Independent school fees in Hertfordshire 2026/27
Independent school fees in Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire school fees at a glance
- Average headline fee: £29,033 a year (median £29,328)
- Range: £18,000 (Susi Earnshaw Theatre School) to £43,035 (Haileybury College)
- Based on: the 11 Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire schools we cover (12)
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 ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldenham School | £32,061 a year Years 9-13 day |
Including VAT | Elstree |
| Haberdashers’ Girls’ School | £31,293 a year Years 7-11 day |
Including VAT | Borehamwood |
| Haileybury College | £43,035 a year Senior day |
Including VAT | Hertford |
| Heath Mount School | £29,085 a year Years 7-8 day |
Including VAT | Hertford |
| Merchant Taylors’ School | £32,181 a year Termly tuition |
Including VAT | Northwood |
| Mount House School | £26,247 a year day |
Including VAT | Barnet |
| St Albans High School for Girls | £29,328 a year Senior School Years 7-13 day |
Including VAT | |
| St Christopher School | £29,385 a year Years 7-13 day |
Including VAT | Letchworth Garden City |
| St John’s Senior School | £21,060 a year Senior School day fee (Years 7-13) |
Including VAT | Potters Bar |
| St Margaret’s School | £27,687 a year Senior School Year 7-Year 13 |
As published by the school, checked 24 Oct 2026 | Bushey |
| Susi Earnshaw Theatre School | £18,000 a year £15,000 per annum plus 20% VAT |
inc. VAT (school quotes £15,000 + VAT) | Barnet |
| The Royal Masonic School for Girls | See school page | Not yet checked | Rickmansworth |
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 Hertfordshire?
Across the 11 Hertfordshire schools we have checked, headline fees for 2026/27 average £29,033 a year, ranging from £18,000 to £43,035. Boarding usually costs considerably more.
Do Hertfordshire 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.
Hertfordshire 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.