Independent school fees in Essex 2026/27
Independent school fees in Essex are a major commitment for any family. Since 1 January 2025, VAT at 20% has been charged on independent school fees, which has pushed costs up further. School fees tax planning is a legitimate, non-aggressive way for parents to fund those fees more efficiently, and many families now use it to offset the VAT rise.
School fees across Essex
Essex school fees at a glance
- Average headline fee: £24,634 a year (median £25,264)
- Range: £17,370 (Loyola Preparatory School) to £31,200 (Bancroft’s School)
- Based on: the 6 Essex schools on this site whose fees we have checked against the school’s own published 2026/27 fees (24 Oct 2026). The headline is the main fee shown on each school page.
All Essex schools we cover (14)
Schools with checked 2026/27 fees are listed first. Click a school for its full fee breakdown, the source we used and how much you could save.
| School ↕ | Headline annual fee ↕ | VAT ↕ | Area ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bancroft’s School | £31,200 a year Senior School day |
Including VAT | Woodford Green |
| Brentwood School | £30,204 a year Year 7 – Upper Sixth day |
Including VAT | Brentwood |
| Chigwell School | £30,672 a year Year 7-13 day |
Including VAT | Chigwell |
| Holmwood House School | £20,325 a year Years 10 & 11 day |
Including VAT | Colchester |
| Loyola Preparatory School | £17,370 a year Years 1-6 day |
Including VAT | BUCKHURST HILL |
| St Aubyn’s School | £18,036 a year Year 6 day |
Including VAT | Woodford Green |
| Beehive Preparatory School | See school page | Not yet checked | Ilford |
| Eastcourt Independent School | See school page | Not yet checked | Ilford |
| Immanuel School | See school page | Not yet checked | Romford |
| Oakfield Preparatory School | See school page | Not yet checked | Upminster |
| Oaklands School | See school page | Not yet checked | Loughton |
| The Daiglen School | See school page | Not yet checked | |
| Ursuline Preparatory School | See school page | Not yet checked | Brentwood |
| Woodford Green Preparatory School | See school page | Not yet checked | Woodford Green |
Fees change every year. Always confirm the latest figures with the school before you make any decisions.
Frequently asked questions
How much are private school fees in Essex?
Across the 6 Essex schools we have checked, headline fees for 2026/27 average £24,634 a year, ranging from £17,370 to £31,200. Boarding usually costs considerably more.
Do Essex school fees include VAT?
Since 1 January 2025 most independent schools charge 20% VAT on fees. Where a school states that its fees include VAT, we say so. Where it doesn’t, we show the figure exactly as the school publishes it.
What is school fees tax planning?
It’s a way of structuring how school fees are paid so that families can fund them more tax-efficiently. It is non-aggressive and fully compliant, and it can significantly reduce the real cost of fees.
Can I still save now that VAT applies?
Yes. Planning can help offset some or all of the VAT increase. Book a free conversation and we’ll show you what you could save.
Essex school fees are a significant investment, and with more than one child the commitment is even greater. By working with us, we can review your situation and show you how to fund school fees more tax-efficiently.
What could you save?
Why us?
- We have a team of specialist accountants & tax planners – with experience managing the financial situations of high net worth clients.
- We don’t just focus on school fees tax planning – as experienced accountants and tax consultants, we are able to look at the bigger picture of your life, business affairs and family and to find a number of ways to minimise your tax across the board.
- We don’t offer an investment solution – most of the school fees payment solutions on the market are simply investments that enable parents to save for fees. They do not help to make you more tax efficient.
- We offer a unique service – no other company does what we do.
- Our school fees tax planning is non-aggressive – there are a number of ways of minimising tax on a spectrum of aggressiveness, from maximising the tax allowances that everyone gets, to more aggressive means of “tax avoidance”. Our school fees tax planning ideas are non-aggressive and therefore unlikely to be challenged.