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Private schools 'trying to stay competitive in recession'

Posted on 22nd June 2009

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Private schools are looking to stay as competitive as possible during the current economic downturn, it has been claimed.

A recent article for the Financial Times (FT) discussed the issue of fees and said so far it seem as though very few parents have taken their children out of such institutions, because they would rather "cut every other item of family expenditure before disrupting their offspring's education".

The newspaper found that the smallest rise was being implemented by University College School Hampstead, which is increasing its fees by 2.3 per cent.

Headmaster Kenneth Durham said it was because the school feels a duty to keep such price growth as low as possible.

Whereas Eton is increasing fees by 2.7 per cent, Concord College is upping them by six per cent.

However, principal of the latter Neil Hawkins explained the figure was "very competitive" especially considering the school remains open during Easter and half-terms for no extra cost.

According to Eton, about a fifth of its pupils receive financial support.