Independent school fees to rise above inflation
The Times have revealed that Independent school fees are to rise again this year, above inflation rates, to the dismay of parents on a tight budget.
The body representing independent school governors, many of whom will set fees for September in the coming weeks, admitted that it would be hard to keep increases below inflation. School bursars blamed teachers’ salaries, which tend to be pegged to the 2.3 per cent pay award for state school teachers, plus surging utility bills.
A number of private schools contacted by the publication said they had already established their fees for the coming academic year, with many increasing them between three and 4.5 per cent. Dozens of schools contacted by The Times have not announced next year’s fees, despite guidance from the Independent Schools Council that they should give parents a term’s notice, however many governing bodies are due to decide school fee levels this month.
The Bank of England’s inflation target is 2 per cent, although last month the Consumer Prices Index was higher, at 3 per cent.
Sue Fieldman, of the Good Schools Guide, told to the Times: “Most parents do appreciate their school has to run, and run effectively and economically, but they are also somewhat peeved, and a lot do think that schools don’t bear enough account of their particular needs.”
The “arms race” between independent schools to build ever more ambitious facilities has halted; with many shelving capital projects as bank lending has become tougher.
The Independent Schools’ Bursars Association, representing bursars at 800 schools, said that key revenue costs were the teachers’ pay award, higher utility bills and next year’s rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions. Some schools may also have lost income through slightly lower admissions, it said.
Preparatory schools are widely cited as the sector most under pressure. The 500 schools in the Independent Association of Prep Schools reported a fall in
Independent school fees to rise again this year, above inflation rates Times Online 13 April 2010.
Independent school fees to rise above inflation
The Times have revealed that Independent school fees are to rise again this year, above inflation rates, to the dismay of parents on a tight budget.
The body representing independent school governors, many of whom will set fees for September in the coming weeks, admitted that it would be hard to keep increases below inflation. School bursars blamed teachers’ salaries, which tend to be pegged to the 2.3 per cent pay award for state school teachers, plus surging utility bills.
A number of private schools contacted by the publication said they had already established their fees for the coming academic year, with many increasing them between three and 4.5 per cent. Dozens of schools contacted by The Times have not announced next year’s fees, despite guidance from the Independent Schools Council that they should give parents a term’s notice, however many governing bodies are due to decide school fee levels this month.
The Bank of England’s inflation target is 2 per cent, although last month the Consumer Prices Index was higher, at 3 per cent.
Sue Fieldman, of the Good Schools Guide, told to the Times: “Most parents do appreciate their school has to run, and run effectively and economically, but they are also somewhat peeved, and a lot do think that schools don’t bear enough account of their particular needs.”
The “arms race” between independent schools to build ever more ambitious facilities has halted; with many shelving capital projects as bank lending has become tougher.
The Independent Schools’ Bursars Association, representing bursars at 800 schools, said that key revenue costs were the teachers’ pay award, higher utility bills and next year’s rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions. Some schools may also have lost income through slightly lower admissions, it said.
Preparatory schools are widely cited as the sector most under pressure. The 500 schools in the Independent Association of Prep Schools reported a fall in
Independent school fees to rise again this year, above inflation rates Times Online 13 April 2010.