Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

We had the same dilema 2 years ago, we decided to let our two sit the GCSEs then go! Fine in principal, but the house sale is taking forever and the older boy just turned 17, now says is isnt coming with us!!!!!! I would advise getting the kids to Canada before they can excerise the own choice, because they can become blinkered and their fear of the unknown hamper their reasoning.

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

hi there, you have just summarised my fears.My gut feeling is make the move asap so they form a life over there.
Regarding info about the schooling it all seems quite favorable apart from the equivalent exams GCSE and a-levels are taken a year later.
Good luck with the house sale i hope you get over there soon.
Ali

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

ExpatinScotland

Our 2 sons went to schools in rural Alberta and Ontario from aged 6 to 11 before returning to the UK in 2005.
Generally we found schooling very good for English/maths but lacked practical subjects and sports facilities. My sons schools in Oxfordshire has national standard sport dome and free professional after school sport lessons/activities.
We founds Teachers were good in Canada, but not specialised as in the UK (secondary level).
If you have a degree in Canada you can teach. We had a friend who had a phycology degree who taught up to 18 year olds anything from music to physics.
Educating our 2 sons in the English system was one of our reasons to return to the UK.
Eldest Son (14) is spending Saturdays at Oxford University have free advanced Maths classes which we would never get in rural Canada
hudd

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

Still, must have been handy when it came to getting ride of the algae from the school swimming pool.

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

Hi we moved our 3 children 6 10 and 13 and I had huge fears about thier schooling as they were doing so well in their schools at home. However they are so happy and settled that i had no need to worry and although the syllubus is different here I would say they education is on a level. They are skiing snowboarding camping and generally leading a much more active life. My 13 year old daughter has seemed to have re gained her childhood and no longer wants to hang out in town or spend hours on MSN. All in all this was a great move for them and they never want to go back

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

Hi Joanne
I agree. My 12 year old is the same - refreshing, hey?

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

...or in rural England, Wales or Scotland!

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

Hi, innercity schools tend be not as good as rural ones. They treat children more as adults in senior school, but there isnt the same "hoody" mentallity especially in the smaller towns.There is community and school spirit, something long gone from the UK and parents are very much encouraged to join in and help with after school events and sport events. There are bad schools here like anywhere else, but overall there is more respect for parents and teachers.My daughter went to an inner city school with a lot of first nation kids who had a lot of social problems, crystal meth is the most common
drug and is right across Canada prevelent in first nation communitys.I'll probably get in trouble for saying that... ,smaller= better, much better..

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

I grew up going to Canadian schools and seem to have done okay for myself.

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

HI sharon

It is very refreshing although as we are now having this nightmare about driving licences we may not be able to stay. My 13 year old had already said that she is not going to come back if we have to go and will stay wtih my sister and her family, that is how much she loves it. Hopefully we can all stay together and they can continue to live this 'dream' life that they so enjoy

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

Rob4BC

We actually live in a village in rural Oxfordshire and have a 20 minute drive to the University. So you can get extra lessons going to a rural secondary school.

hudd

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

Yes, if you live within a reasonable drive of such a facility - many rural communities in the UK and Canada will not be - that's the nature of living in a rural area. Cities will have more facilities.

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

hi there, can i ask you what are the problems that you are having with the driving licences?
Ali

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

HI

Basically because we are from the channel islands they don't reconize that we have a valid licence and therefore won't exchange. We have to submit our licence to thegovernment and then after 3 months they will let us take and advanaced test but in between times we are not allowed to drive. We have jobs to get to and 3 children to get to school. This is therefore not an option but without a alberta licence we can't renew our insurance. Any ideas????? Joanne

Re: More questions about going to Canada..
 

If they won't exchange your licence, then you are free to keep it.
If they do not accept your licence to exchange it, then surely you are free to take your test like anyone from another country not on the list of exchange countries and only have to wait as long as it takes to get an appointment.

I don't understand why you have to give them a licence they do not recognise, and why you have to wait 3 months to take an advanced test?
What am I missing?

Just go and take the test and get a licence.