Do private school tuition fees in London cover everything?

Do private school tuition fees in London cover everything?

If you want your child to attend a private school in London, you must pay tuition fees. These rates can vary widely depending on the type of school (boarding or day), location, reputation, grades, and amenities. But do these education expenses cover more than their tuition? The short answer is no, amid hidden costs you will want to discover before applying for a place at a private school in London.

Registration fees

The additional costs of sending your child to private school, particularly in London, can start adding up before they’ve even been offered a place. This typically includes paying a non-refundable registration fee to cover the administrative costs of the application and paying for your child to sit an entrance exam. Usually, these fees range from £100 to £300 per school per child application.

What’s not usually included in tuition fees

During the application process, it’s important to ask what additional costs you’ll need to pay on top of tuition. These extras can vary between schools, but they usually fall into a few broad categories:

• Everyday essentials – meals, uniforms, and school supplies such as books or technology.

• Learning and enrichment – exam fees, specialist lessons, and educational resources.

• Activities and experiences – school trips, sports clubs, musical instruments, and other extracurricular activities.

• Getting there and back – transport services such as school buses.

Individually these may not seem huge, but when added together they can quickly add up over the course of a week, term, or school year.

For example, on average, private school meals cost around £54 per week, transport £63 per week, and after-school care or activities £69 per week. That’s a total of roughly £745 per month (per child) – just for three extras on top of the tuition fees.

While tuition is the most obvious and highest expense, the true cost of private schooling can be considerably higher amid these additional hidden fees. Therefore, it’s essential to clarify what the main fees cover so you can budget effectively and avoid unexpected financial strain.

Other resources

• Private school cost in London: what you can expect to pay: read the article here
• The cheapest private schools in London: read the article here
• Siblings discounts at private schools: read the article here
• The impact of VAT on the cost of private schools in 2025: read the article here

Consult with Simply London

Our education experts provide personalised guidance and support during the school selection and application process. They can help you clarify what a private school’s tuition fee does and doesn’t include so you can make an informed financial decision.

Contact us today, or schedule a free call with us here to discuss how we can help you to find the ideal school for your child.

Article published 10th March 2025, updated in Auguus 2025