A NORTH-East couple are sending their six-year-old son to be schooled 1,300 miles away in Albania.

Petrit and Juliette Muca took their eldest son, Aleks, out of Benedict Biscop Primary Primary School, in Sunderland, after claiming he ‘went backwards’ and made no progress in learning to read.

Mr Muca, who is Albanian, and his wife, who is from Northampton, say Aleks stands a better chance of mastering maths, science and reading 1,321 miles away in eastern Europe.

Mrs Muca, 30, said: "My complaint is with the system - it’s all about being creative.

"But children need to learn science, maths and reading."

Benedict Biscop Primary was described by Ofsted as being ‘good and improving’ and sending Aleks to Albania will cost the couple, who run a shop, £1,500-a-year in school fees.

He will live with Mr Muca’s parents and study in Tirana, returning home to his parents and brother Hari, three, during school holidays.

But Mrs Muca said: "It’s a major sacrifice, but we have to do what’s best."

A World Economic Forum report published last week placed the UK at 43rd in the world for maths and science, behind Albania.

Mrs Muca said: "It doesn’t surprise me. Labour created a system where kids get 10 A*s at GCSE - but what does that mean if everyone gets them?"