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Prosperous British parents are increasingly considering boarding schools in continental Europe as soaring independent education costs push them to search for more budget-friendly alternatives internationally.

Rising Inquiries from UK Parents

German establishments have noted a marked increase in queries from British parents who are dealing with higher costs domestically, following the introduction of a 20% VAT on private education by the Labour government.

"We've been inundated with applications," stated the head of a northern German international school. "The British market has always been our biggest competitor. We offer a very competitive price compared with UK schools."

This institution, which is a not-for-profit, has fees ranging from €12,500 per year for early learning to high school fees of up to €18,700 annually.

Economic Effect of the VAT Change

The application of VAT to school fees was a primary manifesto commitment by the current government. Ministers stated the income would be allocated in part to hire an additional teachers for state schools.

This move was met with a number of court cases, though these were dismissed by the judiciary earlier this year.

Many independent institutions initially lowered fees a little to buffer parents from the full increase, but on average, fees have risen by 22.6% compared with the previous year.

Continental Options Attracting Popularity

Institutions in Switzerland are reporting a increasing wave of demand from affluent UK parents wanting to school their kids overseas.

• Increasing numbers of parents are truly relocating to regions such as the Swiss lakeside or adjacent mountain villages.
• Students are moving out of renowned UK schools to become residential pupils, pursuing a mix between world-class education and the exceptional experiences offered by the Swiss outdoors.

Market Expansion and Investment

Growth in the global schooling market is drawing major investment. Recently, a investment firm struck a agreement to acquire a 20% share in an global education network that priced it at €7 billion.

At the same time, one of the leading private schools in the UK is planning to establish schools in Italy as it aims to cater to affluent families departing the country.

Changing Demographics

According to a latest census, the number of Italian students at British private schools with parents living in the UK decreased by 11% this year.

However, the number of US students with parents living in the UK grew from 4,367 to 4,728 over the same period. Those from Chinese families also rose from 4,551 to 4,701.

"The imposition of VAT on private school fees has led many families to reevaluate the benefits they are receiving from Britain's educational system," commented the admissions head at a Swiss international boarding school. "Traditionally, people were just routinely sending their children to the same school they went to, but now there is additional options available."

This change has raised awareness among parents, showing that there are other options out there beyond the traditional UK private school system.