Boarding school fees soar

Average school fees for boarding pupils have increased by 86%, nearly three times the rate of retail price inflation over the past ten years (31%), according to new research from Halifax Financial Services. In 2007, boarding school fees rose by 5%, more than the increase in retail prices (4%).

West Midlands has recorded the biggest rise in average fees
Regionally, average fees for boarders have increased most in percentage terms in West Midlands over the past decade. The average annual fee in the region has risen by 96% from £11,490 to £22,542. The smallest increase has been in East Midlands; 70% from £11,565 to £19,707.

Average annual fees for boarders are highest in London
The average annual fee for a boarding pupil is highest in Greater London, at £23,250. This is 25% higher than in Wales where the average fee is the lowest at £18,540. London and Wales also had the highest and lowest average fees respectively in 1997. The second highest fee in 2007 was in the West Midlands (£22,542) followed by the South East (£21,234).

A boarding school education has become less affordable over the past decade
Average annual fees for boarding pupils equated to 73% of average annual gross earnings in 2007. This was significantly higher than 55% a decade ago. In 2007, average private school fees for boarding pupils accounted for 25% or less of average annual gross earnings in the case of only one occupation: Directors and chief executives of major organisations. In 1997, boarder fees equated to 25% or less of average gross earnings for seven occupations, including doctors and pilots. Similarly, fees for boarding pupils have become less affordable for key public sector workers. For example, average school fees for boarding pupils represented 71% of the average salary of a fire-fighter in 2007 compared to 54% in 1997.

Increased support from schools to ease affordability difficulties
Schools have sought to ease increasing affordability difficulties by boosting the number of bursaries available. Nearly a third (31%) of pupils at ISC independent schools receives support from the schools worth over £300 million. The proportion receiving bursaries has increased significantly since 2000 when 20% of pupils received support from the school.

Number of boarding pupils at ISC member schools declining
The number of pupils3 attending ISC member schools who are boarders has declined by 14% (10,541) since 1997 to 67,335.

Boarder fees are more than double those for day pupils
The average annual cost of boarding (£20,970) is more than double the average for day pupils (£9,627).

Broadly constant ratio between boarder and day fees
In 2007, school fees for boarding were, on average, 2.2 times the school fee for a day pupil. In 1997, school fees for boarding were, on average, 2.3 times the fee for a day pupil. The differential in cost between enrolling a child as a boarder or as a day pupil has changed little over the last ten years in proportional terms.

Total number of private school pupils has risen since 1997
The overall number of pupils attending an ISC member school has risen by 7% (35,277) since 1997 to 669,300 in 2007. A 12% (45,818) increase in the number of day pupils has more than offset the decline in the number of boarders.

Martin Ellis, economist at Halifax Financial Services, commented: "Boarding school fees have risen by significantly more than average earnings over the past five years. Parents need to plan their finances as early as possible if they want to send their children to boarding school."