PARENTS whose children go to Scottish private schools have been hit by inflation-busting fee increases this year.

A survey by The Herald shows fees increased by an average of more than three per cent in 2016/17 - with the highest topping £26,000.

Over the past six years fees have risen by more than 23 per cent, with the average annual cost to families climbing from £11,410 in 2010/11 to its current figure of £14,127.

This month the consumer price index, the Government's preferred measure of inflation, was running at 0.6 per cent while the retail price index was 1.8 per cent.

The most expensive independent school in Scotland is Gordonstoun, in Moray, where Prince Charles was educated, which is charging £26,607 a year for a senior school day pupil. Boarding fees at the school are more than £30,000 per pupil.

The second most expensive school is Fettes College, in Edinburgh, whose former pupils include Tony Blair, which increased its fees by nearly five per cent and now charges £25,545.

Fees for Merchiston Castle School, in Edinburgh, are the third-highest in our survey, at £22,710 after a 3.5 per cent rise.

In Glasgow, fees were highest in the all-girls school Craigholme, which now charges £12,135 a year, followed by the High School of Glasgow, which costs £11,919.

The fee rises come at a time when the cost of a private education is increasingly under the spotlight following the economic downturn and a drop in pupil numbers.

In December last year, figures revealed that pupil numbers at Scottish private schools have reached their lowest level for a decade with a six per cent decline from a high of 32,065 in 2007 to a low of 30,238 in 2015.

The biggest decline has been in primary where numbers have fallen 10 per cent since 2007 while secondary schools have seen a drop of some two per cent.

Overall, 4.3 per cent of children in Scotland attend one of 72 independent schools in membership of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (Scis).

And a report by the Bank of Scotland – published before the impact of the credit crunch – warned that members of key Scottish professions were already being priced out of sending their children to fee-paying schools, with teachers, engineers and police officers no longer able to afford a private education.

John Edward, director of Scis, said all schools worked hard to keep fee increases to a minimum, but stressed that schools were coping with a number of extra costs.

He said: "This year’s modest rise comes despite considerable pressures on schools and wider uncertainty in the country.

"The impact of employer pension rises, alterations to national insurance, and the incremental growth of teachers’ pay all have an impact on school budgets which – after all – are derived from parental fee income.

"Added to that the wider uncertainty that the Brexit vote on 23 June brings for all aspects of society and business, the figures represent modest and responsible management by the independent sector.”

Mr Edward also highlighted the fact that Scottish private schools have spent millions of pounds on extra bursaries for pupils from poorer backgrounds in recent years.

In 2015/16 Scotland’s independent schools have provided a record number of children with financial help with levels of support rising to £47m, up £2m on the previous year’s total and almost double the 2009 figure.

School 2015/16 2016/17 % change

Gordonstoun, Elgin £26,022 £26,607 2.2

Fettes, Edinburgh £24,375 £25,545 4.8

Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh £21,945 £22,710 3.5

Glenalmond, Perth £21,315 £21,954 3

Loretto, Edinburgh £20,850 £21,750 4.3

Strathallan, Perth £20,499 £21,114 3

Kilgraston, Perthshire £16,305 £16,470 1

Edinburgh Academy £12,870 £13,248 2.9

St Leonards, Fife £12,693 £13,137 3.5

St George’s School, Edinburgh £12,645 £12,960 2.5

Beaconhurst, Stirling £12,195 £12,690 4

Albyn, Aberdeen £12,180 £12,730 4.5

Robert Gordon’s, Aberdeen £12,075 £12,305 1.9

Morrison’s Academy, Crieff £11,940 £12,300 3

St Margaret’s, Aberdeen £11,762 £12,174 3.5

Kelvinside, Glasgow £11,700 £11,880 1.5

Dollar Academy £11,637 £12,105 4

Dundee High £11,598 £12,063 4

Wellington, Ayr £11,592 £12,060 4

Glasgow Academy £11,584 £11,787 1.7

Craigholme, Glasgow £11,580 £12,135 4.8

Glasgow High £11,493 £11,919 3.7

George Heriot’s, Edinburgh £11,106 £11,604 4.5

Hutchesons’, Glasgow £11,082 £11,304 2

George Watson’s, Edinburgh £10,983 £11,577 5.4

St Aloysius’, Glasgow £10,908 £11,214 2.8

St Columba’s, Inverclyde £10,860 £11,185 3

Lomond, Helensburgh £10,725 £11,100 3.5

Mary Erskine, Edinburgh £10,548 £10,917 3.5

Stewart’s Melville, Edinburgh £10,548 £10,917 3.5

Fernhill, Glasgow £10,350 £10,770 4

Hamilton College £9,585 £9,855 2.8