Thousands of British diplomats living abroad lose their right to self-education boarding school in Britain for their children under plans being finalized by the ministers.

From September, parents have to pay a 5 percent enrollment of children raised in Britain, with more top-ups for more expensive schools like Eton and Harrow that charge more than £ 28,000 a year.

This could mean that parents paying at least an extra £ 1,300 per child for one year. Whitehall officials suggested that contributions could amount to 10 percent in the coming years.

The move was immediately condemned by independent schools, which says that the children would be the latest victims of retrenchment.

The measure is part of a comprehensive review of Whitehall boarding costs for the Army, officials working abroad and diplomats to make millions of pounds of efficiency savings. New staff abroad will also have business class flights reduced.

At the moment all Foreign Service personnel to escape boarding school education for their children to average independent school fees of around £ 22,000 a year. Those wanting to send their children to schools like Eton, Winchester, Radley, Sherborne, Wycombe Abbey and Rugby Roedean, who charge up to € 30,000, must pay the difference.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said negotiations continue with unions but the goal is to bring the diplomatic service in line with other government departments and the private sector.

The small print before the budget presented last week shows that the Treasury expects to recover at least 13 million pounds in fees and flights within two years, but larger savings are likely in the future.

The FCO has asked an outside research firm to calculate the new rate to middle school, waiting to be significantly less than £ 22,000 in the upper and lower schools will be excluded. Future reimbursements will be calculated using this level.

The Department for International Development and the Defense Ministry are also conducting their own tests for serving abroad, including the Army, whose results will be announced next year.

The MoD spent £ 103.5 million dollars a year to raise rates for 7800 school children from families of the Armed Forces, an average of £ 13,257 per child. Parents are expected to contribute 10 percent of the fees.

The FCO spends £ 11.5million for 530 children of diplomats, an average of £ 21,698. Part of the difference is due to the discounts that the Army is able to negotiate with schools.

Yesterday, the Ministry also revealed that it was cutting the cost of flights. Today the diplomats posted abroad are allowed out of business class, if their flights are more than three hours. This will be changed to flights of five hours or more, and some evidence that the officer is going directly to a business meeting at the other end. Travel back and forth for ads will be economy class.

The FCO said it was conducting an internal review in all diets of staff in posts abroad. “The review covers the full compensation package and designed to ensure that our benefit package remains both fit for purpose and adequate remuneration to public funds,” said a spokesman.

“The recommendations of the review to identify areas where savings can be achieved and the efficiency of administration can be increased. These recommendations are now subject to consultation with staff and unions.”

Tony Seldon, head of Wellington College in Berkshire, said the diplomatic course of action to contribute to the education of their children was a mistake. He noted that many diplomats were at moderate wages between £ 50,000 and £ 70,000 and would not be able to pay the new rates.

“There are people in the diplomatic service, which could be earning five times more than if they worked for banks or domestic companies,” said Dr Seldon.

“There is a danger that the service will not be able to attract these people with high spirit of quality if they have to start paying fees.”

Hilary Moriarty, National Director of the Association of Boarding Schools’, said it was imperative that children have continuity in their education: “It’s ridiculous, if the children of diplomats have to suffer for helicopters to rescue banks.”

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