We have moved to Toronto with two kids (8 and 6). They completed year 3 and 1 respectively in a London private day school. We moved to Toronto and they are now in a top-10 local TDSB school. Because entry is by age here, they are now in grade 3 and 1. I find both kids are at least two years ahead of their classmates. We have spoke to their teachers but there is no possibility to promote them up a grade. There are no extension classes either and the ability to cater to their academic level is next to nill in the class. My son has recently been tested for giftedness in grade 3 but I have no idea about the result of this test yet or how our options change if he qualifies.

I am looking for some advice on (a) how to approach TDSB to allow their needs to be taken more seriously or (b) alternative school options in Toronto. We would have loved to send them to a British school but none exists. We are thinking private schools may be an option but not sure if our situation is caused more by differences in UK/North American pedagogical approach (in which case we would face the same issue in the private system).

The difference in schooling has been the most challenging issue in our move, as we are not sure whether we will be here for two years or permanently. But right now we feel our kids are not learning much compares to what they were in London, and it is providing a reason to go back.

tive school options in Toronto. We would have loved to send them to a British school but none exists. We are thinking private schools may be an option but not sure if our situation is caused more by differences in UK/North American pedagogical approach (in which case we would face the same issue in the private system).[/QUOTE]

We moved almost 2 years ago and are facing a similar issue. If you are planning to be here for a while then you have to accept that this is the education system here and focus on the positives I.e. it actually allow kids to be kids and enjoy their childhood rather than having the relentless pressure (we moved right after my daughter passed the 11 plus). My daughter is adamant that she wants to attend a British university and for that reason only we are looking at private options for Grade 9.

I’m not in Toronto, but did arrive with an 11 year old who was going into middle school, grade 6. Middle school was hard as he was bored stiff and had covered the vast majority of the broader curriculum before he came here. He didn’t like grades 9 and 10 much either and struggled with his attitude, and concentrated on track and field etc, which was good socially. Grades 11 and 12 went splendidly though as he’d started on the IB programme. He graduated last year with good marks and, is loving the first year of uni

It really feels like a minefield moving here. You don’t come here to specifically screw up the life of your children and I think the vast majority come here to give their kids more opportunities later on. At the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, the more invested we have been in his studies the better he has done. We took our eye off the ball when he was 15 or so and we were having a few family problems and it all went a bit pear shaped...but I think we’ve recovered

Very best of luck...moving here doesn’t always seem easy, and it’s damned hard work, but eventually it gets better

thanks... just what I was looking for

maybe I’m over thinking it but definitely something that is putting a lot of pressure on us. The children love the time they spend there, have spent lot of their summers there. Appreciate it’s going to be completely different to them going on vacation but they are adamant they want to move and would leave tomorrow if they could. They are doing well at school here so the pressure to get this right and not take any opportunities away from them is definitely very worrying. Hoping to be in over in Toronto soon so will definitely pop into the local schools and ask if there is any option to have them tested when they arrive and see what grade they need to be put in. Even if it’s unlikely they would!