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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Private school fees 23-24

49 replies

Lingar · 01/03/2023 21:19

Many schools still have 22/23 fees on their website.
Will every school increase fee for 23/24? When will they update the fee?
Thanks

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WombatChocolate · 01/03/2023 21:22

They normally tell existing and new starter families around Easter. They need to tell them so they can give the required term of nice for leaving, if they want to. Often not updated on websites until much later.

Original poster
Lingar · 01/03/2023 21:27

WombatChocolate · 01/03/2023 21:22

They normally tell existing and new starter families around Easter. They need to tell them so they can give the required term of nice for leaving, if they want to. Often not updated on websites until much later.

They only mentioned on the offer the fee of 23/24 will be increased. If based on current inflation about 10%. Feel a bit strange they can not tell precisely before you have to make a decision about the offer...

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redrobin75 · 01/03/2023 21:31

@Lingar , the schools are still working out their budgets etc, they don't have to tell parents until last day of Easter holidays so they have 1 term's notice of the change if they want to leave. Yes I agree the next rise will be large due to energy costs and teacher retention/ recruitment crisis.

edwinbear · 01/03/2023 21:34

Ours usually come out during Easter holidays. I’m budgeting for 10% this year.

Original poster
Lingar · 01/03/2023 21:40

redrobin75 · 01/03/2023 21:31

@Lingar , the schools are still working out their budgets etc, they don't have to tell parents until last day of Easter holidays so they have 1 term's notice of the change if they want to leave. Yes I agree the next rise will be large due to energy costs and teacher retention/ recruitment crisis.

Thanks, I think not only tuition fees, but school coach and lunch will also increase.

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Original poster
Lingar · 01/03/2023 22:39

edwinbear · 01/03/2023 21:34

Ours usually come out during Easter holidays. I’m budgeting for 10% this year.

I see, will this increase every year?

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uk2020 · 01/03/2023 22:52

Lingar · 01/03/2023 22:39

I see, will this increase every year?

Show quote history

I think we can conservatively assume on average 5% increase every year in a normal environment.

SheilaFentiman · 01/03/2023 22:54

Last year’s increase was 5% at our school, pre Trussonomics.

i am expecting more this year.

Sarain · 01/03/2023 23:22

If the fee increase for one year will sway your decision; it's too expensive. On average they go up by 5-7% every year. With inflation that well could be 10-12 this year.

EmotiveBubblez · 02/03/2023 10:35

I have spoken to three schools in which we are currently trying to decide between.

All three have said the Governors will be meeting at the end of term to decide and parents will be notified accordingly.

One of the schools said they had a 6.8% increase last year as fees had been frozen during the pandemic. They estimate it will be between 3 - 7% increase.

As mentioned before, important for private schools to offer competitive salaries, keep in line with the state schools but also to ensure they retain their staff and that means considering the impact of the cost of living crisis on the school and their staff.

It is a shame we do not know the information before we decide.

SheilaFentiman · 02/03/2023 10:41

“It is a shame we do not know the information before we decide.”

It is, but rises of 5% or so each year should be anticipated even pre inflation crisis.

Original poster
Lingar · 02/03/2023 10:45

EmotiveBubblez · 02/03/2023 10:35

I have spoken to three schools in which we are currently trying to decide between.

All three have said the Governors will be meeting at the end of term to decide and parents will be notified accordingly.

One of the schools said they had a 6.8% increase last year as fees had been frozen during the pandemic. They estimate it will be between 3 - 7% increase.

As mentioned before, important for private schools to offer competitive salaries, keep in line with the state schools but also to ensure they retain their staff and that means considering the impact of the cost of living crisis on the school and their staff.

It is a shame we do not know the information before we decide.

Agree, but based on the current market and inflation. At least 10%. Some schools maybe less if they increased more than 5% last year. From 1st Apr, everywhere increase the price for everything.

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EmotiveBubblez · 02/03/2023 10:50

I agree given inflation, 10% seems likely. Which is a big increase for some who already make sacrifices to send their children to independent schools.

SheilaFentiman · 02/03/2023 11:12

I think we get ours around 25/3 so end of current term

LondonMum20222 · 02/03/2023 11:41

And people should also be accounting for the very real possibility of VAT on private schools fees if/when Labour get in. If an extra 20% is going to be unfeasible (on top of likely 5-10% fee inflation, which is what it's historically been at most top private schools) then you do need to have a serious think about whether you can afford it.

meditrina · 02/03/2023 11:50

They have to tell existing parents in time for them to consider their position and give the required notice to quit should they wish to do so.

