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Original poster

Private school fee hike

38 replies

Heatherbell1978 · 02/06/2023 11:58

Currently considering private school for DS who is in P4 now. I knew fees were anticipated to go up for the next academic year but it looks like one of the schools we are considering in Edinburgh has gone up 10%...is this the norm for this next year? I had factored in a 5% rise year on year but at 10% we would need to forget about it. Lucky we have a year or 2 to think about it (aiming for P6, P7 or S1 entry) before committing.

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 08/06/2023 08:10

There will have to be careful work, I believe, to cover whether eg personal tuition will attract VAT if this is changed.

Original poster
Heatherbell1978 · 08/06/2023 15:49

Samdeniel · 07/06/2023 23:59

ESMS are up 15% and St G’s up 12% 😬

I couldn't believe the ESMS increase! That is one of the other ones we are considering. It's just put it all up in the air for us really. Kids are in a good state primary so I'm fine with leaving it to S1 entry although aware how competitive that entry point is. But what will be will be. I think we need to get comfortable with the local state school - the catchment boundaries of our school are changing which might be for the better over the next few years.

OP posts:
Sootess · 08/06/2023 18:45

Mine started at one of the schools mentioned on here 10 years ago in mid and upper primary.
I've just been looking back and, up until this year, the fees had gone up about 40% over the 10 years. We had many years where it was 3% iirc.
Obviously no indication of how things will be going forward but if you can leave it until S1 it gives time for inflation to settle down again (hopefully) and you can see where you are then.

One thing I would say is committing to paying for private education for 2 DC is not for the faint hearted. If you're worried about it now then I would save as much as possible and reassess in a few years. If you decide you can't go for it at that point then you'll have those savings to use to potentially move to another catchment.

Samdeniel · 08/06/2023 22:14

My eldest is one of the schools mentioned and I have two younger ones. We were planning on moving them for upper primary but I think they will now stay at their good (thankfully) state primary until the end of p7.

Wintry57 · 09/06/2023 10:39

It is a huge commitment and there are always big opportunity costs to any outlay of this kind - it has made an enormous difference for my children though.

MissTerry300 · 09/06/2023 11:50

I currently send my child to one of these and although it's been a steep hike this year (and I get the reasoning) I'm optimistic that inflation will have peaked (barring any unforeseen events!).

I am more concerned about the potential impact of Labour's intention to charge VAT on fees. We could stretch but I worry about the sustainability of the schools in that event. And how on earth would the state schools manage? They can barely cope as is...

uhtredbebbanburg · 09/06/2023 11:54

MissTerry300 · 09/06/2023 11:50

I currently send my child to one of these and although it's been a steep hike this year (and I get the reasoning) I'm optimistic that inflation will have peaked (barring any unforeseen events!).

I am more concerned about the potential impact of Labour's intention to charge VAT on fees. We could stretch but I worry about the sustainability of the schools in that event. And how on earth would the state schools manage? They can barely cope as is...

You're right. Our local HS is bursting at the seams and the HT practically tells people to go private if the can afford it.

LadyDanburysHat · 09/06/2023 11:59

If I was in your situation OP, I'd save on the fees and get tutors for my DC of necessary to help them get the grades.

Original poster
Heatherbell1978 · 09/06/2023 15:06

MissTerry300 · 09/06/2023 11:50

I currently send my child to one of these and although it's been a steep hike this year (and I get the reasoning) I'm optimistic that inflation will have peaked (barring any unforeseen events!).

I am more concerned about the potential impact of Labour's intention to charge VAT on fees. We could stretch but I worry about the sustainability of the schools in that event. And how on earth would the state schools manage? They can barely cope as is...

I think this is where us holding off to S1 may be the next step. Time for any Labour changes to be clearer. I do worry that by doing that he's at a much higher risk of not getting in but boosting state education with tutors will always be a viable option.

OP posts:
Bluedab · 09/06/2023 23:52

@MissTerry300 i totally agree with you. Its so short sighted by labour to be pushing the tax issue. My local state primary has almost 30 kids in a class from p3 as it is.

Nyorks · 30/06/2023 20:07

We just had our fee letter through for next year and have had a 10% increase. North England day school. Only been at the school a year so unable to compare to previous increases.

NorthamptonSaint72 · 28/09/2023 16:55

Makes sense if your only goal is good exam results.

NorthamptonSaint72 · 28/09/2023 17:41

Saving on fees and paying a tutor will only help the academic side of things of course.

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