Probe into fee fixing widens

The scope of an investigation into alleged collusion among some of the country's top independent schools to fix fees has been widened.

The Office of Fair Trading began its probe last year into whether Eton, Winchester, Westminster and William Hulme's Grammar School in Manchester were illegally operating a cartel.

It is now understood to have ordered at least 60 schools to disclose information. Failure to comply is a criminal offence.

The schools include Charterhouse, Marlborough, Millfield, Rugby, Uppingham, Sevenoaks, Dulwich College, Cheltenham, Harrow and Wellington, according to a report today.

Schools found to have fixed fees face massive fines.