Amount of extras on top of boarding fees

[ifonly4]

We are considering sixth form at a private school for DD, full time boarding. Can anyone give me an idea how much the extras for materials, exams, trips etc can add up to please.

We use to pay about £600 our term (DS left school this summer) but we were billed for every piece of paper pens etc and he bought all his own text books I believe some include these in the fees. My DS full boarded so we were charged for some laundry e.g. dry cleaning suits, and the matron purchased/sold shower gel toothpaste etc so that was also added on (this is obviously optional).
We also paid every year for the Bupa boarding school private health insurance scheme, again optional, and I've no idea how much it was.
Finally you probably know this but you pay for all public exams.
Many talk about the cost of trips etc in the independent sector but my DS did one trip abroad every year with the school, all were very reasonably priced; I couldn't have done it for less and he did quite a few day trips into London to exhibitions etc and it usually included a meal in the evening and trip to the theatre and again I couldn't have done for less in fact one would have cost significant more if I'd tried to organise it myself.

Both my DDs were full boarding and we did not pay for any exams other than Lamda, Music exams and dance exams. All GCSEs and A levels were included. DD 2 had some materials and printing costs for A2 Art and A2 Photography, but these were not outrageous. Books were included and they had enough pens and pencils to last for years. Exercise books were included as were all meals. I also think we had House Suppers included for parents. Both schools had a school shop for emergency supplies but these were financed out of pocket money. All laundry was included and bed linen too at one school. Having said that, the laundry at DD1s school was boiled! Bras went grey and things shrunk. Ironing was useless too. Most girls brought washing home.

The expensive extras are music lessons (and/or sport coaching, dance, drama, cooking etc) and trips. Some trips are very expensive (£3000 for hockey trips for example), others are reasonable, but could be £500. Some are optional but some are for subjects which are being studied and therefore important. They also rather depend on what subjects your DC is doing. You do not want to be the one not going on the Geography trip for example, or the one not going on the photography trip to cover part of the syllabus. You can ask what trips run for the subjects she wants to do - and ask for likely costs. Some things, such as being a Good Samaritan in Malawi are totally optional.

I think you just have to look at the "Extras" list the school provides and see if the costs are reasonable for what your DD may want to do, or you will discover they charge for everything. Don't forget some schools do have 6th form uniforms and sports kit is probably required too.

Yes my DD had to pay for uniform and sports kit plus a tuck box (compulsory). Total cost nearly £1,000. We are billed for books and stationery also.

we pay £1000 extras per term. - trips, folders, books, social entertainment, dry cleaning, shop items (toothpaste, sweets, pens etc) No music lessons or exams in this amount.
Uniform was £1500 without any shoes or trainers.

It will depend on the school.

Good luck

We're looking into this, so bumping back up for you. Some fees are clearly stated on schools websites, but others like trips, stationery, books, kit are all extra and not clearly stated (although in all fairness trips will be dependent on subjects studied).