DfE launches consultation on changes to Ofsted inspection fees for independent schools

On 25 September 2025, the Department of Education (DfE) launched a consultation on proposals to update The Independent Educational Provision in England (Inspection Fees and Savings Provisions) Regulations 2019 (the “Regulations”).

The consultation seeks views on proposals to increase the fees charged by His Majesty’s Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (HMCI) for inspections of certain independent schools. It’s anticipated that the increased fees will come into force no earlier than autumn 2026.

Currently, around 50% of registered independent schools in England are inspected by HMCI, with the remaining 50% inspected by Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). The proposed changes apply only to inspections carried out by HMCI and do not affect fees charged by ISI.

The cost of providing Ofsted inspections to independent schools in 2024/25 was reported to be £6.5m, with only £2.2m recovered through the fees currently charged. The government’s position is that fees charged by government bodies for chargeable inspections should, as far as possible, be recovered in full to reduce the need for government subsidy

As the current fees are set by the Regulations, they can only be increased by introducing new regulations. The consultation outlines the DfE’s proposal to introduce new regulations that would increase fees annually over a five-year period, providing what is considered to be a reasonable transition period for independent schools. The proposed fee increases vary depending on the type of inspection.

Standard inspection

The proposed fees for standard inspections also depend on the size of the school. By 2030/32, the fees would be:

• £420 plus £21 per pupil for schools with 0-100 pupils
• £3,300 for schools with more than 100 but not more than 399 pupils
• £3,500 for schools with more than 400 but not more than 599 pupils
• £4,300 for schools with 600 or more pupils.

Pre-registration inspections

The first proposal being considered is to increase the fee this year from £2,500 to £4,000, followed by smaller annual increases over the next four years to a final cost of £4,600, which the DfE states reflects the current actual cost of a pre-registration inspection.

The second proposal is to increase the fee even more substantially this year, from £2,500 to £6,000, to allow Ofsted to commit more resources to these inspections. Smaller annual increases would follow over the next four years, reaching a final cost of £6,900.

To ensure schools are ready to open before applying for registration, the DfE is also proposing a move to a model where the fee is payable in advance.

Progress monitoring inspections (PMI)

The DfE states that the current (2024) actual cost of conducting a PMI inspection is £6,300.

For first PMIs, the proposed fees by 2030/32 would be:

• £680 plus £19 per pupil for schools with 0-150 pupils
• £4,200 for schools with more than 150 pupils.

For second and subsequent PMIs, the proposed fees by 2030/32 would be:

• £900 plus £34 per pupil for schools with 0-150 pupils
• £6,300 for schools with more than 150 pupils.

The consultation is seeking responses from:

• Headteachers and proprietors of independent schools
• Organisations representing independent schools
• Parents and carers
• Members of the public, including those considering establishing an independent school.

The consultation can be accessed here. The results of the consultation and the DfE’s response will be published in February 2026. We will continue to keep schools updated.