Cost of private education has risen by 40 per cent in the past five years
Saturday, 28 July 2007
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The cost of private schooling has rocketed by more than twice the rate of inflation - putting it out of reach of a whole range of professional people, according to a report out today. Figures released by Halifax Financial Services show fees have risen by 41 per cent in the past five years - compared with an 18 per cent rise in the retail price index.
As a result, it argues, it is now out of reach to professionals such as scientists, police officers, tax experts, engineers, journalists, clothes designers, teachers and lecturers, writers, trading standards officers and computer programmers.
Private schooling is now the preserve of senior company directors, doctors and consultants, airline pilots, senior police officers, lawyers and judges.
The Halifax takes as its rule of thumb a benchmark that a parent cannot afford the cost of private education if it amounts to more than 25 per cent of income.
Their report acknowledges that Britain's independent schools have at the same time increased the number of bursaries and scholarships available for those whose parents have difficulty in paying.
Nearly a third of all pupils at independent schools now receive support to the tune of more than £300m. In 2000, only 20 per cent did.
This coincides with a crackdown on independent schools' charitable status - with warnings delivered to schools that they will have to be seen to be benefiting a wider community if they are to retain it.
It also follows the Government's decision to abolish the assisted places scheme, which gave state aid towards the fees to families on lower incomes.
However, financial experts believe the upshot of all this is that, while private schools may have opened their doors wider to pupils from poor homes, middle-income families have been hardest hit by the rise in costs.
The figures show the average annual cost of sending a child to a boarding school is now £20,970, 36 per cent higher than five years ago and more than twice the cost of a day school. The average cost of a day school place ranges from £7,944 a year in the north of England to £10,908 in the south-east.
"Private schools have become unaffordable for police officers and teachers on average earnings over the past five years," says the report. "For teachers, the average school fees for day pupils represent 28 per cent of the average salary; while for nurses they represent 36 per cent of their salary."
Martin Ellis, chief economist at Halifax Financial Services, said: "Private school fees have risen by significantly more than average earnings over the past five years, making it increasingly difficult for many parents to send their children to private schools. The average earner in a number of occupations can no longer afford private education for their offspring."
However, private schools can point to the fact that they now educate more pupils than five years ago - 6.7 per cent of the total school population, compared with 6.2 per cent in 2001-02.
They also say that costs - such as teachers' salaries - have risen faster than the rate of inflation.
