The number of online searches for homeschooling has surged by 300% since Labour won the election, following the party’s pledge to introduce a 20% VAT on private school fees, according to data extracted by Digital PR Agency.
The results also revealed that Google searches for ‘Pros and cons of homeschooling’ rose by 200% between 3-11 July.
The agency said that to manage increasing private school fees, many parents could also be exploring scholarship opportunities, with a 50% jump in searches for ‘fully funded scholarships’ following Labour’s landslide win. There was a 1,150% increase in interest for the Eton scholarship alone.
According to Digital PR Agency, searches for the best secondary schools in the UK shot up by 80% between 3-11 July, while searches for how many state schools there are in the UK also increased by 50% during the same period.
“The research shows that parents across the country are increasingly concerned about the affordability and future of private education for their children. The surge in Google searches related to homeschooling, scholarships and state schools mirrors this concern as many parents now seek alternative schooling options and financial plans in response to possible policy shifts, as they closely monitor developments on their children’s educational paths,” the firm said.
