We've talked about all sorts of education issues over the years but the most recent subject under discussion in our house is the following: If we were going to go back to the UK to live, how would we ensure our 11yo who is regarded at the same level as his Spanish classmates in all respects for cono/lengua/sociales etc., received consistency of Spanish language education? Or is that a totally impractical, daft question? He's (OH) heard someone speak of a language-oriented school somewhere S Wales, but I wonder if there are other schemes/systems/etc???

I know of a couple of people who have returned with slightly older children than your son and their children were so advanced with their Spanish that they were put in for GCSE´s even though they were classed as too young.

Spain has schools in the UK in different areas primarily for Spanish children who live there so that they do not lose their Spanish roots but I think that it would be worth you contacting the education office to enquire about your son going to one as he has grown up here.

I should be able to tell you more once my friend has settled into her teaching post in one of these schools but at the moment she is finding her bearings in London so is not contactable.

Rosemary

Thank you so much for this......... I suspect we would prefer (not closed minds, just prefer) a campo UK style option but every scrap of info will be useful.

Hi Rosemary,
Is this the friend that you were telling us about a few months back that was looking for accommodation?

If so what did she decide to do in the end?

Yes it is. She decided to take the job because the money was so good and she had been hankering to go for quite a while. She is being paid by the Spanish education system and her children will be educated in a Spanish school. In order to gain this job she had to go to Madrid to take a government exam, no CV, no application form, no interview etc and her normal teaching job will be available for her on her return.

Rosemary

Glad it turned out good for her

Stuboy

Sounds interesting.... the sooner you can give me some more hints as to what to google, the better!

Here is a site that may be of use, not had time to look at it but it is a Spanish government site.

http://www.mecd.gob.es/reinounido/en...ntros-docentes

Rosemary

When it comes to secondary education I'd say it's more important to look at the curriculum in general, and the differences between the Spanish system and the UK system. For many kids, secondary education is make-or-break for "base" subjects like maths and sciences - if they haven't clicked with these subjects by the age of 16 there's a good chance they'll give up on them, never to return. At that age I'd say making sure your son has a smooth transition to learning those subjects under the UK curriculum is more important than maintaining his native Spanish skills. If he has been speaking Castellano all his life he won't lose it, although his Castellano will remain that of an eleven year old until he starts using the language again. It's not such a big deal though - he can pick up where he left off later on in life. It's not so easy to do that with subjects like maths.

On that basis he should in theory be ok, cos (I failed to mention) he's in a British International school so is already in the UK curriculum. It's the Spanish element - continuing his Spanish grammar, creative writing, cono, etc. - that's our concern.