No we haven't.

Bahtatboy
Fair comment but sometimes a hard reality check is needed for some people

A big difference between your friends who were adults and in their 20's as a opposed to a minor who is just 16 yrs old

To me this is either a wind up or irresponsible / selfish parents trying to sell a dream to their kid (or is it vice versa).

Your final statement is a huge jump to a conclusion. Maybe they don't have a choice.

There is a vast number of examples of people who, at whatever age, have succeeded in such circumstances. I agree totally that her parents should seek alternatives, but to leave unanswered a 15-year old's cry that she's totally going to fail her exams without looking to those examples, is irresponsible. If her parents really have no choice, some of the posts categorically state that she's doomed -- that is both wrong and irresponsible.

If she has to enter the Spanish state system, sure it'll be tough to start, but anyone who says its impossible needs a good, hard slap.

Nothing is impossible, but some things are hugely irresponsible and should not happen

It would be unfair to the child, to the teacher and all the classmates to have a 16 year old in their class who doesnt speak a word of Spanish.

It would take at least 1-2 years for the Spanish to be of a level where they could actually learn a course in it, then another 2 years to actually do the bachillerato course, so you would be talking of a 20 year old sat in a classroom of 16 year olds - and all funded by the state of course

The people who have responded know the Spanish state system so are well aware of the difficulties for someone entering that system at various ages. Therefore they can explain about the pitfalls and one of those is the obvious one of the language barrier. Additionally there is the fact that the curriculum is totally different, therefore the exams will be totally different.

Rosemary

Rosemary - well put
Yes we all have a lot of experience and knowledge of the system and I guess this is why the OP asked - some don't like the views and yes they may seem harsh but this is a big choice and it is up to them what they do.
they are now in the position of having a better understanding of what will happen and the options etc.

I really hope they make the right one and get this youngsters education complete in the UK.

2 years of A levels in UK is not a long time

No such thing as having no choice - there is always a choice and making that choice in the best interests of the youngster.

That's platitudinous and arrogant.

Scarlet,
As I understand it you will have your GCSEs before you move to Spain? If so have you considered something non traditional? You could attend Spanish state school where you would pick up the language and I'm sure enjoy the experience. Alongside this consider studying for your A Levels online;

http://www.oxfordcollege.ac/courses/a-level-courses

This will give you options in the future to attend Uni.
Wherever you live on the Costa it is fantastic, friends of mine came over 6 years ago with 3 children one of whom was 14. All 3 now speak fluent Spanish, have Spanish and English friends and love it.

QUOTE=Bahtatboy;11851198]That's platitudinous and arrogant.[/QUOTE] In your view - which of course you are entitled to

I do disagree though and I simply tell things how they seem.

It adds nothing to the thread or the options for the OP

I still have an inkling this is a wind up

me too +1

In your view - which of course you are entitled to

I do disagree though and I simply tell things how they seem.

It adds nothing to the thread or the options for the OP

I still have an inkling this is a wind up[/QUOTE]

I've no wish to get into a slanging match, especially on a thread which is important to the OP.

I only ask that views are expressed as just that: views. They're not definitive. And that posters should not come out with statements to the effect that one particular course of action will definitely be disastrous: people achieve success in far more challenging situations.

I'm pleased that BigD has come along with a story that shows that integration into a different system, in a different language, is an option worth considering.

I don't know what to believe in this thread, a wind up? the dream of a teenager?

The way I look at it is this. Lets say you have a bright child here in the UK who will by all forecasts do well in upcoming exams. Would you remove that child from his or her English speaking School and place them in a School where English was not the spoken language and the curriculum way different from the one he or she is used to? No, of course you wouldn't, you'd be an idiot to do so.

When I was in the army my children spent time overseas with us, Germany and Cyprus but went to 'English Schools.' When I left the army and had trained as a nurse we spent time in the States and our children went to local schools but...of course although the curriculum's were different the language was the same.

There's a massive difference between moving to Spain (or any country) with young children, putting them into the state education system and letting them play catchup on the local language to putting a sixteen year old into the system.

Just my pennies worth.

Bob,
I think the point Scarlet made was that the move was happening irrespective of the points you made and as others have pointed out we don't know the circumstances so far from her parents being 'idiots' they may just be trying to do what's best in whatever situation they are in?

I talk to a young Spanish man who finished his degree course last year and has decided to do his masters (something to do with electrical engineering I believe) in both English and Spanish. He has been learning English since quite young but only really focused on it in a determined manner in the past year. One of his recent exams was in English and he failed miserably due to the fact that he did not know a few of the words in the question. Not knowing these words meant that his answer was totally incorrect, this sort of misunderstanding was predictable as his level of English is not high enough to be doing a university course. He has now decided that he should take all exams in Spanish in the future so that he can fully understand the questions and therefore provide answers that show his understanding of the subject matter.

Rosemary

You only have to look at the number of immigrant children, particularly in London schools, who arrived with little or no English, and then the performance of London schools generally. Success doesn't depend on the situation, but on determination.