for after school care next year. Myself and several others have written to complain!!!

Trips in school time are also included.

Uniform I got mostly from swop shop. It came to around £150 for summer and winter uniform not including shoes and white shirts, it would have been around £400 new.

When she goes into Year 3 she will need more sports stuff so I will allow an extra £100 for that.

Otherwise all I've bought her is a recorder costing £10 for recorder club.

At DD's school uniform is a big expense. To kit her out the first time round was a few hundred including summer and winter uniforms, bag, PE kit, ballet kit, art apron, lunch pinny, etc.

Lunch and milk in included in fees.

Until September this year, after school care (not lcubs) was included in fees. This year we have no fee ncrease but they are introduing a fee for after school care at £3 a session (IIRR). Clubs range from £3.50 to £4.50 a session.

Breakfast club is £2 a session.

All day trips are included in price. Later on in the school, in prep years, there are some residentials and they are paid for on top of fees.

There are DVds of nativity plays, and of other important shows done - at about £12 or so a go.

School photos - once a year normally; twice in first year - £25 a pack

Musical instuments start being played/learnt in Prep years (Y3) and tuition is an extra £100 a term.

Sessions for those requiring additional support help for any SEN, such as Dyslecia support or those who need additional help in prep for entrance exams for high schools, is included in fees.

But def by far the uniform is the major expense for us.

We were told, by our IFA, to allow for 10% fee increases each year.

am surprised to see some schools charge extra for SEN support. I would assume that if you are already paying for education, your child should get whatever extra help they need included. will check that when I go to visit the two schools.

At ours all SEN, music, after school clubs and care (@£4.95 for first 30 mins!) are extra, as are all trips.

Our uniform list is ridiculous (indoor trainers - never been warn - outdoor trainers, play trainers, football/hockey boots...thank god her feet haven't grown this term!)

Plus the good old 10% per year - or more if making up pension shortfall.

Prepare yourself!

worn

Basic fees approx £6500 per annum includes school lunches. Milk and fruit are provided at break for younger pupils. Y3 upwards take their own breaktime snack.

We pay £300-£400 per term for extras which is mainly music lessons (two instruments at £145 each per term). The rest is made up of replacement reeds for sax, occasional after-school care, music exam fees when appropriate.

We could hire instruments from school but we chose to buy them. We seem to spend quite a lot on music books but DD is member of an orchestra outside school and their membership gets us 10% discount.

School trips such as panto cost about £15. Anything that needs a coach hiring to transport them is about £8 per child.

Residential trips from, I think, Y3 onwards start at about £200. In Y6 there's a sports tour (£300) and an end-of-year residential (about £300 also, I think).

Uniform - bought new on entry but topped up since in Nearly New Shop. DD in Y6 is still wearing the same games shirt she had when she started!!!

Lunch is extra at ours £125/term, girls school nearby it is included in the fees.
Before school care is free, after school care is free until 4pm, chargeblae thereafter unless going to teacher run activity eg chess, rugby, swimming, baord games, computer club .
SEN support is included if needed.
Individual instrumental lessons work out at about £150 term, depending on how many weeks long the term is, music groups aren't charged for, nor is loan of eg cello, clarinet etc if your child learns via a group - would always need to purchase one at some point if your child continued to play it (groups tend to run for 1-2 years.
Uniform is not ridiculously expensive (I remeber my school blazers costing more than the boys do now and i'm old!) and there is a good s/hand shop available.