Cambridge Independent Schools: A Guide for Overseas Families Paying UK Fees

Cambridge has eight major independent schools spanning ages 3 to 18, including The Perse, The Leys, Stephen Perse Foundation, St Mary’s, and the Cambridge college prep schools. Annual fees range from around £14,000 to over £36,000, and since 1 January 2025 are subject to 20% VAT on top of the headline tuition. For families paying fees from overseas, the FX margin on three termly transfers is typically a larger cost than the school’s own admin fees — which is why specialist currency support and forward contracts on the academic year are increasingly common.

This guide covers both sides of the equation: the Cambridge independent schools landscape as we see it locally, and the practical mechanics of paying UK fees from a non-GBP account.

Cambridge as a destination for independent education

Cambridge is one of the most concentrated independent school markets in the UK outside London. The city of around 145,000 people hosts a higher density of selective and prep-stage independent schools than almost anywhere comparable, largely because of its centuries-long association with the university. Families relocating to Cambridge for university work, biomedical research, or the surrounding tech corridor often arrive with children at school age — and the local independent sector reflects that demand.

Anthony Bull, CEO of Cambridge Currencies, grew up in Cambridge and is familiar with the local independent schools landscape. The company is headquartered in the city, and a meaningful proportion of clients are expat families paying UK school fees from accounts held in EUR, USD, AED, SGD, HKD, and other currencies. The information below combines publicly available facts about each school with practical observations from working alongside families navigating the financial side of UK independent education.

We don’t rank the schools — they serve different ages, philosophies, and family priorities, and rankings tend to flatter the loudest brand rather than the best fit. What follows is a factual reference, with each school’s own admissions and fees page linked for current information.

VAT on private school fees: what changed in 2025

The most important recent change for any family paying UK private school fees is the introduction of 20% VAT on tuition, effective from 1 January 2025 under the previous government’s policy carried through by HMRC. Boarding fees are also in scope. The policy applies to fees for terms starting on or after 1 January 2025, regardless of when invoiced.

Three practical consequences:

• Total fees are materially higher than the headline figures schools quoted before 2025. A £27,000 day fee becomes £32,400 with VAT. For boarding at £36,000+, the VAT layer adds £7,200+ per child per year
• Pre-payment loopholes have been closed. Anti-forestalling rules introduced from 29 July 2024 mean fees invoiced or paid after that date for terms starting in 2025 or later are automatically subject to VAT — families can no longer pay years in advance to lock in the pre-VAT rate
• Many schools have absorbed only part of the increase. Most UK independent schools passed on between 12% and 18% of the 20% VAT to families, depending on their cost base and reserves

For overseas families this matters disproportionately. A 20% VAT increase on a £30,000 annual fee adds £6,000 per child — and the £6,000 itself has to be converted from your local currency at whatever FX rate applies at the time of payment. The compounding effect of VAT plus FX margin is the single biggest cost variable most overseas families overlook.

Cambridge independent schools: factual reference

The schools below are listed in alphabetical order. Fees, ages, and structures change annually — always check each school’s official website for current details before applying.

Cambridge International School

• Age range: 3–16
• Co-ed / single-sex: Co-educational
• Day / boarding: Day school
• Curriculum: International — Cambridge Primary, IGCSE
• Notable: The only school in Cambridge offering a fully international curriculum end-to-end. Particularly relevant for families likely to relocate again before their children complete UK secondary education
• Official site: cischool.co.uk — see school for current fees

King’s College School, Cambridge

• Age range: 4–13
• Co-ed / single-sex: Co-educational
• Day / boarding: Day, with boarding for choristers
• Curriculum: Preparatory (UK Prep)
• Notable: The choir school of King’s College, Cambridge. Best known internationally for the King’s College choir; chorister places are highly sought after and route through this school. Strong academic feeder for senior independent schools nationally
• Official site: kcs.cambs.sch.uk — see school for current fees

The Leys School, Cambridge

• Age range: 11–18
• Co-ed / single-sex: Co-educational
• Day / boarding: Both — full and weekly boarding available
• Curriculum: GCSE, A-Level, IB Diploma at sixth form
• Notable: Founded 1875 with Methodist origins. The most established full boarding option in central Cambridge. International boarders form a meaningful proportion of the roll, making it a natural fit for overseas-based families
• Official site: theleys.net — see school for current fees