Which in practice usually means just before the end of this term, so everyone gets it before going off on holiday, and have 3-4 weeks (up until the day before the start of the next term) to decide and notify the school they are giving notice.

They may well only decide shortly before that. School fee increases usually run at inflation plus a bit, so likely to be hefty this year, as they have staff cost increases and energy bills to cover

SheilaFentiman · 02/03/2023 11:51

EmotiveBubblez · 02/03/2023 10:50

I agree given inflation, 10% seems likely. Which is a big increase for some who already make sacrifices to send their children to independent schools.

It is, and schools are mindful and do I think try to keep them as low as they can, clearly they do not want existing parents to leave

EmotiveBubblez · 02/03/2023 11:52

thanks @SheilaFentiman

2023istheyearigetmyacttogether · 02/03/2023 14:59

Be aware, too, that if Labour win the next election, one of their headline policies is to put VAT on school fees.

MissyB1 · 02/03/2023 15:04

2023istheyearigetmyacttogether · 02/03/2023 14:59

Be aware, too, that if Labour win the next election, one of their headline policies is to put VAT on school fees.

Hmmmm I think that policy is to remove charitable status from private schools actually isn’t it? That doesn’t automatically mean 20% increase in fees. It may certainly mean some kind of increase, but private schools will not want to suddenly lose a lot of pupils. They will already looking at how to resolve the potential issues.
Also it won’t happen overnight.

meditrina · 02/03/2023 15:12

MissyB1 · 02/03/2023 15:04

Hmmmm I think that policy is to remove charitable status from private schools actually isn’t it? That doesn’t automatically mean 20% increase in fees. It may certainly mean some kind of increase, but private schools will not want to suddenly lose a lot of pupils. They will already looking at how to resolve the potential issues.
Also it won’t happen overnight.

Show quote history

Charitable status is unrelated to VAT on fees, and is estimated to be worth approx £200 per pupil per year, so I think that would be fairly easily absorbed onto fees. And of course not all schools are charities, so they will be unaffected.

They haven't stated how they would go about making that change, and it's an area where the devil is in the detail. And I expect it will be quietly parked.

And changing VAT rules so it can be levied on school fees will be what is done instead. It might not however be at the full 20% rate (state sector really would not cope well with sudden influx of erstwhile private pupils)

And I think it's bound to come, just a question of when (Gove has also spoken in favour, has he not?)

mrsm43s · 02/03/2023 15:43

Ours are coming to the end of their private school years.

When I did the budgeting before we sent them, I based it on a projected 5% annual increase. As of yet, all of the increases have been below that amount, typically around 3%. Next year's increase, I suspect, will be higher, potentially 10% ish bearing in mind the current rate of inflation. I'm glad in this current economic climate and with the threat of VAT on school fees that we're in our final year for our eldest, and just one more left for the youngest. I wouldn't embark on private schooling at this time without being able to ensure that we were stress tested for at 10% increases annually, potentially more than that if VAT gets added.

Original poster
Lingar · 02/03/2023 16:36

mrsm43s · 02/03/2023 15:43

Ours are coming to the end of their private school years.

When I did the budgeting before we sent them, I based it on a projected 5% annual increase. As of yet, all of the increases have been below that amount, typically around 3%. Next year's increase, I suspect, will be higher, potentially 10% ish bearing in mind the current rate of inflation. I'm glad in this current economic climate and with the threat of VAT on school fees that we're in our final year for our eldest, and just one more left for the youngest. I wouldn't embark on private schooling at this time without being able to ensure that we were stress tested for at 10% increases annually, potentially more than that if VAT gets added.

Thanks for the comments with experiences. What extra costs are a year except for tuition fees? Thanks

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Ilovechoc12 · 02/03/2023 16:56

There is after school clubs, music lessons, residential every year plus the ski trips. Also, lost uniform which needs to be replaced.

If your worried about the increases I wouldn't do private - everything is increasing

Original poster
Lingar · 02/03/2023 17:58

Ilovechoc12 · 02/03/2023 16:56

There is after school clubs, music lessons, residential every year plus the ski trips. Also, lost uniform which needs to be replaced.

If your worried about the increases I wouldn't do private - everything is increasing

Thanks, I was budgeting £3k-£5k on top of tuition fees a year. But , my partner told me to need to double the tuition fee. Like if £22K a year, budget £45K for all additions. Is that true? Thanks

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