Our experience = teens didnt want to come, but agreed to give it a try...but then our oldest didnt even apply himself for his gcse's as we were moving.

Our arrival was put back due to me breaking my leg so instead of oldest son starting school here in Sept 07 yr 10 for a few months and then do all yr 11 & 12(he was mentally prepared to either go to college in uk then or start school here) so he ended up out of school for almost a year, he didnt want to do any college courses in uk to pass the time as he didnt see the point with us upping and moving.
He was totally out of the 'pupil' mentality by the time he started school here(May 08) he stuck it out til oct 08 and tried to be fair but didnt settle and looking back he was in a crap school...he then refused to go to tafe saying it was all a waste of time, we had a really hard time with him trying to get him motivated for anything, and unmotivated kids attract and hang out with like minded kids - so we ended up with him off the rails (aswell as his sister which is another story)
Hes finally come right....he did a hospitality course and is now working and saving up to go travelling with an english mate who's over for a year...

The daughter - who was off the rails in the uk lasted 3 weeks in school here, the system is different putting more onus on the kids to be responsible for their learning - rather than the teachers actually exerting discipline and enforcing work/homework, so she did exactly as she pleased and the school were rather hopeless at supporting her or us.
She attended a few tafe courses our friend got her onto but aside from that she has no formal qualifications at all. Theres plenty of time for her to turn that around but shes realised its going to be so much harder now to go back to education than if she'd stuck it out.

Most kids get it right, thankfully, but not all of them and theres nothing so unpredictable as kids!!!

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm glad to read that things have settled down for you now though. Your post goes to show that there's additional risks involved with moving our teenage kids to Australia.

I am staying until he finishes his GCSE'S. We spoke to his school (will be) in Oz and they say his GCSE'S count for all of year 11 so at least when he does start school in July in Oz then he can just settle in and concentrate on making friends. He is ok with this now so it's all good. The only downside is we will be split as a family for 3 months but i'm sure it will go quick

Thanks for all your help

Thanks for your update . That's an interesting and positive looking outcome . And maybe something which we can also consider. We have appointments set up for some Canberra schools in early April so I'll also raise that possibility in our discussions. I hope it works out well for you .

Alfresco, you might want to look into this as well

Thanks, I think the plan for us is that our son willl start Uni in 2010 having finished A Levels here and daughter will finish GCSEs this year so will most likely do years 11&12 from Jan 2011. We don't feel she could catch up a whole year.

Will probably get her into school anyway when we arrive to start getting used to it without to much academic effort required.

But we'll do some research and ask her prospcetive school what the possibilities are. If the scool recons she'll cope with yer 12 only then we may do that.

It's good to know what the options are.