The organisations below have been reported as discriminating against children from independent schools. Forms of discrimination may include charging more for access or denying access outright. We have included the source as well.
If you know of any other organisations that discriminate against independent schools, contact us here. Please be sure to include any evidence, such as a website link.
If you are from an organisation listed below and would like to send an update or request a correction, please also contact us here.
| Discrimination Reversed? | Organisation Name | Discrimination Type | Description of Discrimination | Source and Notes |
| Bank of England Museum | School Workshops | “We offer free presentations and interactive storytelling sessions to UK-based state schools. Our talks support a number of curriculum subjects and are a great way to supplement your visit to the museum.” According to The Telegraph, the Bank says its museum is small with limited resources and its objective “is not to deny access to any particular group”, but rather to “help encourage a similar interest in economics” in state schools that “we already see in their independently educated counterparts”. | https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/plan-your-visit/book-a-presentation See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/globe-discriminates-private-schools-two-tier-pricing/ | |
| Bank of England Museum | School Presentation Access | “We offer a range of free talks, presentations and interactive storytelling sessions on money, gold and the role of the Bank of England. Our educational programmes are for UK state schools only.” | https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/plan-your-visit/schools See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/04/bank-england-blocks-private-school-pupils-educational-presentations/ | |
| British Fencing | Scholarship | “Athletes who attend fee paying schools are not eligible for a Backing the Best Award unless there is evidence of a full bursary and/or scholarship.” | https://www.britishfencing.com/gbrpathway-athletes-invited-to-apply-for-sportsaid-england-2025-26/ | |
| Chiswick House and Gardens | School Workshops | “Session Full fees for groups of up to 30” Facilitated – non-fee-paying schools £150 Facilitated – fee paying schools £210 | https://chiswickhouseandgardens.org.uk/community-schools/growing-green-school-visits/ See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/03/04/bank-england-blocks-private-school-pupils-educational-presentations/ | |
| Fulham Library | Volunteer Opportunity | An independent school child was denied an opportunity to volunteer (as part of Duke of Edinburgh award) and was told this was because she attended an independent school. | Personal communication | |
| Futures for All | Work Experience | “Our high-quality, fully funded programme is open to 14 to 19-year-olds in state schools and colleges across the country. Students can explore opportunities that match their interests and goals through our trusted Work Experience Finder, with clear guidance on how and where to get started.” | ||
| Horniman Museum & Gardens | School Workshops | According to the Telegraph, children from independent schools have higher charges than in state schools. | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/globe-discriminates-private-schools-two-tier-pricing/?msockid=18e8903ed3026607144887e1d22367d2 Note: No reference for pricing seen on the website; interested schools must contact the Museum to book workshops. | |
| Keats House (City of London) | School Workshops | “School workshops are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays, in the morning (10.30am-12.30pm) or afternoon (2pm-4pm). The charge for a taught session (typically two-hour duration) is £99 per class visit for state schools, or £129 per class visit for independent schools.” According to the Telegraph: “The City of London Corporation, the trustee of Keats House, said its educational programme ‘is heavily subsidised, with income from school visits covering only a small proportion of its costs and additional support available to schools facing financial barriers’.” | https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/attractions-museums-entertainment/keats-house/keats-house-school-sessions See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/globe-discriminates-private-schools-two-tier-pricing/ | |
| Discrimination Reversed | Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust | Health Services Access | Occupational Health services denied to a boy who attended an independent school. This was reported in the Mail on Sunday on 7 Jun 2025. The trust reversed this policy, according to the Mail on Sunday on 27 Sept 2026 | https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-14790767/Boy-8-turned-away-NHS-private-school-pupil-MP-Labour-raid-schools-discrimination.html See also: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16163277/Victory-Mail-Sunday-NHS-U-turn-tutor-ban.html |
| Discrimination Reversed | National Gallery | Competition | According to the Telegraph, the National Gallery charged a £240 registration fee for independent schools to its Articulation Prize. Note that this no longer applies, though state schools do get a £50 bursary not available to independent schools. | Update: Registration fee no longer applies, following 2025 Telegraph article. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/national-gallery-private-school-pupils/ |
| National Gallery | School Workshops | “Articulation Discovery Days are free workshops for KS4/5 students to help develop their critical analysis, research and oracy skills, including public speaking. They are a stepping stone towards taking part in the Prize. The workshops are open to schools from the state sector only.”. According to the Telegraph: “A spokesman for the National Gallery said: ‘The fee structure for participation, which is charged per school, not per pupil, is designed to ensure as broad a range of young people as possible can take part in the programme, particularly those who have limited access to public speaking opportunities. As of 2025, 40pc of schools will be participating from the independent sector and 60pc from the state sector. The National Gallery continues to be committed to opening opportunities to all children and young people regardless of their background.’” | https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/learning/secondary-schools/articulation/articulation-prize/discovery-days | |
