Parents forced to borrow as much as £22k to cover private school fees

The introduction of VAT on private school fees at the start of this year has resulted in more parents borrowing to pay for their children’s education

A group of children walking to school wearing straw boater hats
Private school fees have increased as from January VAT was added
(Image credit: Yellow Dog Productions via Getty Images)

Parents have been borrowing more to pay for independent school fees as they look to spread the cost of private school fees. Parents were borrowing even before the introduction of VAT this year, which has put more pressure on household finances.

The average for parents through School Fee Plan – a finance provider for school fees – rose 11% last year to £21,735. This is 19% higher than two years ago.

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Laura Miller

Laura Miller is an experienced financial and business journalist. Formerly on staff at the Daily Telegraph, her freelance work now appears in the money pages of all the national newspapers. She endeavours to make money issues easy to understand for everyone, and to do justice to the people who regularly trust her to tell their stories. She lives by the sea in Aberystwyth. You can find her tweeting @thatlaurawrites