Growth slows in school fees

THE rise in school fees next term is the lowest for a decade. Most parents face an increase of less than 10 per cent, and some fee- paying schools will charge only 7 or 8 per cent more than last year.

The rate of inflation is 3.9 per cent, but school fees have been rising at 12 per cent or more for the past two years, and the fall- out rate of private school pupils has been increasing.

However, the schools have now tightened their financial belts. Claire Tyrell, author of The Parents' Guide to Independent Schools, said: 'From the information we have so far, the average rise is 8 per cent.

'On the whole, the increases are down to single figures, but schools in London have increased their fees more than elesewhere.'

The fees for boarders at St Pauls in London have gone up from pounds 3,400 to pounds 3,800 a term for the next academic year - a rise of 11.8 per cent. The parents of pupils at Eton and Harrow will pay increased fees of 7.5 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively. The fees at Eton are now pounds 3,870 a term.

Dick Davison, of the Independent Schools Information Service, said: 'Given that the Government is even more determined to improve the perception of the state sector, and the long and deep recession, the private schools have to give even more value for money.'

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