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Following the US election result, internet searches for how to move away from soon-to-be president Donald Trump’s America have spiked.
From Australia to Canada, voters concerned about some of his more divisive policies appear to be putting some genuine thought into finding a new home.
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But back in the UK, there’s one concerned mother who thinks heading back to the States might be the best option for her children.
Liana Fricker, who lives in Surrey, having moved from California more than 20 years ago, has two sons who are diagnosed with ADHD.
Aged 14 and 10, they attend a private school – one “very good” at working with young people with the condition.
But with fees set to climb 15.4% in January when the government scraps the VAT exemption on private schools, she claims she’ll soon be “priced out”.
Liana says she’s been left with no option but to withdraw at least one of her sons from the school. It means sending him to a state school or heading back to the US, where she believes her family would have more choice.
“It’s ironic,” she says. “Because, yes, even with Donald Trump, I have to consider what’s the least bad option.”
In the US, she says the concept of government policy dictating her school choice is an alien one. Instead, there’s an idea “everyone is free to do what they want to do within the law and the Constitution”.
“If you send your children to private school, you get a tax rebate as a thank you for paying tax and not using the service.”
Liana is clear there are “great” state schools in her local area, but the trouble would be making sure her sons were accepted to one – ideally together.
Her 14-year-old is already studying for his GCSEs, and she’s concerned his education could be disrupted. He could have to study entirely new subjects if the same options aren’t offered.
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