Expat children gain from life abroad

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Friday, 04 September 2009 15:37

More than nine in ten UK expat parents (93%) believe that their children are benefiting from the experience of living abroad, reveals a new report.

The latest NatWest International Personal Banking (NatWest IPB) Quality of Life Index undertaken in conjunction with think tank, Centre for Future Studies, surveyed British expatriates from across the world. It revealed that 58% of UK expats have at least one child, with 30% having one, 25% have two and 3% have two or more. The report revealed that nearly all expat children are benefiting across a range of factors that improve their quality of life.

Overall, more than eight out of ten UK expat parents (82%) say the main benefit is that their children have learnt to become more self reliant, whilst three quarters of parents (76%) say their children are benefiting from the different cultural experience they are being exposed to. Seven in ten parents also believe that their children are receiving higher educational standards (see table one).

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.”

Table one: How UK expat children are benefiting

How expat children are benefiting	% [ranked in order]
Learning to be self reliant and independent	82%
Learning from a different cultural experience	76%
Learning a new language	75%
Making a wider circle of friends	68%
Higher educational standards	67%
Have an active and diverse social life	63%
Able to embrace diversity	61%
Learning to adapt to new situations	60%
Have a sense of adventure	54%

The report indicted that more than half (55%) 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 amongst UK expats, closely followed by that in Canada, with Spain coming at the bottom of the table (see table below).

Table two: schools and education ranking

Ranking	Country
1	New Zealand
2	Canada
3	Singapore
4	France
5	Australia
6	Hong Kong
7	China
8	USA
9	South Africa
10	UAE
11	Portugal
12	Spain

Source: Centre for Future Studies

Dave Isley added: “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.”

For further information on NatWest International Personal Banking visit: http://www.natwestinternational.com