Not Impressed..
Jun 26th 2012, 12:14 pm
#17
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Re: Not Impressed..
Just widen the net. Don't overlook schools simply because they don't contain the words English, British or American.
Jun 26th 2012, 12:38 pm
#18
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Re: Not Impressed..
Having just checked, it appears homeschooling in Saudi is legal for expats?
I wonder how many families are over where one partner does not work and it may be better (or worse) for families to get together and simply homeschool, sharing the responsibilities, within the compounds? I presume fewer families come over without compound accommodation? I know one person who has come home to the UK for the purpose of getting their kids a decent education and has actually voiced concern at the state of education here in the intervening years since being abroad.
That way you don't have to spend extortionate fees, you don't have to worry about what to do (or what you can't do if you are female) during the day, and you have full control over your childs education/welfare.
As an additional point, the UK education system has crumbled, although is better at primary level recently. If you homeschool your child and do not follow the curriculum and pay out of your own pocket for GCSE's/A levels, you have a couple of choices. 1) FE college take in kids who aren't suitable for mainstream education at 14+ for GNVQ's/NVQ's to gain a trade. 2) You can always prompt your children to go to an FE college to take an Access course from 19-20/21 and then apply to university.
I wonder how many families are over where one partner does not work and it may be better (or worse) for families to get together and simply homeschool, sharing the responsibilities, within the compounds? I presume fewer families come over without compound accommodation? I know one person who has come home to the UK for the purpose of getting their kids a decent education and has actually voiced concern at the state of education here in the intervening years since being abroad.
That way you don't have to spend extortionate fees, you don't have to worry about what to do (or what you can't do if you are female) during the day, and you have full control over your childs education/welfare.
As an additional point, the UK education system has crumbled, although is better at primary level recently. If you homeschool your child and do not follow the curriculum and pay out of your own pocket for GCSE's/A levels, you have a couple of choices. 1) FE college take in kids who aren't suitable for mainstream education at 14+ for GNVQ's/NVQ's to gain a trade. 2) You can always prompt your children to go to an FE college to take an Access course from 19-20/21 and then apply to university.
Jun 26th 2012, 12:50 pm
#19
hmmmm...nice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 27,923
Re: Not Impressed..
schools have closed their waiting lists because they simply have no idea who is actually going to turn up in September. The whole there are no school places is a load of shite (apart from a few of the popular schools). Come the end of September they will know what the situation is and then there will be places available again. You just need to relax.
Its a world gone mad with people registering (and often paying admin fees) at 6 schools at the same time, all cause of a stupid hype.
Besides, he's 3 years old, suppose you cannot get him into the school you want this year, you can always transfer him next year or the year after, it's hardly going to affect his academic carreer.
Its a world gone mad with people registering (and often paying admin fees) at 6 schools at the same time, all cause of a stupid hype.
Besides, he's 3 years old, suppose you cannot get him into the school you want this year, you can always transfer him next year or the year after, it's hardly going to affect his academic carreer.
Jun 26th 2012, 1:23 pm
#20
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Re: Not Impressed..
schools have closed their waiting lists because they simply have no idea who is actually going to turn up in September. The whole there are no school places is a load of shite (apart from a few of the popular schools). Come the end of September they will know what the situation is and then there will be places available again. You just need to relax.
Its a world gone mad with people registering (and often paying admin fees) at 6 schools at the same time, all cause of a stupid hype.
Besides, he's 3 years old, suppose you cannot get him into the school you want this year, you can always transfer him next year or the year after, it's hardly going to affect his academic carreer.
Its a world gone mad with people registering (and often paying admin fees) at 6 schools at the same time, all cause of a stupid hype.
Besides, he's 3 years old, suppose you cannot get him into the school you want this year, you can always transfer him next year or the year after, it's hardly going to affect his academic carreer.
Thats the way I was thinking,by putting him into nursery first and then trawling the schools.
I just hope its not as hard as it seems and you are right about the wait lists.
Jun 26th 2012, 1:26 pm
#21
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Re: Not Impressed..
Having just checked, it appears homeschooling in Saudi is legal for expats?
I wonder how many families are over where one partner does not work and it may be better (or worse) for families to get together and simply homeschool, sharing the responsibilities, within the compounds? I presume fewer families come over without compound accommodation? I know one person who has come home to the UK for the purpose of getting their kids a decent education and has actually voiced concern at the state of education here in the intervening years since being abroad.
That way you don't have to spend extortionate fees, you don't have to worry about what to do (or what you can't do if you are female) during the day, and you have full control over your childs education/welfare.
As an additional point, the UK education system has crumbled, although is better at primary level recently. If you homeschool your child and do not follow the curriculum and pay out of your own pocket for GCSE's/A levels, you have a couple of choices. 1) FE college take in kids who aren't suitable for mainstream education at 14+ for GNVQ's/NVQ's to gain a trade. 2) You can always prompt your children to go to an FE college to take an Access course from 19-20/21 and then apply to university.
I wonder how many families are over where one partner does not work and it may be better (or worse) for families to get together and simply homeschool, sharing the responsibilities, within the compounds? I presume fewer families come over without compound accommodation? I know one person who has come home to the UK for the purpose of getting their kids a decent education and has actually voiced concern at the state of education here in the intervening years since being abroad.
That way you don't have to spend extortionate fees, you don't have to worry about what to do (or what you can't do if you are female) during the day, and you have full control over your childs education/welfare.
