bil

and has the luck of the devil.

Jur is right, except I would go further. Without GOOD/fluent Spanish, you won't get work unless you have 'Chicken sandwich' luck.

lynnxa

I agree

any child over the age of 10 would struggle

a 13 year old (born 1998) is more likely be in yr 1 ESO (or yr 2 if born in 1997) though - my 15 year old is just about the oldest in her year in yr 3 - she's in the right year for her age as is my nearly 12 year old in yr 6 primaria (never been held back)

they (should) graduate at end of yr 4 here - so an awful lot to ask to learn the language(s) well enough to study in

SaratonyT

We have been planning to move out to Spain for the last couple of years with our three children who are now 6, 8 and 11. We have all been having spanish lessons and although the children are brilliant they are no way near fluent - but they know enough basics to hit the ground running. We can't wait to get to spain, but we are in a position where we will own our Spanish property outright and have backup finances - I am not sure we would risk it without financial stability and wouldn't want to have to return to the UK. Our eldest child has Aspergers Syndrome and we are sending him to the local spanish school - we have been told he will have to repeat a year or so and that is fine.

I know what a worry it is - knowing the best time to move is impossible, we originally planned to be living in spain in 2009!

Good luck!
Sarah

benandkelly

I suggest you go look very carefully at the date on the linked post.

When you have done that i think it would be common decency to apologise dont you!

benandkelly

Thank you to all those that have offered useful advise and not been taken in by those who seem to like to cause as much trouble as they can.

I value the opinions of those that have taken the time to respond in a polite and civil manner. Again many thanks to those of you who have given valuable input.

Ben

agoreira

I don't think too many have wanted to cause trouble, a lot have given you advice you probably don't want to hear, that's entirely different. People give their advice, especially those with school age children, speaking from experience, they've seen it end in tears so many times. It's common for people to ask for advice, and then when they get what they regard as negative replies, simply ignore it and move anyway. It's their choice.

Jur

So why did Canada fell through?

JLFS

I would just like to add my opinion, the parents of schoolage children who are thinking of coming to live in Spain, should not only be asking if they are too old at 12 or so to be moving without it having a negative effect on their education: they should also be asking themselves about the opportunities for them as regards their future jobs.

If their secondry education is lacking in any way, this will limit their prospects, and they me be comdemed to working an bars, with rubbish contract if they are lucky.

The change of life and living in the sun, might seem to be the best you can give your children, but depending on individual circumstances, it can be devastating for the family as a whole, especially if the family silver has been sold for the purpose of moving.

In my own case, we waited until our children were independant before we made the move, and we had a lot of advantages over others that came without any jobs, living accomodation or language skills.

So even with all that advantage, we waited, we had our children young, and they were brought up speaking Spanish from the time they were in the cradle, but as they were settled and very happy in the UK, we put of our move to Spain.

Now that things are very bad for the "chancers" (not implying that to anyone in particular) and I cant find a word that fits, it is even more difficult, so think long and hard before jumping in.

noelrosie

Maybe they realised just how difficult it is to get a job out there? My husband was sent to Canada once to teach a software course (very specialised knowledge) for just one week. He had all the necessary letters of invitation by the Canadian Company to come and teach them - and was STILL detained in immigration for 3 hours under the excuse 'we don't need you, we have enough teachers'! He should have just said he was going on holiday!

benandkelly

Thank you JLFS I very much appreciate your honesty. It has given me food for thought and I have taken on board everything you have said. :-)
Thanks again for your comments and advice

benandkelly

I never said 'too many' have wanted to cause trouble. Why is it that some people read a post and interpret it to suit themselves??????

I asked for peoples advice and wanted to hear everything good and bad. This isn't about me not wanting to hear something. This is about some people not actually reading what I've said or deciding that they know better than anyone.

I asked for opinions and in that I expected to get peoples TRUE views.

JLFS

I was taken to livie in the UK when I was 7, I cant really remember my real feelings at the time bacause it was a huge change, I was missing my cousins, grandparents and was overawed at the things that were available in the UK at the time.

There was a huge difference in the living standards in the 70 between Spain and the UK, with the UK being on top.

It was all abig adventure, but what would have really broken my heart, would have been to leave my new life, new friends, new school a few years after arriving due to circumstances beyond my control.

I have known a few Spanish kids that this happened to, one family retured due to the ill health of grandparents in Spain, they are adults now but still regret leaving of England and returning to Spain and will be others in the reverse situation.

It is much harder to return, especially if you love your new life, than going in the first place, because you have the newness and feeling of adventure to help you through the move.

snikpoh

I have to say that I get very confused with ages and the years they should be in at school. My eldest was only 13 when he went up to yr 3 whilst the twins will be 12 next month yet are still in yr 6 of primary (and none of them have been held back - yet).

jdr

I actually agree with you on this one, but unless someone quotes me you won`t see it, unless you have a crafty look.

lynnxa

it's very simple - worked out by year of birth, January to December

was your son born between September & December by any chance?

a child born in 1995 would be age-appropriate for the last year of ESO this year (yr4)

born in 1996 - yr 3 like my dd1

born in 1997 - yr 2

born in 1998 - yr 1

born in 1999 - yr 6 primaria like my dd2

born in 2000 - yr 5 primaria & so on