No matter the reason, sending your child to a private school is a big decision. Some parents choose private schools as an option when public schools aren’t working for their child, while others plan in advance for private schools beginning with nursery and preschool. Even though private school fees can be expensive, covering the cost does not have to be a source of stress for your family. Discover below three sources of financial assistance for private school, so you can ensure your child receives the education you want for them.
Private school fees to consider
There are a few costs to private schools that you should know about beyond just tuition. Take a look below at some of the costs you can expect, so you know what to prepare for.
Tuition
By far the largest expense related to private schools, the national average cost of private school tuition is for 15,200 the 2024 school year, according to The IFS. Around 6-7% of pupils in the UK attend a private school.
Room and board
If you send your child to a private school that is far enough away from your home, room and board may be an extra expense beyond tuition. This cost will vary based on the school. For example, the average cost for sixth form boarding according to the ISC is more than £13,600 per year, seniors more than £12,000 and juniors £9,320.
Miscellaneous items
These are items such as meals, school-related trips, music or dance lessons, a school uniform, textbooks, and supplies for specialised courses. For example school uniform at a private high school can cost anywhere from £30 to £300. Check with each school for a complete list of miscellaneous expenses you can expect.
Tuition insurance
If you are making tuition payments, most private schools will require that you purchase tuition insurance. This protects the school in case you can no longer make tuition payments, and also protects you in case your child must withdraw from school for any reason.
How to pay for private school: 3 resources
While private school is expensive, paying for a private education for parents on a wide range of incomes. Discover five private school funding sources, below.
1. Private school scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships can be a brilliant way to help to pay for the bulk of school fees – but bear in mind that competition can be tough. Each different scholarship will have a different deadline too so bear that in mind.
A scholarship is often offered based on academic performance, whereas a bursary offered to those in financial need.
- The Springboard Foundation works with state schools to provide fully funded school places for young people from deprived backgrounds who need them the most.
- Schools offer their own scholarship and bursary programmes, which can be found on the British Council website.
2. Financial aid for private school
The ISC found that 33.8% of all private school pupils get help with their fees through bursaries and scholarships, which take some of the financial burden and fee paying from parents. A lot of this fee assistance comes from the school itself, according to the ISC. They also say there’s been a general upward trend in schools giving help to families for fee paying.
3. Fundraising for private school
Crowdfunding is a fun and easy way to raise money for tuition, and you can even include your kid or teen in fundraising efforts. Plus, your child will learn valuable skills they can use later on through the experience of starting a fundraiser—for example, fundraising to help pay for university.
Examples of successful private school fundraisers
Take a look at how families are using the power of crowdfunding for help paying for private school tuition.
Help Timothy’s school tuition
Brittany, a single mother to two children, wanted to ensure her children would receive a proper education. The location of her home and job along with some learning challenges her children face forced Brittany to put her kids in private school. However, the cost of a private school on top of regular expenses was getting overwhelming. She started a fundraiser and it reached its fundraising goal, raising $4,000 to allow her children to continue to attend their private school.
Private school funding for Jackson
Wyndi started a fundraiser for her son Jackson, a 10-year-old with Down Syndrome. She knew her son needed a more personalised learning environment beyond what the public school system could offer. She raised nearly $8,000 to help pay for a private school that is tailored to Jackson’s needs.
Ashlyn’s school tuition
As a single mother, Velvet wanted to provide the best possible education for her daughter Ashlyn—but was worried about the cost of private high school. Ashlyn helped research different options and was accepted into a local private high school that was willing to work with the family on tuition payments. With extra help from her fundraiser, Velvet raised over $2,000 to cover the remaining tuition balance.
Find financial assistance for private school costs today
Sending your child to a private school doesn’t have to mean that your family goes into debt. There are many resources available to help pay for tuition, and online fundraising is a quick way to raise the money you need. With GoFundMe, our Customer Care team is here to support you every step of the way. Start your fundraiser for private school tuition today.
