gOD

:scared:

Besides the US (who have have a daily newspaper the size of a paperback, with bugger all international news, and where only one in eight people could point out iraq on a world map (with the text removed, and 1 in ten couldn't even point out the US), I would say that NZ is the most inward looking country I have ever lived in.

It was getting better when I left though. But imagine my surprise back in the eighties when international news seemed to consist of one page in the newspaper and even English football was a tiny paragraph in Mondays paper!

I hope it has changed, and agree with what you said about geography. For instance, it will be much harder to study German in NZ, but easier to study Japanese..

S/pick

let me assure you that their is alot of children in this country who think skegness is in Scotland and so is Middlesborough and also could'nt tell you the president odf current countries. It all depends on how much that child wants to learn and how they are helped by their parents and family.

gOD

You mean skegness is not in Scotland?

S/pick

No it's in Ireland

Sarah2004

Sandypandy,

It depends on how well your daughter does at school, it has nothing to do with the international standard of NZ schools as NZ have much the same standards (if not higher) for entrance to university as you do here. Obviously some schools are better than others. I managed to become a fully qualified physio with post graduate in occupational therapy through NZ school and university education and have always been in demand in England for work - that is till I took a sales job earning 3 times as much as I was getting from NHS;-)

Why don't you call some of the uni's in the UK and speak to their admissions people to put your mind at rest?

sandypandy

Thanks for the advice, I had looked into it but only from websites etc, I hadn't actually spoken to anyone. Thing is, when you start thinking about whether you are doing the right thing for you and the kids, you end up going round in circles, thinking the same things and coming up with "but what if" all the time. MY HEAD HURTS!!
It's just interesting to get other peoples perspective on things, so thanks to everyone who has replied to my questions


I'm off for a glass of wine!

Sandra

nosuchluck

My husband and i have consulted with our 10 year old daughter throughout the process and she is as excited as we are about 'our new life in oz'! she has said that yes, she will miss friends and family but there are phones, emails, pens & paper!!! she has already decided what colour scheme she wants her bedroom, has been looking with me at properties on line, looked at places to visit etc and is looking forward to living where the sky is blue most days, not grey! i was off work last week and for two days it rained, we had to stay in doors and she asked if she could make a list of things to pack!!! i realise that children are 'up one minute, down the next' but our attitude is that if at any time she said she didn't want to go we would discuss it as a family! we haven't even thought about 'what if she doesn't settle!' she will, we will, and IF we don't then at least we have taught her one good thing in life - at least to try it and give it your best shot, life is not a dress rehearsal and 'what if i'd...' isn't an option, life is just too short for what ifs'!
good post, enjoyed reading every one's comments!
also fair play to CARPENTER!!! hubby is a plasterer and wholeheartedly agrees with your comments
with regards
rach, mark and chanelle (10)

S/pick

Exactly, that is my feelings also and doubts will pop into your head about anything and everything. All of us with children would worry about any choice you make for child. Remember no different to if it was their first day at nursery, primary or infants. Children adapt and it of life experience and will speak to you about it if you are a understanding parent so don't worry.

nosuchluck

This is so true, my daughter can talk to Mark or I about anything/everything, there is no embarrassment, worry, we have that sort of relationship, like you say, no different to first day at school any school! we could face problems in this country and we would deal with them - as a family, just as we will in Australia :0)
whereabouts are you heading? how far in your application are you?
take care
rach

whisky

This too has been one of my worries about the education system in Oz.
Not a lot to say, as you all seem to have it well covered, but really enjoyed reading this post, and it has actually put my mind at rest.

This is what makes this forum brilliant.
Do you all realise, we wouldn't beable to talk things through like this to our closest of family, but we can come on here, read and/or partake, and really get it out of our system, and learn a lot at the same time.

Whisky

Gra.B

Did anyone see that program the other night, not sure what it was called, anyway a class full of 15 yr olds sat an 11plus maths exam from the 50's, basic mental arithmatic (without calculators!).
Most of the marks were like 24%, 18%, 12%!!

Just shows what's happening over here. If they are teaching what people here deem as being the basics in Oz/NZ, then surely that's a good thing?

Anyway, I'm not bothered too much as long as they're happy..

Gra..

ACE

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jacqui
Glad to hear that you are settling in so well, sounds like your children are very happy. Please keep posting.
Kind Regards
ACE
PS I have sent you a PM

muppetking

Methinks you are grasping at straws. The most recent Unesco study of 15 year olds (Literacy,Numeracy and Scientific understanding) had NZ and UK children at the TOP of the tree. If you are relying on TV journalism for your information regarding education I suggest you read the Daily Mail or Express...they specialise in it!

mr mover

So you are saying that, "my batteries ran out" will become an excuse for examination failure.......... MM

gOD

They are being taught, the problem is practice. Can you still do long division? Well,you probably can, but I bet that most of my generation would struggle without a calc!! It was taught, but then we spent the next five years using a calculator.