Private school parents foot the bill for kids’ exams that were axed

Private school parents face bills of hundreds of pounds for their children’s GCSEs and A-levels – even though the exams were axed

  • Exam boards in England are still charging schools the full fees
  • This is  despite the fact teachers will assess pupils’ work and that the services of 60,000 examiners will not be needed
  • While state schools absorb cost of exams, private schools pass on fees to parents

Private school parents are facing bills of hundreds of pounds for their children’s GCSEs and A-levels – even though the exams for this summer have been scrapped.

Exam boards in England are still charging schools the full fees despite the fact that teachers will assess pupils’ work and that the services of 60,000 examiners will not be needed.

While state schools absorb the cost of exams, private schools pass on the fees to parents. 

Private school parents are facing bills of hundreds of pounds for their children’s GCSEs and A-levels – even though the exams for this summer have been scrapped. (File photo)

One mother whose daughter attends an independent school in North London said she was facing a £400 bill, even though the teenager will not be sitting her GCSE exams in June.

Meanwhile state schools are demanding significant rebates.

Boards have said they will return a portion of the money, but last year only a quarter was handed back.

The exam boards said the fees also paid for training and supporting schools.