Fees at some of Britain's private schools have broken the £20,000 barrier for the first time, show

latest figures.

Top girls' public school Roedean, near Brighton, charges £6,990 a term, or £20,970 a year, for some full boarders in the sixth form while Cheltenham Ladies' College is asking up to £6,899, or £20,697, according to data compiled by the Independent Schools Council.

Others that have passed the £20,000 mark included co-ed sixth form centre Hurtwood House in Dorking, where the maximum is £6,700 or £20,100 and Frewen College, a boys' school in Rye, East Sussex, where the highest boarding fee is £6,889 a term or £20,667 a year.

In contrast, average adult earnings were currently £24,603, according to the Office for National Statistics.

In the 2001-2 school year, fees rose by an average of more than seven per cent, almost three times the rate of inflation and a similar increase is likely in 2002-3.

A spokeswoman for Roedean said the top fees were higher than £20,000 because sixth formers were charged £600 extra per term and because fees included books and equipment, unlike other schools.

Some of the most famous public schools, including Eton College, where Prince Harry is a pupil, are nearing the £20,000 mark.

Eton's full boarding fees are £6,366 a term or £19,098 a year.