Hi all

We are looking to move to BC in september next year. My daughter is only 13 this August, yet her school wants her to start her GCSEs this september, meaning she would finish them in June 2011 when she will be nearly 15.

What I would appreciate some advice on is whether she would be better staying in the UK until she has completed them (she can stay here with her dad for this period) and then continuing her education in the canadian system? as she will be doing her GCSEs here at a younger age, will she also get the equivalent in canada when she is 15/16?

I hope that makes sense

thanks

Personally i would get her into the Canadian system ASAP. My kids are now 17 and 19 and are not sure about moving to Canada. If we had gone when they were 13 they would have settled.

All the Canadian kids I have met seem to have had as good if not better education than mine, with a real sense of pride in being a straight A student - rather than here being thought of as a "boff".

Our friends daughter is doing the International Baccalaureate qualification (same as A Levels) and this is recognised by most universities word wide including the UK. That way she can keep her options open.

Don't wait she might change her mind about wanting to join you....

My daughter is also enrolling in the International Baccalaureate programme and has Kate says this is equivelent to several A'Levels, it can also mean that the student doesn't have to do the Foundation course at UNI when they go and also more Scholorships are available. In addition to the IB is the Advanced Placement Programme offered in many of the schools that don't offer the IB.

As for completing GCSE's before you move, that really is your call - me? I'd move over sooner rather than later so she can settle in and make friends before exam time here.

what can i say.....our son was due to do his GCSE's this june, if we were still in the UK. we moved over to canada this feb!!!! so now, he's in a system that will give him two more years at school (he's not thrilled with this but gets it....) but it means for our son, that he will get a second bite of the apple!!! he was going to fail in ther UK....this way, he gets a bit longer to at least get something.....

something to seriously think about is that the UK GCSE's have an obvious value in canada but dependent on what was taken, you may or may not get credits for the work thats been done.....this means that your child might not have enough credits to be recognised by either a future employer or if going into further education; you kids might have to re-train in something, having already completed GCSE's.....this might be too stressful to your kids!!!!

a big plus side of your kids getting in on the canadian school system, is the meeting of peers.....it's a instant social network for your kids, right?

personally, i would get over here asap. the education system seems to be better than the uk system and as already stated, a kid in the UK who is a BOFF, is not considered a boff here.....education is very much valued, right into adult hood......

I wouldn't let the possibility of employment opportunities sway you. My GCSE's are a bit old now but they're worth naff all in the job market.

It sounds like your kid's going to be doing their exams a year early, is this the prime concern? There are plenty of programs (in Ontario at least) for 'gifted' children but whether they'd put your daughter straight in one to let her get ahead a year in Canada too I don't know.