Elaine B.

Just wondered if anyone can share their experiences of the Canadian Primary School system compared with the UK (especially Northern Ireland).

We plan to move back to Northern Ireland in September of this year if possible (feel free to boo and hiss) Anyway my little boy (he's in SK) will be 6 years old on November 26 so he would be going into Grade 1 if we stay here but P2 if we are in NI. I'm worried that he will be way behind the other kids as they will have already done one full year of school. Is he going to be struggling to keep up? Am I worrying over nothing?

Member123

Dont worry about people booing and hissing - you are doing what is right for your own family

Only thing I would worry about is the mess that our current politicians are making of a world class education system:curse:

Elaine B.

Thanks Alvic Shouldn't you be off somewhere having a drink and saying goodbye to some people!!

Member123

The past two weeks I have said more goodbyes than I have had hot dinners and the worst is yet to come on Thursday morning when we leave

And OH in true "Northern Ireland male" style just stands and laughs at me crying and says "Surely you aren't crying again"!!!!

The problem is the large Northern Irish families who are very close knit.

Coffeepot

Good luck Alvic real men cry so don't worry

Elaine B.

My OH just says "why are you laughing"?

Anyway do you know anything about the Integrated schools? I'd rather my kids didn't have to waste as much time at school as I did doing Religious Education. Mind you it was the only subject I got an A in at GCSE

manghams

Been thinking about this one since I read it earlier.

For what its worth I think the reason Canadian kids are dropped back in the UK system is because it is just so rigid; the curriculum is fixed, I dont belive the education in the UK is better, only if you fit within the defined parameters do you excel.

For my part my kids were ADHD, ADD and Dyslexic in that order and all struggled in the UK. The Canadian system seems much more accommodating. My 16 yr old in High School has picked courses which are prerequisites for his uni course.

ann m

Ditto - been thinking about this.

My two moved from a UK primary school last May, into an Albertan Elementary. They are both bright, (I'd say) above average students with no particular special needs (unless being a cheeky smarta**e qualifies !).
The Canadian system is much more relaxed in the school environment, compared to their very quiet and I agree, pretty rigid UK classroom and curriculum. (There were a couple of kids in their UK setting that, while they did get help, I could witness were quite seriously floundering by aged 8/9. I do wonder if they will catch up or muddle by OK.)

I sit on the fence. I like both systems, for their different emphasis. I was happy with the UK system because it was very structured and stricter - but it suited my kids and I had no issues with it. Other parents of their school friends would not be so complimentary.

I very much like most of the Canadian elementary education I see here. The school and the teachers are more open and approachable, there is a much stronger emphasis on sociability, responsibility, empathy; physical education is way more funner man, it's coowel. The curriculum is virtually the same apart from being run about a year 'behind' the same age group.

A good school will accept and integrate a child going in either direction of the immigration game. And I think the early years education in both countries is actually of a clear, high standard (it's those middle/early teen years where both countries "could do better" !! ) .

For the OP, with your son entering the UK system for the first time from the Canadian system, I'm sure they will settle in fine. With some careful explanation with their new teacher of what has or has not been covered yet - the child won't necessarily struggle if home and school are working hard to help But I suspect you may just have to accept that the basic reading/writing skills will need some strong input initially. Within a couple of months, it'll all come together beautifully. And his accent will also be pretty cooowel

Best wishes ....

Elaine B.

Thanks for the replies

fionamst

I worked in pre-school in Scotland and found that a lot of kids at age 5 weren't emotionally ready for school so some stayed in pre-school for another year and started school at 6 and were much better emotionally to cope with school. So I wouldn't worry too much as he will probably catch up on anything he is behind in quite easily.


Fiona

Elaine B.

Thanks Fiona

do you think it would be wise for my little guy to start in P1 and be a year older than all the other kids or go straight to P2 with kids of his own age. I think in Scotland and Northern Ireland P2 is for ages 5-6. My little guy has been in group daycare since he was 10 months old and he is now in his second year of Kindergarden so at least he's used to being in a classroom at least for 2 hours per day.

lauder99

hi there

My daughter started P1 in Scotland back in August she just turned 5 at Xmas she has classmates who turned 6 at Xmas. She is the youngest and smallest in the school.

I find they push quite hard on the academics, Abby gets reading homework every day, and has done from day one. We were warned at her first parents night after only one term that we should be woorking harder with her if we wanted Abby to stay in the top reading group. I prefer the sound of the Canadian system, Abby really needs more room to expand her personality and social skills than pushing her reading to that extent.

I think based on his Birthday he would be ok to start P1 and would therefore be in at the beginning with his classmates. That is our hope that we can start Abby in Canada at the start of her school career so she doesnt have to work so hard to integrate into an existing class group.

I'm not sure if that helps at all.

Cheers
Tom

Elaine B.

Thanks Tom

I must say the Canadian system has definitely help my little guy develop his social skills. I used to worry that he was going to be the shy kid with not many friends but he has no problem standing up in front of his class and talking when it's his turn to do "show and share". I do wish he was a bit further along in his reading though.

Mrs Miggins

I think that we all have to keep in mind that it will vary hugely from school to school and teacher to teacher.

My son is what they consider in the Canadian system (this is straight from his teacher) as gifted (although I am not so sure), I feel he's a bright and socialised child who has spent a lot of time with adults........ I have had to ask for books to be sent home for reading each evening, as the literacy programmes here, seem nowhere as near developed as those in the UK. I couldn't believe that the time wasn't taken to look at any of his educational info from the UK at all, they had him learning the alphabet, when in fact, he was already a level one reader.

I feel that overall my son would be at a much higher standard of education had we have stayed in the UK due to the much more regimented methods. However, had my son had learning difficulties then I would much prefer the school he goes to here.

Overall I am a tad disheartened with his teacher and now choose to homeschool Master Miggins at the weekends and holidays so I can pick up on things that may be being missed in class (I come from a background that allows me to do this luckily). I am rather shocked that basic literacy strategies aren't encouraged with the kids and that the teacher spends so little time on literacy and math. But I must say, the sense of belonging he has from his school, the general social skills he is developing etc have been great. But I really thought the overall standard of education would be higher.

By the way, what happens if your kids go to FI and you don't speak much French? Does that present a problem for the child?

However an important point that I would make, is that Master Miggins has been learning piano for a reasonable cost and is also in to dance, both things that would be much more costly elsewhere.....

I have to say, I would seriously consider moving him to another school, but this is supposed to be one of the better schools!!!!!

Hope this helps !

Mrs Miggins xxx

lauder99

Hey Mrs Miggins

thats good info thanks for that. I have read other peoples comments on here that in their opinion by the time of high school there is a smaller, if any, gap between the UK and Canada. It might be just a difference in the emphasis.

I was watching a programme earlier this week where a Psychologist described the UK education system as no longer being about teaching our kids to think for themselves but is more interested in turning them into good Producer/Consumers.

I don't think any mainstream education system is going to be right for any one child it is up to us as parents to fill in the gaps.

Sorry if I hijacked the thread a bit.

Cheers
Tom