By Alison Steed
MORE THAN nine in 10 UK expats say their children are benefiting from the experience of living abroad, with New Zealand topping the ranks for the best overseas education system.
Nearly three in five expats have at least one child, according to a survey by NatWest International Personal Banking’s Quality of Life Index, while a quarter have two children.
Their quality of life is being improved by a tendency for the children to become more self-reliant, and the different cultural experience they are getting from living overseas.
A relatively high seven in 10 parents also believe their children are receiving a better standard of education abroad than they would get in the UK.
Dave Isley Head of NatWest International Personal Banking comments: "What we know from this latest report is that most UK expats are experiencing far reaching benefits, such as an improved quality of life. However, it seems that the children of expat parents are also benefiting in many ways. Parents are reporting that their children are learning to be more independent, and learning from the different cultures they are being exposed to."
The need for their children to learn a new language is seen as another benefit by three quarters of parents, while embracing diversity, having an active social life and learning to adapt to new situations are also key benefits.
Mr Isley added: “The report indicted that more than half (55 per cent) of UK expats live in non English speaking countries. Their children who are learning a new language find it much easier to do so in an environment where the language is used full time. The education system in New Zealand ranked the highest among UK expats, closely followed by that in Canada, with Spain coming at the bottom of the table.
"New Zealand is the country that has scored the highest in the school and education ranking for expats. UK parents abroad clearly value and rate the experiences that their children have gained in this country in particular."
