Private schools to face rise in Ofsted inspection fees under gov plan

Private schools in England could face thousands of pounds in extra charges for Ofsted inspections under proposals published by the government today (25 September).

A consultation launched by the Department for Education sets out plans to raise fees for inspections over a five-year period from 2026. The changes aim to bring schools closer to paying the full cost of inspections, which ministers say are currently heavily subsidised by the taxpayer.

The cost of a standard inspection would vary by school size. Fees for the smallest schools would start at £405 in 2026, rising to £420 plus £21 per pupil by 2030. Larger schools with 600 or more pupils would see annual fees climb from £3,060 in 2026 to £4,300 by 2030.

The proposals also include steep increases in charges for pre-registration inspections, which schools must undergo before opening. Current fees of £2,500 could rise to as much as £6,900 by 2030 under one option that doubles the time inspectors spend on site.

Progress monitoring inspections, required when a school is found to be failing standards, would also become significantly more expensive. For schools with more than 150 pupils, fees would rise from £2,000 to £4,200 by 2030 for a first re-inspection. If repeated visits are needed, the cost could rise to £6,300.

The government said inspections of non-association private schools cost around £6.5m a year, but only £2.2m is currently recovered through fees. Officials argue that moving closer to full cost recovery would reduce the need for public subsidy, while still giving smaller schools some protection against the highest charges.

The consultation is open until 20 November, with final decisions due to be published in February 2026. Any new regulations would take effect from autumn 2026.