Fees for private schools in Perthshire, Dundee and Fife will rise by as much as 7% for the next academic year.
Parents will fork out for inflation-busting hikes – of almost £3,000 a year for some – from next term at all eight independent schools we analysed in Courier country.
Fees for 2024/25 are up by between 5% and 7% – well over the current inflation rate of 2%.
And that’s before parents face the addition of VAT to their bills. The new Labour government will scrap exemption for private schools possibly as early as January 2025.
Strathallan School and Kilgraston School, both in Perthshire, made the biggest percentage increases of 7%.
A year of education at Strathallan for senior boarding pupils will cost £44,760 – £2,931 more than for 2023/24.
Kilgraston College increased fees after holding them in 2023.
Fairview International School, in Bridge of Allan, was the only school in our area without a fee rise.
How much are local private school fees for 2024/25?
For each school the fees stated are per annum for the most senior pupils.
It is unclear whether these will be affected by removal of VAT exemption if this occurs during the academic year.
Ardvreck School
The main preparatory school in Crieff is for children aged 7 to 13 but there is also Little Ardvreck for ages 5 to 7 and a nursery.
- 2023/24 fees: £21,060 (day pupils) and £31,620 (boarders)
- 2024/25 fees: £22,110 (day pupils) and £33,210 (boarders)
Up 5%
Craigclowan School
The Perth preparatory school caters for children aged 5 to 13 but also has a nursery. It is merging with Glenalmond College, although the schools will continue to operate independently.
- 2023/24 fees: £17,190
- 2024/25 fees: £18,225
Up 6%
Fairview International School
The Bridge of Allan co-educational day school near Stirling takes children from ages 5 to 18.
- 2023/24 fees: £16,500
- 2024/25 fees: £16,500
Glenalmond College
The Perthshire co-educational school, by Glenalmond, has a secondary stream for 12 to 16-year-olds and sixth form for 16 to 18-year-olds. It is merging with Craigclowan School, although the schools will continue to operate independently.
- 2023/24 fees: £27,300 (day pupils) and £44,805 (boarders)
- 2024/25 fees: £29,100 (day pupils) and £47,700 (boarders)
Up 6.5%
High School of Dundee
For day pupils only, the Dundee school has a nursery, junior school and senior school for children aged 3 to 18.
- 2023/24 fees: £16,050
- 2024/25 fees: £16,836
Up 5%
Kilgraston School
The Bridge of Earn school is for girls only at senior and sixth form level, but welcomes boys as day pupils in its junior school.
- 2023/24 fees: £22,785 (day pupils) and £38,910 (boarders)
- 2024/25 fees: £24,381 (day pupils) and £41,634 (boarders)
Up 7%
Morrison’s Academy
For day pupils only, the Crieff school has a nursery, primary and secondary school.
- 2023/24 fees: £17,574
- 2024/25 fees: £18,600
Up 6%
St Leonards School
In St Andrews, St Leonards has a junior school and senior school for ages 5 to 18.
- 2023/24 fees: £18,765 (day pupils) and £44,232 (boarders)
- 2024/25 fees: £19,704 (day pupils) £46,446 (boarders)
Up 5%
Strathallan School
As well as its senior school up to sixth form, the campus at Forgandenny has a preparatory school for ages 5 to 13.
- 2023/24 fees: £27,360 (day pupils) and £41,829 (boarders)
- 2024/25 fees: £29,280 (day pupils) and £44,760 (boarders)
Up 7%
Fee increases
Kilgraston School declined to comment on the reasons for its fee increase.
Last year it was the only one of the eight schools not to put fees up.
It was taken over by Achieve Education shortly after announcing in June 2023 that it would close due to a £2 million funding gap.
Strathallan School did not respond to a request for comment.
Tuition fees at Fairview International School remain at last year’s level and will do so for the next three years.
This freeze, it said, recognises challenges for families including addition of VAT.
Chairman Daniel Chian said: “In these times of political and financial uncertainty, we know that parents are doing all they can to continue supporting their children’s education and development, and we hope this initiative will provide some assistance and stability during this time.”
Conversation