How the school fees and aftercare planner works
Last updated 10 November 2026
School fees are one of the biggest costs of raising children, and they rise every year. Seeing the total for all your children, year by year, shows when costs peak and how much to set aside.
How it works
- Each child has yearly fees and extras, a monthly aftercare cost and the number of years still to pay.
- Yearly cost = fees + aftercare per month times the months you use it + extras.
- Each later year is multiplied by one plus the yearly increase.
Worked example
With the starting figures:
- The starting figures cost R 106 000 in the first year, about R 8 833 a month.
- Over all the school years the total is R 790 209, with a highest year of R 120 964.
Why plan school costs
School fees are one of the biggest costs of raising children, and they rise every year. Fees are only part of it. Aftercare, uniforms, trips, sport and devices add up too. The planner shows the full cost for each child, year by year, and the total across all the school years.
What you enter for each child
- Yearly fees and the yearly extras
- The monthly aftercare cost and how many months a year you use it
- The number of years still to pay
- The yearly increase you expect, as a percentage
How the total is built
Yearly cost equals fees, plus aftercare per month times the months used, plus extras. Each later year is the one before multiplied by one plus the yearly increase. The table shows each year and each child, and the total row shows the cost across all years. The year with the highest cost is shown as the peak.
Watch for what is missing
- Once-off costs such as registration, deposits and school trips
- Fee increases that are higher than general inflation, which many schools announce each year
- Bursaries or sibling discounts, which the planner does not include
- Costs after school, such as university, which the planner does not cover
Where the starting amounts come from
The numbers shown when the page opens are examples. Replace them with your own school's fee schedule. The yearly increase is an assumption you can change. Nothing you type is saved. For costs after school, see the university cost planner.
Things to watch
- Add one-off costs such as registration, deposits and school trips.
- Fee increases are often higher than general inflation. Ask the school.
- Bursaries and discounts for siblings are not included.
See also the savings goals planner. Read the full disclaimer.
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