‘We’ve been inundated’: European private schools report surge in interest from wealthy British parents

Brighton College, one of the UK’s leading private schools, is seeking to adapt to the changing circumstances by opening schools in Madrid, Rome and Lisbon. Photograph: Dean Atkins/Alamy

Wealthy British parents are turning to boarding schools in continental Europe as rising private school fees push families to look for cheaper options abroad.

German and Swiss institutions have reported rises in the number of queries from British parents who face higher fees at home, after the Labour government imposed 20% VAT on private education from January.