How much disposable income after school fees and bills

[Rebmolellmar]

Hi my daughter has been offered a place a private school to start in September 2025,it will be tight to send her there but we think it’s the best school for her and they will support her in the way the state school can’t,we have applied for sport scholarships so still waiting for that.
How much does everyone have left after all bills and schools fees have been paid?

The overseas trips will not be mandatory and the only unexpected extra on our recent bill was a mouthguard. However you need to factor in meals and travel.

Is there anything you can cut to give yourself a bit more leeway. Bear in mind also whilst state schools would probably be a cheaper their uniform still costs £00s abd their trips can be equally spendy.

Are you thinking purely on your expected incomes over the next X number of years in which school fees are due?

Or do you have ready savings / expected BOMAD support?

income is typically the worst way to fund school fees (mainly because of taxes, but also the unpredictability)

We have put aside approx £500k prior to reception for 2 kids. This will hopefully grow in line with fees for the outer years.

incomes can then will be used for normal spending + additional saving

All meals and snacks,and laptop are included in the fees

School trips; tens, hundreds into the thousands each year.
Uniform thousands for initial lay out then several hundred a year up keep.
Replacement items
Mandatory school trips, items and events.
Some schools charge extra for Mandatory hot lunch.
Snacks in house.
Music, drama lessons
Additional sports lessons
Coach/bus/taxi to school.
Club memberships

Extras all add up very quickly. Yes can easily say no to some trips but your child will be the only one missing out.

Not everyone goes on the ski trips or overseas trips

The uniform cost can be calculated from the outfitters but doesn’t have to be thousands either.

Most of the other points also apply to educating any teenager barring mandatory lunches which OP says are included (plus snacks and laptops).

Perhaps not.... depends on the school perhaps. Ours do have mandatory overseas trips and yes I've heard of one or two parents each year saying no to their child going but very much the majority of kids at our school do do these trips and tours.
Uniform including sports equipment can definitely add up if the child/children are on all the teams.

Buying second hand is an option sometimes.