The Brightstar Group has appointed Clare Jupp as managing director of The School Fees Company, a new specialist business focused on helping families plan and fund independent school fees without undermining longer-term financial objectives.

Jupp (pictured) will take on the role alongside her existing position as chief people officer at the Brightstar Group.

A fully qualified secondary headteacher, Jupp holds a BA Combined Honours, PGCE and NPQH, alongside a Masters degree in educational management. She spent 16 years working in education before moving into financial services, joining Brightstar where she has led the development of the group’s people strategy.

Jupp said: “I’m excited to bring together my experience across education and financial services at a time when families are increasingly looking for structured help to plan school fees.

“As a parent who has gone through the independent school journey, as an educationalist and as someone who has worked for 15 years in financial services, I have a 360-degree view of the challenges that families face, but also knowledge of how we can support them.

“Education is transformational and it is also about choice. The School Fees Company exists to support parents with their choices and to help them organise their finances in the way that best suits their individual circumstances.”

BUILDING MOMENTUM

The School Fees Company was recently introduced to parents at the St Joseph’s National Rugby Festival. Activity is already planned for the first quarter of the year, including engagement with national organisations, affiliations and events, alongside speaking opportunities and the development of relationships with partner schools.

The firm’s approach centres on proactive engagement with parent communities and schools, working directly with them rather than relying on enquiries alone. It also plans to work closely with professional advisers, including mortgage intermediaries, wealth managers and accountants, to provide joined-up guidance on school fee planning, borrowing and wider financial resilience.

TEAMWORK

A dedicated team has been established to support the new business, combining financial planning and lending expertise with individuals who have personal experience of the independent school sector as former parents and students.

The team also includes a graduate apprentice, whose academic work is being linked directly to the development of The School Fees Company’s longer-term strategy.

ADVISER SUPPORT

The School Fees Company will work with intermediaries whose clients are funding school fees, helping them assess different funding approaches and understand the longer-term implications for wealth, borrowing capacity and retirement planning.

Jupp said the focus is on supporting informed decision-making rather than promoting a single solution.

She said: “This is about trying to help anyone who pays school fees. For some, the right solution will involve structured finance; for others, it will mean better planning around savings or investments. What matters is that decisions are deliberate, informed and aligned to long-term goals.”