Folkestone couple ditch 'bleak and dangerous' UK to 'world school' their son

A Kent couple have ditched the “dangerous, scary and bleak” UK in favour of “world schooling” their son.

Diana Auria and her husband, Jack McLoughlin, lived in Folkestone for 10 years before trading the southeast for a one-way flight to Manila, the Philippines, last month.

The mum-of-one says the UK “needs to get its s**t together” and blamed the death of the high street, terrorism and “the threat of nuclear war” for leaving, among other factors.

“For us. The negatives of the UK outweigh the positives - and for now, we’re going to be travelling around and world schooling our son,” the 36-year-old added.

“We want a year of seeing all the places we can - Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.

“It’s always been in the back of our minds to live abroad - but the UK has been in such a decline over the last three years.”

The fashion designer said the family is still looking for somewhere to settle with her and production company founder Jack working as “digital nomads” while travelling.

Their son, aged four, is being world schooled by his parents. This is an alternative form of education focused on learning through travel and experiencing different cultures - rather than textbooks in a classroom.

The young family found their anxiety around dangers within the UK continued to grow despite being able to do all the things they loved, like seeing family and going to music festivals.

Diana said: “England is so uninspiring right now.

“Other countries haven’t been hit by ‘the death of the high street’ like we have.

“The Philippines has malls the size of Bluewater, everywhere, and they’re thriving.

“You go to a mall in the UK now, and half the shops are shut.

“Even the weather is dismal - the winters drag on, and there isn’t much of a chance to live an outdoorsy lifestyle.”

She also worried about crime rates rising after hearing about a friend who was mugged by teens at knifepoint.

“It’s all bad news after bad news - as a mother, I’m far more hyper-aware about safety than I was before.

“The UK is just on a real decline on so many fronts.”

By taking their son out of school, Diana and Jack now have more time to take him to see his family around the world.

The 36-year-old says the fear of hefty school fines was another incentive for her to move, often wanting to take him travelling during term time.

“The threat of school fines made me feel claustrophobic,” she added.

“The government doesn't own our kids, and they don’t get to decide their opportunities.”

Now, after temporarily moving to Manila, Diana says she feels more relaxed and less anxious.

She’s been able to take her son to the beach, taste new food, and walk him along “bustling high streets” - and says it’s “so much better than the UK.”

But the mum hasn’t ruled out returning to the UK permanently one day - as long as it has “improved.”

Diana said: “There’s a lot to love about the UK - Jack and I really love festival season, in particular.

“London can also be great for adults in their 20s.

“I’ve even got my little beach hut in Folkestone, which I absolutely love.

“It’s just that there are so many more negatives at the moment - to which I say ‘Make Britain Great Again’.”