Private schools could face higher Ofsted fees

Four secondary school students sit at a row of desks. They are all smiling towards something that is out of vision. All four students wear the same uniform - a white long-sleeved shirt with a navy, blue and white striped tie. The boy on the far-left, who is out of focus, has light brown curly hair and has a laptop open in front of him. To the right of him is a girl with long blonde hair tied back in a pony tail, who holds a pink pen, and has a laptop and pencil case in front of her. To her right is a boy, who is in focus, who has black curly hair and wears braces. To his right is a girl, again out of focus who has long straight brown hair swept over one shoulder.Getty Images
Hazel Shearing
Education correspondent

Private schools in England could pay more for Ofsted inspections under plans set out by the Department for Education (DfE).

The DfE said the regulator's inspections of private schools cost £6.5m last year - £2.2m of which was covered by fees charged to the schools.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said "the taxpayer shouldn't be subsidising private businesses in this way".

The UK government has been accused of discrimination since it introduced VAT on private school fees at the start of this year.

Ofsted inspects about 1,150 independent schools in England - just under half of the total. Most of them are special schools.

The rest are inspected by a separate body, the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

Private schools that are inspected by Ofsted pay an annual fee, which varies depending on their size.

In an eight-week consultation, the DfE has set out proposals to increase that annual cost over the next five years.

For example, a school with between 150 and 399 pupils currently pays £2,500 per year. Under the plans, that would reach £3,300 in 2030-31.

The DfE said the money would represent a "funding boost for Ofsted to improve state schools".

Ms Phillipson said: "The taxpayer shouldn't be subsidising private businesses in this way. Instead, we're putting money into driving up standards for children in state schools."

She added: "With more money in state school budgets and a better-equipped Ofsted, we're supporting every child to achieve and thrive."

Private schools inspected by Ofsted are known as "non-association" private schools.

According to DfE data, 63% of non-association independent schools last year were special schools. They tend to be smaller schools that offer support with pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (Send).

Faith schools made up just under 20% of non-association schools.

The UK government introduced VAT on school fees in January to pay for more state school teachers in England.

The Independent Schools Council (ISC) said average fees were 22% higher in January than they had been in January 2024.

Along with a number of families, it took the government to the High Court over claims the policy is discriminatory and breaches human rights laws.

But three High Court judges dismissed the legal challenge in June.

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