Parents are forking out an average £28,000 on extracurricular activities for their kids before they leave home.
As many as 77 per cent admit they feel under huge pressure to find extra cash each week for things including tuition, sports and clubs as school budgets are cut.
The study shows some 58 per cent of parents feel they have to find the money because their children love their chosen activities, while 35 per cent just want to give their kids every possible chance in life.
Around 30 per cent said they want to look back and say they did as much as they possibly could for their kids, while 20 per cent want their children to be more successful than they were.
Fury as headteacher 'tells kids to write a "reflection" statement if they want toilet'
The survey of 2,000 parents by education communications consultancy GK and Partners – called Out of School, Out of Pocket – comes as heads and teaching unions warn budgets are not keeping pace with rising student numbers and schools can no longer afford to offer the range of activities parents expect.
GKP spokesman Mark Cooper said: “If cash-strapped schools can’t provide an education in the broadest sense then parents will do what they can to plug the gaps – even if meets cutting back elsewhere."
School dinner lady 'sacked after giving child lunch he couldn't pay for'
The study also found the average parent spends 156 hours a year ferrying children to and from activities.
The average child does three activities a week with swimming lessons and clubs proving the most popular out-of-school activity at 45 per cent.
Sports training is next on 28 per cent, followed by dance and ballet lessons (18 per cent) and gymnastics (17 per cent).
