Majority of North West parents with privately educated children planning to leave UK

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Two thirds of parents (67 per cent) in the North West with privately educated children are planning to leave the UK – in hope of a better lifestyle.

A poll of mums and dads with youngsters at independent schools in the North West found over a quarter (27%) think they will move abroad at some point, with 11 per cent to do so within the next two years.

Of those, 6 per cent said they’d relocate in order to avoid paying the VAT on private education fees, which was announced within the budget in October and came into force this year.

Despite 67 per cent of those thinking of moving already doing so prior to the tax news, 47 per cent of them admitted it was the push they needed to actively start planning to leave.

Two thirds of parents (67 per cent) in the North West cited a generally better lifestyle as the top reason to escape the UK, as well as a better future for their child (56 per cent) and job opportunities (33 per cent).

Improved wages (17%), housing (33%) and healthcare (22%) were also motivations.

Some parents in the North West have actively started looking at properties (61%), jobs (33%) and schools (33%).

When thinking of leaving the UK, 11 per cent said their child’s schooling is their number one priority.

Lisa Crausby OBE, group chief education officer at GEMS Education, which commissioned the research, said: “The report shows that, for many families, moving away from the UK could become a reality in the near future.

“It is interesting to note that education – leading to a better future and job opportunities – is one of the key factors influencing this decision to move abroad.

“Today, it is easier than ever for expat families to find high-quality schools that teach the National Curriculum for England in all parts of the world.”

“We are seeing this trend reflected at GEMS Education, where we have already recorded an eight per cent year-on-year increase in the number of British families enrolled in our 44 UAE schools, as well as a 26 per cent year-on-year rise in enquiries from the UK.”