Combination of school fee methods

For most people the best way of providing for school fees is a combination of options. If you start your savings early, at birth for example, you will build a capital sum. School fees are expensive and many parents cannot afford to save enough to fully fund them. That does not mean you should do nothing. Save what you can. You will get used to paying a regular amount, and when your child reaches school age, you can redirect the amount you are saving to pay the fees. If this is insufficient to pay the fees in full, pay the balance from the capital you have saved.

Of course, there are also scholarships and bursaries which are available for some children. Scholarships are awarded by competitive examination and are often awarded for particular merit in one field. Examples include academic, artistic, musical and sports scholarships. The ISIS site provides details on scholarships offered by each school.

A bursary is awarded on need rather than merit. The rules regarding bursaries vary from school to school, and you should approach your chosen school for more details. Bursaries are sometimes offered by professional associations, employers and even local authorities.