The Chairman of the governors of Rodean School is reported by TES as warning schools that fees over the past decade have grown 20% more than salaries and bonuses. He says that current economic circumstances make it likely that demand for independent education will fall. A senior businessman himself, he stresses that the laws of economics apply to independent schools and governors and heads need to plan realistically. This could include looking at mergers (to reduce the impact of overheads) and a review of staffing structures (to establish whether the staff are giving value for money). It is imperative to have a surplus every year and to ask whether the school can meet its financial obligations. If parents find it increasingly difficult to pay school fees, then it is in the interest of the schools themselves to increase efficiency.