This tool uses UK context.
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Money · Private school cost
Private School Cost Reality Check
Can you actually afford private school for the full duration? Shows the real total fees over the years and what the same money would return if invested instead.
Instant result
Plain-English why
Copyable takeaway
What this means
No waffle. Just the number and how it was worked out.
Formula used
Total fees = annual fees × annual increase rate compounded over schooling years. Opportunity cost = same amount invested at expected return rate.
Worked example
£18,000/year for 2 children over 7 years at 5% annual increase: £428,000 total. At 7% investment return the opportunity cost is £516,000.
Common questions
What is the average private school fee in the UK?
As of 2024–25, average independent school fees are around £18,000–£25,000 per year for day pupils, rising to £40,000+ for boarding. VAT was added to fees from January 2025, adding approximately 20% for most families.
What is the opportunity cost calculation?
The opportunity cost shows what the same annual fee amount would grow to if invested in a diversified fund at the assumed return rate, compounded over the schooling period. It is not a recommendation — it is context.
Plain-English summary
The result summary for this calculator will live here.
This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.
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