Private School vs JISA UK: Pay Fees or Invest?

Seven years of UK private day-school fees in 2026 cost roughly £150,000-£170,000 per child

The same money invested in a JISA and a parent ISA at a 7% return produces roughly £200,000 in your child's name by their 18th birthday

A state school plus a £200,000 lump sum at 18 outperforms most private-school outcomes once you control for parental income and prior attainment

Private school can still be the right call for specific children, specific schools, and specific family situations - but the default answer for most UK families is invest the fees