Private tutoring services in London boosted by increase in foreign applications to UK private schools

October 16, 2018

• Topical

The decision in 2016 to leave the European Union and the subsequent fall in sterling has seen a rush from the world’s wealthiest families to apply to the UK’s best private schools. The fall in the pound has made UK schools more competitive with their US counterparts. This is likely to provide a boost to private tutoring services in London with foreign families looking for assistance with the UK education system and more specifically entrance exams.

Students from China make up the highest proportion of foreign pupils with an increase of 190% of Chinese children over the past 10 years. Middle Eastern families are also increasingly seeing the value of a UK education. It is thought that this rise in foreign pupils is likely to continue with parents attracted by the high numbers of children from their country already in attendance. Private tutoring services in London with a good reputation for helping overseas families will do well from this growing market.  

The UK’s private schools, especially the most prestigious boarding schools, have always been attractive to foreign families. Yet the lower costs of US schools have often made the difference in families’ decision-making. This is no longer the case and so the UK is now a much more viable option. Other big pull factors are the range of extra-curricular activities on offer and the overall quality of life available to students. Another big factor is the access to UK universities that UK schools provide. There is a perception that US schools only care about getting their pupils into US universities whereas in the UK there is more choice. This is likely to lead to even more business for private tutoring services in London with many companies tutoring right the way up to university.

Rachael Pells, ‘Rich foreign families rush to send children to UK private schools since Brexit thanks to falling pound’, Independent, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/rich-foreign-families-brexit-public-school-rush-to-send-children-harrow-eton-st-pauls-uk-falling-a7609181.html