Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Me very happy here, boy very happy, girls (aged 9) both want to go back too (based on holidays over there rather than actually having lived there).

Another factor that needs to be taken into consideration is our great dane, we don't want to put him through the stress of a plane flight so we will have to give him away. That will break the kids hearts.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Yep, my wife and I have chatted about this very scenario a lot recently.

My worry is not being able to shift our house here to begin with?

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

I wish.

As for the school thing, it is irrelevant as in the end they all end up roughly the same, no one can suggest people educated in UK are better than educated in AUS, especially as if your going for jobs in UK then UK quals better, likewise for AUS, so it all becomes irrelevant in the end.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Very difficult situation.

I mean if there was an agreement where if one person was unhappy then they all go back then I suppose it is different.

But if everyone but one person is happy and the partner really does not want to go back to England, who makes the biggest sacrafice?

The person that loves where they live and would hate to move back to England or the person that wants the family to go back to the UK because they want to.

Very hard, glad it isn't me.

I know that if Mr PP wanted to go back, I would follow him but if I am brutally honest, I would not be happy.

Renth I hope you sort it out mate.:)

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

It's the end result of the Education system that counts, not where they are at any given time during it. Tell your wife, that a dead set UK lover said this. At the end of the schooling cycle I'd say Australia produces far fewer bottom end results, possibly more middle and possibly less top end. I can't see that employers anywhere are going to tell the difference between completing a VCE and the UK equivalent of university entry (whatever that is).... The only places that take real notice of those marks are universities. With the employers, it's enough that you completed the year in most cases. I think you'll find that Australia has a higher final year participation rate... not sure on that though. My daughter is doing well enough with her average VCE results in the London employment market. She doubts if she would get into Oxford or Cambridge, but fairly confident if needs be, that she would get into Leeds uni.

I'd only go back Renth on the proviso that I had a much better job than here if I were you. One thats almost impossible to turn down, hence it becomes worthwhile for you being there.


BTW, nothing worse than a unsettled partner giving you hell, so I do sympathise, I'd say your on your way back. Best find a damn good job.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Well, there was such an agreement and it's being cashed in.

The current bottom line is this. If my kids get admitted to a particular local private school my wife likes we stay. If they don't we go. Simple.

The boy is the 9th boy on the list to start in Feb 2010 with all offers for that year already made. We went on the waiting list in June 2004 FYI.

The registrar said of my boy's chances "This position is within a reasonable number to expect withdrawals to occur, especially given that there is still 18 months for the whole process to settle down."

So 8 boys will have to drop off the list and no "regular churchgoers" leapfrog us in the meantime.

A lot of people "hedge" and apply for more than one school so I'm hoping this might happen when the demands for money start. We'll have to wait and see.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Great answer, thanks. It's going to be hard to walk from this job at the Uni, especially as I'm about to get a promotion.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Mirrors what I just explained but more briefly.

You cannot put a price on quality of life, an average working man can achieve a much better lifestyle her than in the UK.

I think my income increase would have to be very substantial to atain the lifestyle I have here to even consider the option. Then I think of the kids and know they are better off here.

No offence Renth but a 9 year old doesn't have the benefits of understanding, politics, economics, crime statistics and general demographics to make a decision on where they should live.

I think that decision should be yours and without any influence from them.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

If we do go back I'll still be getting hell for being skint, because I can't imagine I'll get a great job. Not at 43 at the wrong end of a recession.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Also, whilst China and to a lesser extent India are playing a bigger part in the world economy. Employment opportunities in the UK v Australia could well be a lot worse, as the Australian economy benefits from the resources boom in all areas, not just mining. No point being highly educated in a country with poor job opportunities, I'd say thats a very important nay critical factor.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Echo all that.

Setting to one side all the moaning I do about congestion, infrastructure and . . . blah blah blah, wild horses couldn't drag me back to the UK because I know I couldn't afford the lifestyle I've become accustomed to here back in the UK.

Ozzie eagle is spot on. We, with all our picking and prodding and keeping up with the Jones', have made education into a race where points are given for just being in front, not at the end where it may or may not matter, but at any point along the way in what could be a fifteen year journey. Its no wonder kids are growing up daft! Who honestly gives a monkeys whether little johnies performance on lead triangle in the school nativity was 'something to behold'? Nobody, that's who. Or should I say nobody with something better to do. The shame is that not everybody has something better to do.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

I really, truly believe that Australia is going to be 'the' place to be in the next few decades.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

I achieved far more after leaving school than I did whilst there, I also educated myself to a much higher standard than school offered.

The opportunity for private education for working class families here is much easier to access also. Worth considering.

I also found that the persons attitude is a very influential factor in what they might achieve in adult life. Regardless oif schooling.

Yes education at school level can be a springboard to other opportunites, but in itself is not worth that much in the wider working environment.

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Have you had a trawl through the London and surroundings job sites to see what and at what salary is available? It seems a shame to give a up a good number at a Uni in Perth to have to go back to corporate monkey in London, and, as you say, just before a likely recession.

Maybe if you can show how worse off you will be, then it would help your argument for staying...


S

Re: Is it a good time to move back to the UK?
 

Hello,
my hubby is primary teacher and we have noticed difference in primary education compared to Europe. We also have daughter aged 9.

However we have son who is 16 next week, and I have to admit his Year 11 work is on par with UK Alevels. He is doing Maths,Physic, Chem and work is really hard. Somehow they must catch up with UK kids.
We also think for our son, has more career opportunity once he has left school here in WA compared to UK.

Gems