The growing number of parents pulling their children out of private schools because of the credit crunch is set to increase pressure on the state education system in Kent.

“I think that pressure is going to increase given the current credit crunch because west Kent is where the highest proportion of parents live who send their children to private schools.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) surveyed 150 councils in England and found that 6.2 per cent had already been contacted by parents applying for state school admissions for pupils in private education.