My husband has job offer in Calgary just started filling in forms etc.

The only thing I'm worried about are my kids. They say they don't want to go to Canada. They are worried about starting a new school and making new friends. I'd imagine this is common and understandable with all children.

My daughter is 12 and my son 9. My daughter past her 11 plus and is in a really good grammar school. If we emigrate and decide to come back she would never get back into her school again. Is the Canadian education as good as it is in the uk. I did read about it on wiki but couldn't take it all in, I think it said it wasn't.

Is there anyone who has or has had the same worries.

We want to move to Canada because we think it would be better to raise kids there. We have heard and read the crime rate is lower. But is it a better place then the uk?

Any opinions on why it would be better to raise children there compared to uk.

Oh look there's just been a long thread on this here: http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...light=children

Ok it deteriorated into a bit of a slanging match in the middle, but that's what we do here on BE!

Our son was 14 when we arrived and settled really easily into school ..... really, most do! And the younger they are, the easier it is!

Most kids first reaction on starting school is "It's FUN!!!" and they can't wait to go back!

Some posters complain about this and that, but some always will! Kids start school a year later here so they may find some stuff is old ground, and some will be new. We took the view that it wouldn't hurt repeating stuff (if it happened) as it'd give our lad confidence!

As to whether the crime rate is lower, that depends where you are going and where you came from! Most agree that kids "grow up slower" here, are more respectful and well-rounded individuals. My only regret is that we didn't come earlier!

Find a bac school: www.ibo.org, then your children will have an education demonstrably equal to that they would have in the UK.

I was looking into this for my daughter and was sure I found local schools offering the programme. Now when I search on that site it says there are no schools in Quebec.

Hi to all worried parents of school age kids,
I would be worried if kids didn't worry about this huge change in their life, new Country, new school, new friends and new way of life!!!!! Most kids don't like changes, more so as they get older.
I live in Lethbridge (south of Calgary) Alberta, the schools here are great, most kids in the UK don't seem to like going to school, but here in Alberta they can't wait to go to school, smiles on their faces etc, your kids may have to repeat some lessons here, but they will have their confidence boosted because of it. If you are moving to Calgary, your kids will probably not be the only English Ex-pat kids in the class or school, there is such a diversity of kids from all over the world especially the UK, English, Scottish, Irish and some Welsh here in Alberta, they will fit right in, make new friends and keep in touch with old ones. There is so much more to do outside the school environment too.
The crime rate is far lower here and is a safer environment, therefore a great place to raise your children.

Its totally natural for them to worry, and indeed for you to worry on their behalf. We emirated to New Zealand when we had a 6 and a 1 year old and it went well, that was 4 years ago. This time we have moved from there to Nova Scotia, Canada and the kids are now 10 and 5, and naturally they were anxious too. For us, we have found the standard of education at both levels to be excellent, indeed the 10 year old has got some ground to cover after the rather laid back approach he is used to from NZ. They start learning French from the age of 8 or 9 each day and there is a lot of focus on science, languages and team activities. Lots of homework and thorough grounding and revisiting of subjects. I cant speak highly enough of what we have found so far. Though I would say that the schools look like prisons from the outside and can be quite off putting, but inside is totally different.

For us, we couldnt not make a move like this because the kids had friends and were settled in the life they had. That sounds heartless, but this move was most certainly for the greater good and we are making our children into little adventurers who have a very multi-cultural background. Not that we plan another move!

They do make friends and they do settle in, though that takes some time and some nurturing of course. I think it has served my eldest very well, he is a creature of comfort and he doesnt like to rock the boat usually, but his 3rd move has shown him that he can easily make friends and that has made him feel really good about himself. He even signed himself up for a school ski trip though he doesnt know many classmates well at all just yet, which is really brave for him and we quietly are thrilled that he is taking it in his stride so well.

Moving at this stage is good, because later on it gets harder leaving those close friendships of the teen years, but with webcams and braodband, phones and cheap flights, there never needs to be an end to those friendships that mean so much.

Go visit if you can, get them enthused, it all helps!

The IBO is the only organization that can accredit the IB. If it isn't on that site it isn't done.

You may find however that schools are preparing to offer the IB. It takes about 18 months to set it up and for staff to be trained, so school may say that they will be providing it but they are not yet accredited.

when was the last time you heard a teenager address an adult as " Mrs walker" or "Mr smith" Respect! thats why, the few kids in this country not all, are going to rule, i can see it comming!, no punishment!, money on tap! (Where are they getting the money for all this boose they are buying to drink on the street corners) and thats why i want my kids OUT.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/humber/7240566.stm

I rest my case!

I get where you are coming from, and I don't want to be rude, but I really don't get the connection between what you are saying and the conversation on this thread.

In particular, I don't understand why you quoted me and replied as you did.

Am I missing something here?

im sorry destinationnovascotia, i hit the wrong button, didnt mean to quote you, i do feel strongly about why i want to move my kids to Canada, i do think that the schools are a lot better there and the culture, i am so thankful that my kids want to go, and carnt wait, they will make new friends i know, and the world is getting smaller all the time with the internet and a like. i want my kids to have the out door life which here in the uk i feel carnt give.

My children are 16 and 13 , my 16 year old was in a relationship for two years until we arrived in Canada even although we have been here only 6 weeks both the kids have settled in so well have made really nice friends and enjoy school . The school system is fine i would'nt worry i know its hard not too but the quality of life is so much better for them my childrens friends have so much respect for us as parents , given the choice my kids said they would not go back to the u.k to live .

Hi

We came to Lethbridge Aug 07 and the kids were 12 (girl) and 11 (boy).

Have to say that they have adjusted very well and as a previous poster pointed out here in Lethbridge we have some excellent schools - even a Senior High School which delivers the IB and the advanced bac too !!

If you are going to Calgary there are definitely schools there who do the Bac and these are listed on the website quoted earlier - know this as we researched it a couple of years ago.

You could think of hooking your kids up in the Teen Forum on this website and then they could chat to other kids in similar position.

Good Luck with the move it will most certainly be one of the best things which you do as a family

Gaynor
x

Hi
As per my PM can't believe that your daughter is best friends with one of my daughter's old schoolfriends! Looks like they've made contact via MSN, so should be able to share experiences. Do say hi to Pip for us. We're going through the High School selection process at the moment, and happy to keep you posted how it's going.
MK Murrays

No problem. I do agree with you.

I think I am getting a bit tetchy. It is either house selling or the odd person on here who has been quite ride lately jumping in on other people.

I shall say no more.

Lynn

i know where you are comming from, im in the middle of packing the house up, we have sold ours, we have to be out by the end of the month and we are having trouble getting a rented house till july!, if we dont find one we will have to move in with Mum, not ideal, small place, and also sorry to go really its been my home for 18 years,
and i get so upset when see the news and it inforces why we are going, my kids deserve a better life than here, sorry for the rant.