back to insights & opinions
(3).jpg "Image")
Prime Purchase clients are often schools-driven, tying in a house purchase with moving their children to new schools. While the Prime Purchase team have a detailed knowledge of the schools on their respective patches, we often work with education consultants to help clients work through the options and find exactly the right school for their child. Below, Edward Borton, co-founder of family and education consultancy ESB Consulting, looks at how the VAT changes are altering the landscape of British education
When VAT was introduced on independent school fees, compounded by the loss of business rates relief and rising teacher pensions costs, it raised immediate questions about the long-term impact on demand.
The Government predicted minimal fallout, while the independent school sector warned of a mass exodus. The reality on the ground currently lies somewhere between these two extremes, but the contrast between demand for London independent schooling and the rest of the UK is stark.
Has it become easier to secure a place? The short answer is: it depends entirely on where you live.
London versus beyond the M25
In London, competition for premium day schools has not abated, in fact, it has intensified. Families in the capital have absorbed the fee increases, and “top-tier” schools remain heavily oversubscribed.
Rather than pulling back, parents are investing more time, effort, and strategic foresight than ever to secure places at leading London day schools, leveraging everything from private tuition and online learning platforms to employing governesses and sending children to weekend study classes.
Beyond the M25, the picture diverges sharply. Outside the marquee national senior boarding schools, which continue to benefit from robust demand, the regional landscape ranges from cautious stability to severe financial strain.
Here, schools are having to work significantly harder to attract and retain families – introducing initiatives such as enhanced school bus networks and opening pre-school settings for two- and three-year-olds to secure early pipelines.
In areas retaining selective state education – Kent being a prime example – competition for grammar school places is fiercer than ever as families seek high-performing, non-fee-paying alternatives.
Co-education and child-centric planning
Financial and societal pressures are accelerating structural shifts that were already quietly underway across the sector. Most notable is the rapid transition away from traditional single-sex boys’ education.
Historic institutions such as Westminster School, King’s College School, Wimbledon, and Bedford School, are moving toward full co-education, fundamentally reshaping long-established entry pathways for families.
This shift is driven not by financial necessity. King’s Wimbledon, for instance, maintains an annual turnover in excess of £50 million, but rather as a response to “21st century” social dynamics and modern family expectations.
At the same time, parental decision-making has evolved. Families are planning far earlier – it is not unusual for us at ESB Consulting to advise expectant mothers – and evaluating school pathways on a strictly child-by-child basis to account for differing academic profiles, personality types, and long-term aspirations.
Navigating school admissions
As a former assistant headmaster at King’s College School, Wimbledon, and an adviser recognised in the Spear’s 500, I work alongside families to navigate these moving parts with complete objectivity.
In today’s climate, the primary challenge for parents is rarely a lack of options; it is identifying and executing the path that genuinely serves their child without falling back on parental hearsay or outdate viewpoints.
Through our advisory consultations, comprehensive school searches, and long-term placement management, ESB Consulting guides families across London and rest of the UK.
Crucially, we accept no commissions or referral fees from schools, ensuring our advice remains entirely conflict-free and aligned with the family’s best interests.
Strategic takeaways for families
Competition for “top-tier” London independent school places remains exceptionally intense across all key entry points, whether at 4+ (Reception), 7+ (Year 3), or 11+ and 13+ (Senior School).
While securing an independent school place outside London is significantly easier, thorough financial due diligence on target schools is now critical, even when considering well-established or respected institutions.
School options and home locations are tightly intertwined. Whether managing state catchment boundaries, evaluating nearby independent options, or simply protecting family lifestyle and commute times, property and schooling must be planned in tandem.