Paying for it

There is no doubt that independent education is jaw-droppingly expensive and the cost continues to rise. One of the first mistakes parents can make when looking at the finances is to start doing the maths without taking into account annual price rises. It used to be that if you added a 5 per cent increase each year that would be more than sufficient. Those days are sadly long gone and it's no bad thing to ask a school for the fees from the last five years to give you a sense of the annual cost.

To be fair to schools, the cost increases are (usually) born from necessity. The major capital outlay for schools is staff – pupil ratios will be low and this is down to the number of staff, both teaching and support staff. In addition, even in prep schools, pupils will be taught by subject specialist teachers. Again, this pushes up the cost. There is then the myriad unsung heroes in a school which keep it running and yet often go unnoticed. The administration staff, from the Head's PA to the Admissions and HR team; the catering and facilities staff who ensure your child gets fed – and normally to an extremely good standard compared to the past – and keep the buildings clean, maintained and able to withstand the onslaught of careless pupils. And don't forget the grounds staff who ensure the upkeep of those wonderful playing fields, sports pitches and trees and flowers. Together, all these people, whose work often goes unnoticed by the pupils, are responsible for creating an environment which supports the best possible learning.