| Pending | National Portrait Gallery | Work Experience | The Telegraph reported in 2025 that: “The Telegraph has separately learned that the National Portrait Gallery runs a ‘structured’ work experience programme twice a year – but specifies it is only open to state school pupils. However, a spokesman added it was reviewing its practices with the ‘aim of opening opportunities up to as many students as possible’.” As at 2 Nov 2026, the National Portrait Gallery website says: Our work experience programme is on hold, so we are not currently accepting any work experience requests. | https://www.npg.org.uk/about/jobs/volunteer-with-us?_gl=1*17tdkqd*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTg3ODI1NjA2My4xNzkzNjE4ODU0*_ga_3D53N72CHJ*czE3OTM2MTg4NTMkbzEkZzEkdDE3OTM2MTg4OTckajE2JGwwJGgw#acc10-4-4 Work experience programme is on hold, so this may change. For background, see: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/national-gallery-private-school-pupils/ |
| National Space Academy | School Workshops | Referencing masterclass costs: “Masterclass in school.- Full (4-5 hours, timetable dependent). Standard: £850. Concessions (Charities and State Schools): £650.”. The Telegraph add: The National Space Academy said the difference in its pricing was because of discounts given to state schools “due to stipulations provided by our grant funders”, adding this was “aimed at widening access to underprivileged students”. | https://nationalspaceacademy.org/what-we-do/prices/ See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/globe-discriminates-private-schools-two-tier-pricing/ | |
| National Theatre | Online Performances | National Theatre Colelction: “The best of British Theatre is available to stream for schools, universities, and the wider education sector. Free for all UK state schools (primary and secondary) and FE colleges.” | https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/national-theatre-collection/ | |
| National Theatre | Performance Group Bookings | “£10 tickets for UK state and SEND schools of 10+ students aged 18 or younger, plus one teacher at the same price per nine pupils. £12 tickets for UK independent schools of 10+ students aged 18 or younger, plus one teacher at the same price per nine pupils.” | https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learn-explore/schools-tickets/ See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/national-theatre-discriminates-private-school-pupils/ | |
| Quinton Blake Centre for Illustration | School Workshops | “State Schools: At your school: £400 per day .. Independent schools: . £575 per day” | https://qbcentre.org.uk/school-workshops See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/globe-discriminates-private-schools-two-tier-pricing/ | |
| Royal Academy of Music | Foundation Year Studies | “Eligibility Applicants must meet all of the following criteria.”…”Have attended a non-selective UK state school for at least 5 years.” | https://www.ram.ac.uk/courses/foundation-year#entry-requirements See also: https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/royal-academy-of-music-bars-private-school-pupils-from-applying-for-its-new-foundation-year-course/ar-AA21dB8d | |
| Discrimination Reversed | Royal Hospital for Children and Young People | In-hospital tuition | The Mail on Sunday reported that sick children needing in-hospital tuition were charged £115/hour if they attended an independent school, but no charge if from a state school. On 27 Sept 26, it was reported that this policy was removed by Edinburgh City Council following campaigning by parents and others. | https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16163277/Victory-Mail-Sunday-NHS-U-turn-tutor-ban.html |
| Royal Shakespeare Company | School Partnership | “The Associate Schools Programme is our long-term partnership programme with schools and regional theatres across England with teacher professional development at its core. The work is predicated on transforming the way Shakespeare is taught in schools, using RSC rehearsal room pedagogy. The programme is open to primary, secondary and special state-funded schools in England, with a specific focus on schools serving areas of structural disadvantage” | https://www.rsc.org.uk/learn/associate-schools-programme See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/national-gallery-private-school-pupils/ | |
| Royal Shakespeare Company | School Workshops | “BESPOKE SHAKESPEARE WORKSHOPS, Ideal for: Key Stages 2-5. Date: Available Monday – Friday during Warwickshire term time. Time: Two-hour sessions starting at 10.30am, 1.30pm or 4pm. Venue: Clore Learning Centre, Stratford-upon-Avon. Cost: UK State Schools: £235, UK Independent Schools: £395” | https://www.rsc.org.uk/learn/schools-and-teachers/events-and-workshops-for-students/bespoke-shakespeare-workshops-for-key-stage-2-5 | |
| Royal Yachting Association / RYA Foundation | Scholarship | “Please note that where a sailor attends a fee-paying school, this will be taken into consideration when assessing financial need. Sailors attending a fee-paying school would normally need to be in receipt of a full bursary and/or scholarship, with supporting evidence required” | RYA Member email. This seems to be a policy handed by SportAid rather than of the RYA itself. Parent sent email to RYA asking for SportAid policy, 28th Oct 2026 | |
| Shakespeare’s Globe | Teaching Materials | “Teach Shakespeare: Discover hundreds of curriculum-based resources on our brand new site for teachers, free for UK state schools .” (emphasis as quoted). | https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/learn/schools-and-teachers/ | |
| Shakespeare’s Globe | School Workshops | Referencing secondary school workshops: State schools: £12 per student (min £240 per group). Other UK schools: £14 per student (min £280). International: £16 per student (min £320). | https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/learn/schools-and-teachers/secondary-schools/secondary-workshops-and-tours/#book-at-shakespeare-s-globe See also: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/globe-discriminates-private-schools-two-tier-pricing/ | |
| Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust | Health Services Access | Accoding to the Mail on Sunday (27 Sept 26): “Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust refused to reverse its decision not to treat an eight-year-old boy with a speech defect because he was privately educated.” | https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16163277/Victory-Mail-Sunday-NHS-U-turn-tutor-ban.html | |
| William Morris | School Workshops | According to the Telegraph, children from independent schools have higher charges than in state schools. | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/consumer-affairs/globe-discriminates-private-schools-two-tier-pricing/?msockid=18e8903ed3026607144887e1d22367d2 |
