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Helping clients keep education plans on track
It’s that time of year when, across the UK, families have just finished organising uniforms, books, bags and stationery for the new school term. For young adults starting university, the past few weeks have also involved securing accommodation, managing travel costs, and adjusting to student life.
For clients who’ve chosen private education, the start of term also marks the beginning of regular school fee payments - a financial commitment that could last anywhere from 13 to 15 years. In 2025, the average private school fees across the UK are £18,456 + VAT a year*. With the academic year now in full swing, it’s a good moment to reflect on these financial commitments and how to protect them if life throws a curveball. Have your clients considered how they’d continue funding this commitment if a key earner were suddenly unable to work due to illness or worse? For most families, this would have a major financial impact and test their financial resilience.
No parent wants their child or teenager to be forced into switching schools or delaying further education due to financial pressure - especially while they’re grieving the loss of a parent or feeling anxious about a parent's illness.
There are ways to help protect the financial commitments associated with private school and further education. Family income benefit and income protection plans are designed to provide a regular income if the unexpected happens, such as premature death, a critical or terminal illness, or an accident or sickness that prevents someone from working.
These types of plans can help families stay on track with the cost of school or university fees, even during difficult times. They can be tailored to match the length of a child’s education and even be indexed to keep pace with inflation, helping to maintain the real value of the benefit over time.
So, as children begin another academic year and continue progressing through the education system, it’s a good time to talk to clients about how they can keep their children’s education on track - even in the face of a financial life shock.
*Independent Schools Council Census and Annual Report 2025, May 2025