Private school fees were already a major commitment.

Since VAT was added, they have become an even bigger one.

From 1 January 2025, VAT began applying to private school education and boarding services, and families have been adjusting ever since. Some schools reduced their underlying fees to soften the impact, but that only goes so far. The cost to parents is still up. (Independent Schools Council)

ISC’s 2025 census found that the average termly day fee in January 2025 was £7,382 including VAT. It also said the majority of day schools were charging between £4,000 and £7,000 a term excluding VAT. (Independent Schools Council)

That means many families are now looking at annual costs well above £20,000 per child, with some paying much more depending on region and school.

This is one reason the conversation around affordability has changed.

For some families, the question is no longer “Can we afford private school at all?” It is “Can we afford it for long enough?” Or “Can we afford it for more than one child?” Or “Can we still afford it if anything changes in work, housing or family life?”

That is a different kind of pressure.

It is also why more families are looking at mixed or hybrid routes. State primary and private secondary. Private school for a shorter stretch. Tutoring instead of fees. Grammar if that is an option. Not because they do not value private education, but because the financial commitment now needs more careful timing.

Bursaries and scholarships still matter, of course. ISC says more than a third of pupils at member schools receive some type of fee assistance, with over £1.5 billion provided in total. But support is not the same as full coverage. In many cases, families still need to find a substantial amount themselves. (Independent Schools Council)

That is why the planning side matters as much as the headline fee.

If you are looking at private school, it helps to think beyond the first year. What happens if fees rise again? What happens if you have two children in education at once? What happens when other costs, like transport, clubs or university, overlap later on?

Because the families who feel calmest are often the ones who have looked at the whole picture early.

Sencillo’s whitepaper, The True Cost of Education 2026, looks at the full 0 to 21 journey and helps families understand where the biggest education costs tend to hit.