For Lee - Moving to Poole

It seems your original post has been lost somewhere but here's my response.


Hello Lee,

What follows is some random and hopefully helpful bits of advice. I can’t really comment on the curriculum of the UK apart from stating that, as a teacher, I did not find it “advanced”, just different. As well, the government is considering changing the way it assesses 16,17 and 18 year olds. I’m not sure they have decided what to do.

www.ofsted.gov.uk

It is not too soon to investigate local schools. I am not sure where your eldest would be placed (either secondary or sixth form college) but the key thing to remember is that just because you live near the school does not mean your boys will be able to attend it. Contact the head teacher of the schools you are interested in, to see if you can arrange a tour. Bring any current or interim reports you have for your sons. These might make securing a place easier.

This site named above is the government agency that inspects schools. You should be able to find recent reports of schools in your area. This will enable you to choose a school that is suitable for your children’s needs.

As for your son finishing his highschool in the UK I think he will find that he has more freedom and greater responsibility in Sixth form. I taught at a secondary school in England so if there are any specific questions he has, feel free to ask on his behalf.


http://www.upmystreet.com/
This website helps provide a snapshot of the local area. I used it when house hunting.

Is your employer helping you with respect to getting a National Insurance Card? I assume they would as they are transferring you, but ask anyway. Until you have one, you pay a higher rate of tax.

All the best,

Brenda

Brenda,

Thanks so much for your response and for the websites.

I had contacted the high school in Poole already 2 weeks ago, with no response back still, so my first impression is not good.

I did not realize that kids do not necessarily go to the high school in their local area. This is not ideal. Is transportation available to the schools? I'm not sure I want to drive in England. Is is difficult to drive over there when you've been driving in Canada for 30 years?

Thanks,
Lee

Hello Lee,

As far as I know it is the responsability of the parents to bring the children to school.
There is no "yellow buses" like in Canada.

They could probably also take the "normal buses" as a lot of kids do !!

It is not that difficult to drive here in England. You just have to understand how the roundabouts work and to drive on "the right side" ....

http://www.foshy.co.uk/wayfarer/roundabouts.html

Joanne

Hello Lee,

One thing that did occur to me after posting my initial response is that the school may want your son to go in 5th year and then the following year would be 6th year. That would mean he would be doing an extra year before graduating. He may not be pleased with this. I would not be. The reason for this would be is that the pupils start work on assignments that carry over into 6th year. Public transport is available to the schools but I tend to avoid the bus at those times just because the pupils can get quite rowdy and obnoxious.

You haven’t said how long you intend to be in the UK for but you can drive here on your Canadian licence for the first year. If you can prove that you did your driving test on a standard (like it’s written on your licence or you have paper proof from the government that specifically states your licence is for a manual transmission car) then the DVLA will exchange your Canadian licence for a full UK driving licence. If you can’t prove that you took your test in a manual car, then they will give you a licence to drive automatic vehicles only. That being said, most cars here are standard.
Basically, you’re fine for the first year, then you might have to drive an automatic or take the notorious driving test and get a full licence that way.

The driving does take some getting used to. I suggest you buy a copy of the Highway Code (this explains all the road signs and the rules of the road) and take a few lessons with a driving instructor just to gain confidence and knowledge on how they drive here. It’ll be money well spent.

-Brenda

This is the website for the Borough of Poole. This page is a good place to start for securing schools for your boys.

http://www.poole.gov.uk/servicetitles.a ... To+Schools

If that link does not work just goto www.poole.gov.uk and search "schools"

-Brenda

Joanne, Brenda,

Thanks for all your help.....there is much to think about and consider that's for sure.

We will be there for 3 years.

Brenda, regarding the schooling for my oldest. I'll have him read your post after school today. I imagine he will not be impressed.

I'll have more questions in the next few days as we take everything in and check out all the websites you've provided.

You've been a big help already.

Lee

Brenda,

Please see your private message in a few minutes.

Thanks,
Lee

if you are only going to be here for three years it wont matter much. the kids wont get that screwed up, they will be able to get a proper education when they go home. I have heard from a lot of people that your kids future is decided when he is 6, at which point if he doesnt go to a "good School" he is screwed for life.

Yes, I hear you .... my kids have been in the gifted program in Ontario, which is an advanced, enriched program for kids falling within the top 2% of the population on the WISC Intelligence test, and so they've had very good education. Having been in a program like this, I just want to make sure the transferring to the UK system is not going to shove them back a year just because they look at the grade they are in, in Ontario. The gifted kids remain in the appropriate grade for their age here, they just finish their year in a 1/3 of the time and spend the rest of the time, exploring and delving deeper into each subject area. I'm talking about grades 10 & 12, for next fall, so I think it will make a difference to teenagers what type of school they go to in the UK -- very much so, especially as one of them would be ready to go to University in 1.5 years if he were to remain in Ontario.

If Brenda is correct, he may have to repeat a year in the UK high school, which I think he will not want to do. They will not be able to visit until March Break, so we have some time to set up some different tours. It's not easy to decide what to do by looking at things on the internet, so I appreciate any advice you all can offer.

Would they be better off in a private school vs a public school system is another question? How expensive might this be? Any comments?

I'm not sure how much the fees are for private schools but I'm guessing that they would start at a few thousand pounds and increase from there.

Just to make things confusing for you, what we refer to as private schools in Canada are called either public or independent schools here.

If your eldest intends on attending university in Ontario, he may want to research the transferability of his courses if he finishes his schooling in the UK. Is correspondence an option?

Have you asked what benefits your husbands company will be providing for your family? If you can get private health insurance, you want it. The difference between having private insurance and not having it is waiting for 5 weeks to see a physiotherapist vs seeing one almost immediately.

As far as I know, they don't really do dental insurance here. If you can swing that, it would be a bonus.

-Brenda