Please visit our new site for the most up-to-date information www.schoolfeesadvice.org

SFIA - Who we help

More parents than ever are choosing the private route for their children's education. An estimated 40 per cent of them were educated in the state sector, where a decade ago this figure was closer to 7 per cent. Families pay a high price for this privilege, school fees have risen significantly higher than inflation over the years. However, approximately one third of all pupils do receive some kind of financial assistance, e.g. a scholarship or a bursary. Many schools have been awarded charitable status and to maintain this have to demonstrate that they subsidise a significant amount of student fees.

That being said, Independent education is out of the reach of many families. It is predicted, on average, that a child born today could cost in the region of £250,000 to be fully educated in the independent sector, boarding fees could add another £150,000.

Having a bright child increases your chances of a scholarship, but it is likely there are still fees and other expenses to find.

Some parents, who cannot afford to educate their children completely privately, choose to target a specific age range. This may be to get their children off to a good start, i.e. the pre-preparatory and preparatory stage, or for a few years leading up to examination in a senior school. Sixth form college is another possibility and of course all universities now charge fees.

We can help parents who choose any of these options. We do not subsidise fees, but we find ways of organising their finances to make school fees affordable and incorporate them with other financial targets they may have. Parents are prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of their children's education, but if we don't think they can afford independent education, we will openly tell them.

You may find you are in a similar situation to one of the case studies.