The Perse School, Cambridge

• Age range: 3–18 across three sites (Pelican nursery to Year 2, Prep Years 3–6, Upper School Years 7–13)
• Co-ed / single-sex: Co-educational (became fully co-ed in 2010)
• Day / boarding: Day school
• Curriculum: GCSE, A-Level
• Notable: Founded 1615 by Dr Stephen Perse. Approximately 1,700 pupils across the three sites. Consistently among the strongest GCSE and A-Level results in the UK independent sector; 40–50 pupils gain Oxbridge places annually. ISI-rated ‘Excellent’ across academic achievement and personal development (2023). Over £1 million in annual bursary support
• Official site: perse.co.uk — see school for current fees

St John’s College School, Cambridge

• Age range: 4–13
• Co-ed / single-sex: Co-educational
• Day / boarding: Day, with boarding for choristers
• Curriculum: Preparatory (UK Prep)
• Notable: The choir school of St John’s College, Cambridge. Like King’s, the chorister tradition is internationally recognised. Strong feeder record into the major UK senior independent schools
• Official site: sjcs.co.uk — see school for current fees

St Mary’s School, Cambridge

• Age range: 4–18
• Co-ed / single-sex: Girls only
• Day / boarding: Day, with limited boarding from Year 7
• Curriculum: GCSE, A-Level
• Notable: Founded 1898. The only all-girls independent senior school in central Cambridge. Catholic foundation, open to all faiths. Smaller roll than The Perse, with correspondingly smaller class sizes
• Official site: stmaryscambridge.co.uk — see school for current fees

Stephen Perse Foundation

• Age range: 3–18 (Foundation includes Dame Bradbury’s in Saffron Walden)
• Co-ed / single-sex: Co-educational at most stages
• Day / boarding: Day school
• Curriculum: GCSE, IGCSE (with a one-year IGCSE option), A-Level, IB Diploma
• Notable: Distinct from The Perse School (despite the shared founder). The IB Diploma option and the one-year IGCSE programme make this a useful entry point for international families joining mid-cycle. Fee payment options include monthly instalments and multi-currency payment via the school’s portal
• Official site: stephenperse.com — see school for current fees

How to pay UK school fees from overseas

For families paying from a non-GBP account, the mechanics matter more than most people realise. The visible cost is the school’s invoice. The invisible cost is the FX margin between the mid-market rate and the rate your bank or provider actually applies — and at school-fee size, that margin compounds three times a year for several years.

The four payment options

On a £30,000 annual fee paid in three termly transfers, the difference between bank FX (3%) and broker FX (0.4%) is around £780 per year per child. Over five years and two children, that’s nearly £8,000.

Forward contracts: locking in the academic year

A forward contract lets you agree an exchange rate today for a payment up to 12 months in the future, against a small deposit. For school fees, this has become a meaningful tool since VAT pushed total annual costs higher.

The mechanics: you know your child’s annual fee at the start of the academic year. You agree a forward rate for the full year’s GBP requirement, then draw down each term against that locked rate. If GBP strengthens against your home currency during the year, you’ve protected against the downside. If it weakens, you’ve foregone the upside — but for many families, predictability is worth more than potential gain.

As Anthony Bull, CEO of Cambridge Currencies, puts it: “Forward contracts on school fees were always a sensible tool, but VAT made them materially more valuable. When the annual bill jumps from £30,000 to £36,000, the FX swing on the increased amount alone justifies the conversation. Most of the expat families we work with on this lock in the academic year at the August or September rate and then forget about currency until the following summer.”

Worked example: Singapore family, two children at The Perse

Approximate figures, illustrative only — verify current fees with the school and live rates with a provider:

• Two children at Upper School: ~£27,222 × 2 = £54,444 annual tuition
• VAT (20% portion passed on, assumed 15%): ~£8,167
• Approximate total annual fee: ~£62,600
• Paying from SGD at a typical Singapore bank FX margin of 2.5%: ~£1,565 in FX cost
• Paying via a UK specialist broker at 0.4% FX margin: ~£250 in FX cost
• Annual saving on FX alone: ~£1,315 per year per family — equivalent to a term of school lunches per child

The saving compounds over the school career. For families with two children at Cambridge independent schools from prep through sixth form (typically 10–13 years per child), the cumulative FX saving against bank rates can run into five figures.

