Help needed
 

I am aU.S citizen moved to Australia,3 years ago related to work. I have got family here with me as well,my wife and 2 sons.Recently got a job offer from U.K,awesome offer in NHS hospital, not sure whether to go ahead or not. we have no family here in Australia.just few friends.All our family is in U.S.My wife is interested in moving to U.K and to travel around U.K with me.But family in U.S pushing us to return back to U.S. We are from California.Both our families are worried about our kids future,they are in year 4 and year 5.They think that our travelling is going to affect the kids education and future.its so hard to make a decision.I got the job offer from Kent,U.K.Any suggestions please

Re: Help needed
 

Your wife and children are you main concern do what makes your little family happy.
There are good schools in UK, so I don't see how you will do them harm by moving to Kent. California has all kinds of problems and lack of money/teachers, so moving here would be a crap shoot education wise.
With living in more countries your children will be well traveled and have more of a world view than most Americans, it doesn't do them any harm.
Sounds like the US relatives just want you to move back to US.
In UK you'll have great paid time off, so will be able to have more time for the US family to visit you and you to visit them.

Re: Help needed
 

Agreed. California's education system is in a tailspin and making your children citizens of the world opens their horizons beyond belief. Hopefully they can obtain more than one citizenship (US plus either OZ or UK (or both!)) in the course of your travels.
Many more weeks vacation each year is a huge benefit for a growing family. Just don't spend it all toing and froing to Calif.

Re: Help needed
 

As for school quality, like everything, it really comes down to where you live and where you are specifically going to be attending school. You'll need to look at the options in Kent vs. your specific area in California (Silicon Valley is quite a bit different than say Watts, etc).

What makes it a tough call for us is that we want our kids to be "from" somewhere.

We have been professional expats for the last fifteen years or so with multiple posting around the world, but have slowed down now that we have children who are busy making friends, getting immersed in a community and culture. We've basically said "once they turn 10" we want to be settled in one place so that they can say "I am from XX" and have a set of friends they've grown up with and know closely (and hopefully, will continue to be friends with as they turn into adults). We really don't want to move them once in high school/secondary school.

Is your move to the UK one that could last, or will you be looking again in 3 years for another move?

Re: Help needed
 

Hi. We lived in Kent before moving to Canada. I assume you are looking to get your children in the state education system so I hope the following is of use:

- In Kent and most of the UK, decent primary schools are in general over subscribed so you may not be able to go to the school of your choice.
- Class size is generally 30 with 1 teacher and if your lucky an assistant too.
- Ofsted reports for schools give a view on how performance of schools so you may wish to google for those for the area you are looking to go to
- You cannot usually apply for a place at a school until you are resident in the country either - even returning residents have to wait until they are physically in the country.
- Grades/Years don't run on calendar year birthdays, so whilst your children may be in years 4 and 5 now they may be in a different year/grade in the UK. As an example children born between 1st September 2004 and 31st August 2005 would be going into year 4 this coming September.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Re: Help needed
 

Well, education-wise your kids will probably have some catching up to do if moving from Aus but they're probably going to have to catch up if you move on to USA too. I wouldn't be worrying about the stability for them educationally for several years yet so if your plan is a 3 yr contract I think you have enough time up your sleeve there. Education broadens the mind so they say and a British education is pretty good in the world scheme of things. If the job is a good one for you then it doesn't seem too large a risk.