Are grammar schools free or private? Fees and other costs

State grammar schools in England are free to attend for education: parents do not pay tuition fees. A private school that happens to have “Grammar” in its name is different and can charge fees. Check the school’s status and fee policy before comparing costs.

Free education does not mean every related family expense disappears. Travel, uniform, meals, optional activities and preparation materials may affect your budget. A school offering boarding can also charge for accommodation while education remains free.

How to tell which kind of school you are looking at

Read the DfE guide to school types and check the school’s establishment record in Get Information about Schools. An academy is state funded; academy status does not turn a grammar school into a fee-paying private school.

As a current example of the naming distinction, North London Grammar School’s 2026/27 schedule lists tuition fees, VAT treatment and additional costs. It is not a free state grammar. Those prices describe that academic year, not a confirmed price for a child starting in 2028.

Do you have to pay to sit the 11+?

For state-school entrance tests in England, the answer is no. In its answer of 4 November 2025, the Department for Education states that the prohibition on admission charges includes sitting a school’s entrance test. Optional familiarisation tests may be charged for. A commercial mock or tutoring course is not the compulsory entrance examination.

This matters when a booking page uses “11+ test” loosely. Identify the organiser and purpose before paying. Is it the assessment required for admission, a practice event, or a private-school assessment? Warwickshire’s official guide, for example, confirms that its state selective entry test is free. Northern Ireland has a different transfer system; do not generalise this English fee rule to SEAG registration.

What costs should a family check?

Use real quotes from your shortlisted schools and travel providers. A national “typical extras” figure may hide the biggest difference for your family: one child can walk to school while another needs a paid bus throughout the year.

Are school-fund contributions compulsory?

A request labelled voluntary is not a tuition bill. DfE guidance on charging for school activities distinguishes voluntary contributions from permitted charges for optional extras. Its maintained-school guidance says children must not be treated differently because their parents cannot or will not make a voluntary contribution; an activity may have to be cancelled if it cannot be funded.

Ask for the school’s charging and remissions policy, including at an academy. If a request is unclear, ask what the payment covers, whether it is compulsory or voluntary, and what support is available. Do not assume every trip is free, or that every contribution request is mandatory.

What about boarding?

State boarding schools charge for boarding but provide free education. A boarding-fee page therefore does not, by itself, prove a school is private. Confirm whether you are applying for a day or boarding place and read the relevant charges and admission arrangements.

Comparing a state grammar with a private school

For an independent option, request the full fee schedule and acceptance terms. Check whether quoted amounts include VAT and which extras are separate. The government’s VAT measure applies the standard 20% rate to private-school education and boarding from 1 January 2025. Do not add VAT a second time to an inclusive quote.

Ask the school whether financial assistance is available, how it is assessed, when applications close and how awards are reviewed. Do not assume a scholarship pays all fees or that bursary funding will be offered. Compare the actual amount your family would owe, including costs not covered by any award.

A budget worksheet for tests taken in 2027

1. 1Write the expected start year first: autumn 2027 grammar tests commonly lead to September 2028 entry.
2. 2Create separate lines for one-off purchases, recurring termly costs and optional spending.
3. 3Record the date of each quote. Mark unpublished 2028 costs as unconfirmed rather than copying an old fee schedule.
4. 4Deduct only assistance that has been confirmed, and note any renewal conditions.
5. 5Compare the resulting costs with travel time, curriculum and support needs, rather than selecting on price alone.

For the application differences, read grammar and independent school entry at 11+. For the underlying definition, see what a grammar school is.