Private schools could face higher Ofsted fees as DfE proposes five-year increase

The Department for Education on Friday launched an eight-week consultation proposing to raise annual Ofsted inspection fees for private schools in England over the next five years. The government said the move would cover more of the cost of inspections through school fees rather than taxpayer funding. Last year, Ofsted inspections of private schools cost £6.5 million, with about £2.2 million funded by the schools themselves. Education Secretary Bridget 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."

Ofsted inspects about 1,150 independent schools in England — just under half of the private-school sector. The majority of those are special schools; the remaining private schools are inspected by a separate body, the Independent Schools Inspectorate. Fee levels vary with school size. For example, a school with between 150 and 399 pupils currently pays £2,500 per year; under the plans, that would rise to £3,300 in 2030-31.

A VAT policy introduced in January to help fund more state-school teachers has been paired with the private-school fee plan. The Independent Schools Council said average private school fees were about 22% higher in January 2025 than in January 2024. The policy prompted a legal challenge by families; three High Court judges dismissed the case in June.

Eight-week consultation documents say the extra revenue would be a "funding boost for Ofsted to improve state schools" and would fund inspectors and oversight. The proposals would raise fees gradually over five years, with the 2030-31 figure serving as a cap, according to the consultation.

Within the non-association private schools inspected by Ofsted, the Department for Education data show that 63% of those schools last year were special schools. Faith schools accounted for just under 20%. The remaining non-association schools tended to be smaller. The rest of the independent sector is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate.

The policy sits within a broader policy context about funding for state schools and the role of private education in England. Ofsted-inspected private schools — those that are non-association — make up a substantial portion of the sector; officials say higher inspection funding could help raise standards across both state and private sectors by ensuring inspections are thorough and timely.