When it comes to private school education, it's often hard to untangle fact from fiction. Stories about school fees soaring above inflation and costing more than the average UK house compete with articles promising an independent school education for absolutely nothing, if you know how to work the system ...
So just what is the truth about private school fees in the UK today?
To help, we have compiled a comprehensive database of exactly how much each and every HMC school is charging for the coming academic year, 2015-16 (historical figures from 2014/15 can also be accessed here). The figures are broken down into termly fees, annual fees and even how much your child's education will cost throughout their time at the school.*
What is an HMC school anyway?
HMC (the Headmasters' & Headmistresses' Conference) is a professional association of Heads of the world's leading independent schools. HMC currently has 277 members (up from 253 the previous year) in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Why have we only focused on HMC schools?
HMC schools are some of the most well-known schools in the country and therefore often command the most media attention in the debate around UK private school fees. It is now commonly accepted that HMC Membership confers "public school" status on an institution (however, historically this term was restricted to only seven schools included in the Public Schools Act of 1868).
Where is the data from?
All data shown here have been taken from each schools' own website, using the latest information on fees (in almost all cases this is for the academic year 2015/16, however, where this has not yet been made available figures for the previous year have been used instead).
How exactly has this data been compiled? e.g. What's included/excluded?
All figures quoted exclude any discount that may be available at some schools for having a sibling(s) already at the school. Fee reductions for upfront payments and payments made by direct debit have also been excluded. All figures shown for boarding fees exclude UK/EU national discounts (where applicable) and also assume that the child is a full-time boarder. Bursaries and scholarships are not considered in the presentation of the figures. Additional costs for activities such as additional music/instrument lessons and transport have not been included. Some schools have higher fees for pupils joining the final two years ("Sixth Form") which have also not been included in the data. Where there is a change in the fees per term (e.g. Years 9-11 versus Years 12-13) the higher figure is quoted. All fees are displayed in GBP.
Note: where a school charges fees for "day boarders" (or similar), this is not regarded as equivalent to normal, day school fees and is therefore excluded from consideration in that category.
*This assumes tuition at the school from the ages of 13 - 18. Fees are subject to review, so figures given as total costs are likely to underestimate the actual cost over the 5 year period.
So just what is the truth about private school fees in the UK today?
To help, we have compiled a comprehensive database of exactly how much each and every HMC school is charging for the coming academic year, 2015-16 (historical figures from 2014/15 can also be accessed here). The figures are broken down into termly fees, annual fees and even how much your child's education will cost throughout their time at the school.*
What is an HMC school anyway?
HMC (the Headmasters' & Headmistresses' Conference) is a professional association of Heads of the world's leading independent schools. HMC currently has 277 members (up from 253 the previous year) in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Why have we only focused on HMC schools?
HMC schools are some of the most well-known schools in the country and therefore often command the most media attention in the debate around UK private school fees. It is now commonly accepted that HMC Membership confers "public school" status on an institution (however, historically this term was restricted to only seven schools included in the Public Schools Act of 1868).
Where is the data from?
All data shown here have been taken from each schools' own website, using the latest information on fees (in almost all cases this is for the academic year 2015/16, however, where this has not yet been made available figures for the previous year have been used instead).
How exactly has this data been compiled? e.g. What's included/excluded?
All figures quoted exclude any discount that may be available at some schools for having a sibling(s) already at the school. Fee reductions for upfront payments and payments made by direct debit have also been excluded. All figures shown for boarding fees exclude UK/EU national discounts (where applicable) and also assume that the child is a full-time boarder. Bursaries and scholarships are not considered in the presentation of the figures. Additional costs for activities such as additional music/instrument lessons and transport have not been included. Some schools have higher fees for pupils joining the final two years ("Sixth Form") which have also not been included in the data. Where there is a change in the fees per term (e.g. Years 9-11 versus Years 12-13) the higher figure is quoted. All fees are displayed in GBP.
Note: where a school charges fees for "day boarders" (or similar), this is not regarded as equivalent to normal, day school fees and is therefore excluded from consideration in that category.
*This assumes tuition at the school from the ages of 13 - 18. Fees are subject to review, so figures given as total costs are likely to underestimate the actual cost over the 5 year period.
© privateschoolfees.co.uk 2014