Practical considerations for overseas families

• Confirm the recipient bank details with the school in writing — fee fraud is a known problem in UK independent education, with criminals impersonating schools’ bursary emails. Verify any account change by phone using a number from the school’s official website, not from the email itself
• Plan around the school’s payment deadline, not your travel calendar — fees are typically due on or before the first day of term. International transfers can take 1–4 days; build a buffer
• Confirm VAT treatment for any extras — lunches, school transport, and trips have separate VAT rules. The school’s finance office can clarify what carries VAT and what doesn’t
• Ask about multi-currency payment options — Stephen Perse Foundation, for example, accepts payment in various currencies through its portal. Other schools may offer similar; rates vary widely between school portals and specialist brokers, so always compare
• Consider bursaries if circumstances change — The Perse, Stephen Perse Foundation, and most other major Cambridge independents offer means-tested bursaries assessed annually. For families whose income changes (job loss, relocation, business disruption), reapplying is worth the effort

Frequently asked questions

What are the main independent schools in Cambridge, UK?

The major independent schools in Cambridge are The Perse School, The Leys School, Stephen Perse Foundation, St Mary’s School (girls only), St John’s College School, King’s College School, and Cambridge International School. They cover ages 3 to 18 between them, with day and boarding options.

How much do Cambridge private school fees cost in 2026?

Cambridge independent school fees typically range from around £14,000 to over £36,000 per year, depending on the school, age group, and whether boarding is included. Since 1 January 2025, fees are also subject to 20% VAT, which most schools have passed on partially or in full. Always check the school’s official fees page for current figures.

Do UK private school fees include VAT?

Yes. From 1 January 2025, UK private school tuition and boarding fees are subject to 20% VAT. Anti-forestalling rules also prevent pre-paying years in advance to avoid the charge. Some related costs like school lunches and transport may have different VAT treatment — confirm with the school’s finance office.

How do I pay UK school fees from overseas?

You can pay UK school fees from overseas via direct SWIFT transfer from your bank, the school’s own multi-currency payment portal where offered, a multi-currency account like Wise or Revolut, or a specialist currency broker. The FX margin varies widely — typically 2–4% at banks against 0.3–0.5% at specialist brokers — so for large annual fees the choice of provider has a meaningful impact on total cost.

Can I lock in an exchange rate for school fees?

Yes — a forward contract through a specialist currency broker lets you agree an exchange rate today for a payment up to 12 months in the future, against a small deposit. For school fees, locking in the rate at the start of the academic year removes currency risk on the three termly payments and is increasingly common since VAT increased the total cost of UK independent education.

Are there girls-only independent schools in Cambridge?

Yes. St Mary’s School, Cambridge is the main all-girls independent school in central Cambridge, providing education for girls aged 4 to 18. It is a Catholic foundation that welcomes pupils of all faiths, with day and limited boarding options.

Which Cambridge schools offer boarding?

The Leys School offers full and weekly boarding for ages 11–18. St Mary’s School offers limited boarding from Year 7. King’s College School and St John’s College School offer boarding specifically for choristers. The other major Cambridge independents are day schools only.

Are there bursaries for Cambridge independent schools?

Yes. Most major Cambridge independent schools offer means-tested bursaries, typically at key entry points (Year 7, Year 9, sixth form). The Perse School, for example, provides over £1 million in annual bursary support with awards ranging from 5% to 100% of fees. Each school’s bursary page sets out current criteria and application timing.

Related guides

• Moving abroad — currency guide — for families relocating to the UK
• GBP currency page — live rates and market outlook
• SEPA or SWIFT? — choosing the right international payment rail
• How to verify an international bank account — verifying school payment details before sending

Cambridge-based specialists for Cambridge school fees

Cambridge Currencies is headquartered in Cambridge and works regularly with expat families paying UK independent school fees from overseas accounts. We can help with one-off termly transfers, multi-currency planning across an academic year, and forward contracts to fix today’s exchange rate for the year ahead.

Cambridge Currencies operates with FCA-authorised partners Currencycloud (FRN 900199) and ScioPay (FRN 927951). All transfers are handled by a named specialist by phone from quote to settlement. Request a quote and we’ll talk you through the live rate, the all-in cost, and your options for the academic year.