Confirmed: The cost of sending kids to school is soaring

It's one of the most expensive times of year - back to school time.

As parents and students around the country start to prep stationery packs, laptops, uniforms and schoolbags, new data shows just how expensive education is.

Since 2007, the cost of education for all pupils in New Zealand has risen dramatically.

The ASG Planning for Education Index looked at the cost of sending children to private schools, state-integrated schools (eg. religious schools) and state schools.

Rising cost of education in New Zealand

It found private education has risen by almost 50 percent in the past decade.

"It just happens that education, like most other things in life, does increase in cost year-on-year. The disappointing element of it is that over the last 10 years, education costs have risen at about twice the headline rate of inflation," says ASG Education Programmes CEO, John Velegrinis.

For a child born this year, the estimated cost of a 13-year private education across New Zealand is almost $350,000.

In 2007 the cost was estimated to be around $233,000, so in the past decade the cost has risen by more than $112,000.

Mr Velegrinis says it's a personal decision whether parents choose to send their children to a private or public school.

"We think that a public education in many instances is just as good, if not better, in some instances than a private education, so we don't necessarily equate dollars and quality."

The cost of sending children to a state-integrated school (eg. Catholic schools) has climbed 34 percent in the past decade.

While the cost of a state education has risen by 15 percent to almost $40,000 for a 13-year education.

Mr Velegrinis says the data looked at variables including the cost of uniforms, books, laptops, transport costs, extra-curricular activities as well as school fees.

Mother-of-two Tsana Plessius knows the pressure of education costs.

One of her sons is about to start year 9, while the other is starting year 11 at an Auckland public school.

"You've got uniforms, camps, stationery, electronic devices, activity fees, donations," says Mrs Plessius.

She says shortly after her oldest boy started primary school, her and her husband began putting money away on a monthly basis for education.

"I think if you can afford to put some money away then do so. It does take the burden off, particularly at the start of each year because that tends to be when it's most burdensome."

Newshub.