Can I afford to send my kids to private school?

Private school fees have shot up in recent years and Labour plans to scrap tax perks if it wins the general election. How big a bill are you looking at?

Three schoolchildren doing sums on the board.
(Image credit: XiXinXing via Getty Images)

Private school fees have been in the spotlight in recent months, with Labour promising to scrap tax perks if it wins the 4 July general election

Eligible education bodies, including private schools, are currently exempt from VAT, which keeps charges down for parents. However, any change to this policy could see school fees soar by up to 20%. 

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Header Cell - Column 0 Boarding schoolDay pupil at boarding schoolDay school
Termly fees (2023/4)£13,954£8,287£6,363
+5% inflation£14,652£8,701£6,681
20% VAT£2,930£1,740£1,336
Annual cost£52,746£31,325£24,052
Katie Williams
Staff Writer

Katie has a background in investment writing and is interested in everything to do with personal finance, politics, and investing. She enjoys translating complex topics into easy-to-understand stories to help people make the most of their money.

Katie believes investing shouldn’t be complicated, and that demystifying it can help normal people improve their lives.

Before joining the MoneyWeek team, Katie worked as an investment writer at Invesco, a global asset management firm. She joined the company as a graduate in 2019. While there, she wrote about the global economy, bond markets, alternative investments and UK equities.

Katie loves writing and studied English at the University of Cambridge. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the theatre, reading novels, travelling and trying new restaurants with friends.