Best state schools are closing the gap on their private rivals

A private school sets to reduce its fees in a bid to make independent schooling more affordable for the middle class.

Rising fears that they are being ‘priced out’ of sending their children to independent schools has led Millfield School to reduce its fees, reports the Sunday Times.

The boarding school, which currently charges parents £38,000 for the privilege of sending their children to the elite institution, intends to reduce the price by ten per cent.

Rising fears that they are being ‘priced out’ of sending their children to independent schools has led Millfield School (pictured) to reduce its fees

Headmaster Gavin Horgan has urged schools that it is the ‘right thing to do’, following claims that independent schools are only affordable to the wealthiest families.

Mr Horgan said that he intends to cut fees because he believes that they have increased too rapidly for people to afford.

He gave the example that families must have at least two doctors in the family in order to be able afford it, whereas previously they would have only needed one.

The school intends to make itself more affordable to the masses, without taking into account their background.

Part of this initiative will involve trebling the free places for children from less affluent families.

The school spends £7.5 million on bursary’s for its pupils and 15 out of 1,240 students pay either a little towards their fees or nothing at all.

However due to the fact that some schools are maxed out on budget already they would find it near impossible to cut fees for their students. 

The decision to cut fees comes after public schools were told to do more to educate children who are unable to pay.

Over the last decade private school fees have increased by more than 50 per cent, according to figures by Independent Schools Council.

Headmaster of King’s College school in Wimbledon, Andrew Halls, has also previously called for school fees to be cut.

He said that the school, which costs £21,600 a year to attend, blames an ‘endless queue’ of rich families from outside the country who want to send their children to top British schools.

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