A friend mentioned it to me the other day and it makes sense, but sounds too simple. A lot of private schools are very expensive but offer meaningful means-tested bursaries. Many families have one major bread earning leg, so what if the parents divorce and agree custody for the low-earning leg. The child should then be eligible for bursaries. The value of bursary can be worth 100k over 5-6 years. For myself it might not difficult as myself and partner both live together in the same country, but the friend that brought it up lives separately with his partner to begin with (overseas work assignment). Too simple?