_Exploring the close relationships between education and the UK's prime housing markets

Booming.” It’s enough to make me spill my ice cold Birra Moretti. It’s not a word you hear in polite company in London anymore as the pre-Brexit phoney war grinds on.

But Will Orr-Ewing, founder and director of Keystone Tutors, is emphatic. “The global demand for a British private-school education has never been stronger.” 

The success of the UK’s private schools in attracting pupils from overseas has a significant impact on the country’s prime housing market – especially in London. Families often buy a home to use during exeats and holidays, generating at least £2bn of purchases annually across the capital alone. 

Working in London you sometimes forget the city’s charms, but having walked from my final meeting in Marylebone through Hyde Park on a glorious summer evening to meet Will in one of Holland Park’s great neighbourhood Italians, it’s easy to see why parents with children studying here enjoy having a permanent base. 

With the temperature hitting 31 degrees, I enjoy my beer listening to the details of a remarkable British export success story. And nobody knows this market like Will.

After 11 years running a tutoring business for the offspring of wealthy Londoners, he developed a deft touch helping parents get their children into the most sought-after schools. He’s now global – with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, and more in the pipeline. 

Will admits he benefits from working with an unusually strong product. “The thing to understand is that the UK boarding-school system is unique, yes, there are a few US schools on the east coast and even some in Australia that emulate the British system. But nowhere has developed its potential in the same way.” 

^{Above: Westminster school}

So what is all the fuss about? “It’s the rounded focus on all aspects of an education: academic studies, sport, art, music and drama that appeals,” he explains. “The truth is, nowhere else does it as well or delivers it in such a character building way. 

“Look, no child is suffering the cold shower or freezing dormitory treatment anymore, but there is nothing better for a child used to leading a very comfortable life than standing in the rain and getting bowled out for a duck at their first cricket match. The last thing they need is the whole ‘Michelin star chef ’ offer promoted by the top Swiss schools.” 

When I ask where the demand is coming from, the answer is: “Everywhere”. Although applications from Russia have halved over the past two years due to economic uncertainty and diplomatic strain, the slack has been more than taken up by growth from elsewhere, says Will. 

“India is becoming more interesting, historically a lot of demand from there has focused on the US to prep children for applications to America’s top universities.

And Japan is one to watch. Over the past two decades a lot of wealthy Japanese parents have focused on Swiss schools – now there is a definite switch to Britain. 

“But the biggest story is China. Children need to be pretty much fluent in English to cope with the pace of a UK education and in second or third-tier Chinese cites, this is just not the case yet. But the quality of teaching is improving and will continue to do so – demand is only going one way.” 

Such is the hunger for a British public-school education, the system is being widely emulated in Asia. “Just look at the trajectory,” points out Will. “Westminster is opening six schools in China, Wycombe Abbey is opening its second – with more to come.” 

Talent, however, will be a big constraint to further growth. On present trends, the requirement for teaching staff in all of the existing and planned international schools in China equates to all the teachers in the UK’s private-school system. The reality is that demand for the real UK product will grow despite the competition. 

In these uncertain times, that’s worth raising a glass of something cold to. 

A detailed analysis of global education trends is provided in the latest Wealth Report update published in September 2018 and available at: knightfrank.com/wealthreport