As an additional point, the UK education system has crumbled, although is better at primary level recently. If you homeschool your child and do not follow the curriculum and pay out of your own pocket for GCSE's/A levels, you have a couple of choices. 1) FE college take in kids who aren't suitable for mainstream education at 14+ for GNVQ's/NVQ's to gain a trade. 2) You can always prompt your children to go to an FE college to take an Access course from 19-20/21 and then apply to university.
I cant think of anything worse than home schooling.
Not only would my son grow up as thick as two short planks,but I would end up in a loony bin!
Jun 26th 2012, 1:41 pm
#22
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Re: Not Impressed..
I'm for it, if done properly, although sent my kids back to school in the end myself due to reasons that were out of my personal control. I'm currently trying to figure out whether compound conditions in KSA mean that homeschooling is a more promising proposition for expat children. I was brought up in various military and military funded schools around the world and I think it was about a year ago that the shrinks were coming up with a new theory, that military brats were 'storing up problems for the future'. In some similar manner, maybe expat kids raised abroad face similar issues?
Therefore, it seems to me, a valid question to ask would be: is homeschooling the better of two evils in this particular situation?
Jun 26th 2012, 1:48 pm
#23
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Re: Not Impressed..
I cant see it being a problem as KTJ junior is white and anglo saxon. They will shift some Johnny Foreigners or Off white British passport holders off the waiting list in favor. Relax and have a beer
Jun 26th 2012, 1:56 pm
#24
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Re: Not Impressed..
Perhaps preconceptions caused by the worst scare stories! You do need a large enough network of other families, and that most of them are considered 'normal' admittedly, not tin foil hat wearing, hippy, dropout types. Education should be something that prepares your children to be useful members of society. If you fail to do such, then you've failed as a homeschooling parent. Thing is, when you hand over responsibility to the state and they fail your kids, who is to blame then? The law here states it is the parents responsibility to ensure a child of school age receives a full time education suitable to their age and any special needs.....blah blah.
I'm for it, if done properly, although sent my kids back to school in the end myself due to reasons that were out of my personal control. I'm currently trying to figure out whether compound conditions in KSA mean that homeschooling is a more promising proposition for expat children. I was brought up in various military and military funded schools around the world and I think it was about a year ago that the shrinks were coming up with a new theory, that military brats were 'storing up problems for the future'. In some similar manner, maybe expat kids raised abroad face similar issues?
Therefore, it seems to me, a valid question to ask would be: is homeschooling the better of two evils in this particular situation?
I'm for it, if done properly, although sent my kids back to school in the end myself due to reasons that were out of my personal control. I'm currently trying to figure out whether compound conditions in KSA mean that homeschooling is a more promising proposition for expat children. I was brought up in various military and military funded schools around the world and I think it was about a year ago that the shrinks were coming up with a new theory, that military brats were 'storing up problems for the future'. In some similar manner, maybe expat kids raised abroad face similar issues?
Therefore, it seems to me, a valid question to ask would be: is homeschooling the better of two evils in this particular situation?
I have waited nearly 3 years to be able to send him off with a kiss and have a partial bit of my normal life back!!
As much as I love him,it will be lovely having him out from under my feet 24 hours a day and not have to be 'Mummy'.
I cant be sure,but I would say im not the only one!
Jun 26th 2012, 2:04 pm
#26
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Re: Not Impressed..
If somebody else wanted to home school my son,in THEIR home,lovely.
I have waited nearly 3 years to be able to send him off with a kiss and have a partial bit of my normal life back!!
As much as I love him,it will be lovely having him out from under my feet 24 hours a day and not have to be 'Mummy'.
I cant be sure,but I would say im not the only one!
I have waited nearly 3 years to be able to send him off with a kiss and have a partial bit of my normal life back!!
As much as I love him,it will be lovely having him out from under my feet 24 hours a day and not have to be 'Mummy'.
I cant be sure,but I would say im not the only one!
Mine went to a nursery at that age, and then off to reception, don't worry, you'll find him a good school when time comes.
Oh, mine is off to boarding school now....and he is a MENSA member, so don't worry, a mum always knows best.
Jun 26th 2012, 2:35 pm
#27
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Jun 26th 2012, 2:56 pm
#28
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Re: Not Impressed..
Doing Foundation 1 at nursery is definitely an option. My advice would be to have a look round when you get here. As already stated, there are plenty of places available.
Jun 26th 2012, 3:09 pm
#29
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Re: Not Impressed..
Its put my mind at rest knowing that there will be places for him regardless of what they are telling me.I was coming close to hitting the bottle!
Now I can wait til I get there!
Jun 26th 2012, 3:27 pm
#30
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Re: Not Impressed..
Tons of English curriculum schools don't have "British" in the title 
Anyway, MataHari is right. Come September it will all settle down and a place will be found. He's so little anyway and there are tons of nurseries.
I had to home school my daughter for two months when we came back to the UK. It was horrid for both of us. I have no complaints about the primary school she is now attending and she's much, much happier. It just wasn't for us, plus I want to work, she likes the social aspect of the classroom - doomed to failure.
I'm in awe of those who can do it. More patience than I'll ever have.
And Jack - not nice. Really.
Anyway, MataHari is right. Come September it will all settle down and a place will be found. He's so little anyway and there are tons of nurseries.
I had to home school my daughter for two months when we came back to the UK. It was horrid for both of us. I have no complaints about the primary school she is now attending and she's much, much happier. It just wasn't for us, plus I want to work, she likes the social aspect of the classroom - doomed to failure.
I'm in awe of those who can do it. More patience than I'll ever have.
And Jack - not nice. Really.