Nicely put.

Hi Simon,

I do agree with the previous poster that there is "a perception" that the further north on the Island you go the less desirable the education is... however there is also the view by many people in the south island that civilization ends at the Malahat (just north of Victoria). ;-)

I have friends in the Courtney / Comox area who have educated their children there in that school board system quite happily. We live further south on the Island and personally I cannot speak any more highly of the school system here. Our girls are happy, developing well and actually get stroppy if we try to take them out of school for a day.

Academically, I don't think it is quite in line with the UK year for year. However, and this is a big however, by the time you get to grade 12 - the same as A-Level in the UK, you are just as eligible to go to University as everyone else and to be frank, I think kids get a more rounded social education and allowed to enjoy their childhood.

And my last thought... your child(ren) will do well (academically or otherwise) wherever they go, if they are happy, settled and, by no means least, have your support.

My call would be to go for it, but yes, choose the school carefully, we did and we couldn't ask for a better life for our children.

M.

That rogue apostrophe was in my sights, but where's the point this bloody iPad changes my intentions will nilly! We are Canadian now Novo...so it's all good isn't it?

I fretted about my four year old, and every year thereafter. I arrived in Canada in August with an 11 year old and he's now 12 and loving every second of school life. He got good marks before, but it was under duress, and he worried. Here, he's doing well because he wants to, he loves the teacher...can't think of 1 unpleasant child in the school! He is the happiest and most positive I have ever seen him. I didn't come here for the sake of my child....but it's been a bloody great big bonus. He has just joined Air Cadets, I wasn't so sure but he wanted to, and he's happy with that too. I have lots of irritations about Canada and the Canadians, but my son can't think of one, and that to me is a fantastic result.

I'd sooner be French.

Good to hear. I/We had much the same experience moving our kids from Germany to Ontario when they were, hmmm, lets see, 11 & 9.

Thanks again for all of your comments. By the sounds of it the schools seem to be promoting a great learning environment and (provided we get the right one) our little one should enjoy it (which is half the battle). We'd be very interested to hear of any particularly good or bad ones in the area. All i have to go on is the various independant audits / stats available online. Finally, does anyone familiar with the area have any thoughts on the realities of living there (friendliness to "immigrants", culture, taxes, things to do etc).

If you mean the Fraser Institute rankings then you are best to ignore them. Most sane people do.

They are far from independent. The FI is a lobbying organization that exists to promote the interests of private over public provision of services.

+1 They are a right-wing think tank. Do not trust. They are NOT independent.

It's got to teh point a lot of parents are pulling their kids out of testing cos of the stupid Fraser Institute and their rankings. At my school 20% of children didn't sit the tests, in Vancouver it's up there too. I dunno about you, but that would skew the results a lot, wouldn't it?

But the thing the OP should understand is that moving to a small, rural and isolated town, you’re going to get the corresponding education system. And rural in NA doesn’t mean quaint and middle class, it means poor and backward.

+1 on the Fraser institute comments.


Oh come on... yes you can be correct, and some northern BC towns remind me that ;-) but that is a big brush you are using.... the OP was talking about Comox Valley and Parksville. Comox valley does have it's challenges in that has a "local" population and limited work opportunities but it is certainly on the up and has tremendous activities on the doorstep. They are also talking about living in the Parksville / Qualicum area where the population has one of the highest per capita investment holdings in Canada - so limited in job opportunities (which is why I chose not live there just now) but certainly not poor and not backward!

Got it - ignore the FI and "Backward" is an emotive word. So.... there are good and bad schools and be wary of going too far North on the island and finally, beware small rural communities which are potentially poor and backward. Seriously though, Comox is a great location an is on the up... The school system is good and i'm lucky to be looking at a good salary. Someone mentioned taxes? Are they really that bad?

I'll be charitable then, small and parochial, although go a bit north or west and well. And the school systems there are geared for providing people for the resource and service industries. The OP asked about the education system around that area.

Mark,
What exactly do you mean by Comox being on the up?
Thanks in advance...

Because there is an airfield there?

In Canada places like Comox are usually considered 'on the up' when they are cutting trees down or digging stuff out of the ground.

In the few years I have been on the Island I have seen quite a number of changes. Some will say that development is good, some will disagree. Even in this short time I have seen is the development of a more mature and diverse economic base (not just wood and paper) and a significant investment in infrastructure... whether that be simply roads or retail / industrial units etc.

Contrary to popular belief this is not just limited to the mainland or Victoria area for that matter. Comox has seen large investment in the small industrial units around the airfield and a new road infrastructure in the same area. Over towards Courtenay you will see investment in retail units (Costco and the like)... whilst these are not to everyone's taste, small industrial and retail are net job creators and encourage further investment in the area.

And no I am not saying this is the same for all areas, this is just my view of the area you are looking at working in.