Parnell

Any advice on finding schools in Toronto?
Looking for British system as will move on to UK in around 5 years
Girls both would prefer mixed but girls only is ok
Will be working in downtown but happy to live 90 minutes away (by train), as choose own hours to commute or not to commute (work from home).
Can go either public or private

plasticcanuck

For anything resembling the British system I suspect you'll need to go private and even then syllabus would probably be governed by Provincial Government requirements for Ontario. A prominent private girls school in Toronto would be Havergal College.

Aviator

This is Canada, our school system does not follow the system of another country. Canadian system is more oriented to the US system.

Snowy560

You could try looking at a school that offers the IB. Near where I live there are public schools that do this. I don't know about Toronto but I googled and found this:

International Schools in Toronto | Expat Arrivals

However, I chose to put my kids in a Canadian high school (and not the IB one). They both survived and thrived (even the 15 year old who is 18 now).

S

Novocastrian

Err, so is the UK system these days. Hence the ignorance in all three countries.

Parnell

Thank you for that view
What we have found is many western countries still have adapted international schools that while they follow the host syllabus, they have an influence or feeding focus for expats returning.

Oink

You're right, certain parts of the world, usually international schools in ex-British colonies in Africa and Asia will align their curricula with the British system. That won't be the case in Canada as they worship and emulate all things American, even if they pretend not too. My advice is to insist the children are put in a grade above their age grouping and then use tutors to fill in the blanks.

Parnell

Does this indicate schooling at USA or Canada is slightly behind UK?
My concern with this would be the social aspects of fitting in. We already have outside tutors for mathematics and languages, where they struggle but for English and Sciences they excel regardless of tutor.

Oink

Maybe more intense and focused to fit within the structure and nature of British higher education, while in North America they take a broader holistic approach. Historically, British HE had been severely rationed allowing specialization at an earlier stage. In NA, mass participation in HE meant that this process was delayed.

You're right to be concerned by the social aspects. Children who are bumped upwards can feel isolated and lonely.

Parnell

This was also recommended to me by a few people today. Will add to a short list for visit

dbd33

Some of my children played iced hockey for their school in a league including the team of Branksome Hall. They were impressed by the physical facilities there.

dgagitw

Ironically, given its history, Toronto doesn't have any schools offering the British curriculum whilst it does have ones that cover the French one with a few constraints. As others have said, the IB is probably your best bet for a transferrable education, although people do regularly go straight into UK universities with an Ontario leaving certificate, so you shouldn't worry too much. If you're planning on living in one of the more expensive areas of the city or in a nice burb, I'd suggest sticking with the public system, it's generally pretty good and free at the point of delivery of course. Otherwise, Branksome Hall, Havergal, The York School, St Clements, Crestwood and others are all good and worth a look.

Zoe Bell

New health and wellness centre. Cost around 40 million. Even I'm impressed by it.

FromUKtoBC

this might seem like a really silly question, but where do i post/start new threads?

can't seem to find the link for it!

Pollyana

Go to the Index page of the forum in which you want to post - if its Canada, here's the link
Canada - British Expats
Then there is a blue bar containing the words THREADS IN FORUM - just above that is a blue button NEW THREAD
Click on that and away you go