A columnist for the Daily Mail shares her personal tips for cutting the cost of private school, as the 20 per cent VAT now charged on fees, combined with the wider cost-of-living squeeze, leaves many independent-school parents feeling the financial strain. She notes even the Royal Family faces steep bills, citing reported fees of over £63,000 for Prince George's first year at Eton, and frames her advice as ways to trim costs without withdrawing children from fee-paying schools.

Her suggestions include avoiding paid extras such as after-school clubs that can be replicated at home, opting out of costly add-on catering, and buying uniforms second-hand from school sales rather than new. She also recommends requesting that sibling discounts be applied to the eldest child rather than the youngest, replacing expensive school trips and holidays abroad with cheaper alternatives like camping or staying with relatives, and switching to budget supermarkets to save on everyday costs.