SCOTTISH private schools have hiked fees for the new term by more than the rate of inflation, bringing the average cost to £12,500 a year.

A survey by The Herald reveals the cost to parents of sending their children to an independent school will rise by some 4% in 2013/14 – with the highest fees topping £22,400.

The increase will put pressure on parents coping with the prolonged impact of the recession – particularly those for whom private education is at the limits of affordability.

In June, the consumer price index, the Government's preferred measure of inflation, was running at 2.9% while the retail price index rose to 3.3%.

The most expensive independent school in Scotland is Gordonstoun, in Moray, where Prince Charles was educated, which now charges £22,410 a year for a senior school day pupil. The price of boarding at the school has risen to more than £34,000 a year.

The second-most expensive school is Fettes College in Edinburgh, whose former pupils include Tony Blair, which has increased its fees to £22,170 a year.

Fees for Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh are the third-highest in our survey, at £20,190 after a 3.3% increase.

In Glasgow, overall increases have been slightly below average, with fees ranging from the £10,830 charged by Kelvinside Academy in the city's West End to the £9300 charged by Fernhill in Rutherglen, which raised its fees by 3.6% after a two-year freeze.

The rise in fees comes at a time when the cost of a private education is under the spotlight because of the recession.

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.

More recently, the number of children attending private school in Scotland has fallen, with a drop of 1.5% in nursery and primary between 2010/11 and 2011/12.

A statement to parents on the website of Strathallan, in Perth, which is the sixth-most expensive school in Scotland, highlights other pressures on schools.

"Annual fee increases are kept to a minimum consistent with the school's cost base, the recognition we wish to attract and retain the highest quality staff and the need to provide a cash surplus to allow continued development of the school's facilities," it states.

"It remains the case the cost inflation of areas that significantly affect independent schools is well above the standard rate of inflation so often mentioned in the press.

"In particular, utilities,
construction and maintenance have been increasing well above the general rate of inflation and the effect of the minimum wage increases on support staff salaries."

John Edward, director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, said all schools worked hard to keep fees to a minimum – with help for any families having difficulty.

He also highlighted recent figures that show Scottish
private schools have spent millions of pounds on extra
bursaries for pupils from poorer backgrounds.

Two years ago, £32 million was spent by the independent sector on pupil grants compared with £24m the previous year – a rise of 33%. Three years ago just £17m was spent.

"All the income of the schools, which must cover every aspect of their work, comes solely from fee income," he said.

"Some three-quarters of the costs are staff wages and pension contributions and that is a vital part of the quality of a private school because of the value placed on high-quality teaching and small class sizes where pupils can flourish.

"It is important to remember these schools are charities and do not make profits."