RollingStones

Thank kodokan and HartleyHare for some really interesting post, although I'm not the OP.
We would be going on an L1 visa with the view to coming back in 2 years. Making sure we don't screw up the kids opportunities is a priority for me, totally.
My daughter is a year older than yours - HartleyHare, she's in Yr8 now, shes 13 next month and doing really well at school.
However, Kodokan your points about socialisation make perfect sense and I can't imagine the culture shock.
Now my Mother, after two weeks of silence on the matter, has just thrown a hissy fit about us leaving and jeopardising our children's futures. Maybe it's taken that long for the shock to wear off, I don't know...

Cami123

I can't comment on the curriculum - but the social thing is extremely individual and I don't think that seeing your kid in their used environment will give you a good clue. I was moved across countries at the age of 10 - new school, new language, new country, very different in all aspects (smallish city with lots of freedom to big big city with none for a 10 year old). My parents had no doubt I'd do great because I was a friendly child with lots of friends, who easily adapted to new things (like a new sibling for example which I had acquired shortly before the move). I hated it. hated the new school, never fit in, made few friends and fled the country as soon as I finished school. We joke that the Pixar movie "Inside Out" is about me during our move.

On the other hand my wife who moved aged 16 to a new country, new school system, etc... who probably on the outside didn't seem as "easily movable" as she is more introverted, quiet, and less of a people-person did just fine and loved the experience.

I personally don't think my parents could have done things differently to make the move easier for me, I hated the circumstances that they had no control over like the kids at the school were not at all like my friends back home, the fact that where we lived I couldn't just cycle everywhere, etc... And maybe secondary school in my country of birth would have sucked for me too and maybe I would have been a little lonely and unhappy there too... I will never know.

Englishmum

We relocated to the US (spouse works in New York City, we live in New Jersey) when our daughter was 16 and son about to turn 12, on a 3 year contract with L1-A and L2 visa. Our daughter had been at an international school in Singapore for 5 years and had taken her IGCSE's and would have taken the IB Diploma if we had stayed on in Singapore (but couldn't).

We gave our daughter the choice of going to the local high school or go into Sixth Form at a boarding school in England. She used to socialize with some of the kids from the Singapore American School....and had looked at some of their course work. She felt that she was academically ahead of the work they were doing, but just didn't fancy going to school in the States. We investigated some boarding schools and she chose to go to one in Oxford (an easy journey from Heathrow airport too).

Also we were looking ahead to university; if you are still on non-immigrant visas your eldest will almost certainly not have to pay the international student course fees at a UK university.....if you have green cards then the international rates will apply. Bear in mind that university courses in the US are for 4 years as the first year is basically like a foundation year, similar to 'A' level standard....State college fees are reasonable, but course fees at private colleges are generally astronomical, on a par with paying for a house! (This may be alleviated somewhat if a grant can be obtained).

Englishmum

To the O/P - I forgot to ask; if you were able to find a US school offering the IGCSE, would the company pay for the school fees? (I'm assuming this is a private school, I can't imagine a US public school offering the IGCSE).

The company my spouse works for (very well known, with offices in most countries) does not pay for private school fees in the US unless for very rare exceptions; for example my spouse had a guy working for him on an L1-A and he came over to work in NYC from the Paris office. His children couldn't speak much English and the intention was always to return to France, so the company paid for the children to go to the French Lycee in NYC.

The company paid for our children to go to International schools in Singapore as the govt. makes it very difficult there for expat children to attend the local schools (it's not impossible, but they will only get places at the schools the Singaporeans prefer not to send their own kids to). They also pay for tuition fees at other International schools worldwide if the language is different to their native language in the host nation. However, in the US the company takes the view that the education in the public schools is satisfactory and it is up to you to choose to live in a 'good' school district (or not).

Do bear in mind that private schools which have no religious affiliation in the US tend to be 'elite' and charge very high fees (Catholic and Jewish schools are somewhat subsidized by the parishioners). One English family we know in our town sent their 6 year old to one of the local private schools.....fees started at $20k per year + extras, although there were only 7 pupils in the class. They have sent their three sons there....dad has a senior role at an investment bank.

kodokan

Too true. We have a family member who has two daughters, who've never moved from the house in which they were born. The younger one is currently having a fairly grim secondary school experience, because she's following her older/ prettier/ brighter/ more socially successful sister through, and every year is a thump of how she's not been placed in the top set, or attained a certain seat in the orchestra, etc, like her sister did at that age. She is self-harming and in therapy

My son is significantly more academically able than his four-years-younger sister, and I'm profoundly grateful that while of course she realizes that he gets effortless straight As while she scrapes a couple in subjects that particularly interest her, at least she doesn't have the constant reminder of what she 'should' be achieving at a certain grade because their schooling experiences have been so very different. So a psychological benefit for her, and a parenting benefit for me, as a result of moving around.

HartleyHare

I think that one of the reasons that our move worked was that we returned to our home in the UK. My daughter had kept in contact with her UK friends by Skype and stayed with one when we visited the UK during summer break (end of our first year in the U.S). This made the transition a whole lot easier and less fraught.

Within a couple of weeks we were settled back in the house and after a few weeks it was as if we had never been away. Our area had not changed and our friendships just picked up where we had left off, although we had maintained regular Skype contact too and even had two sets of friends visit us in the U.S.

Our daughter was very happy at her new school which had considerably less pupils on roll than her original UK secondary school. She only had a few weeks there before breaking up for the summer holidays. This enabled her to spend time with her new friends so that when she returned to school after the holidays she did not feel like the "new girl".

We feel that the move was really positive for her. It has increased her confidence (she is naturally introverted, keeps a small friendship group) and due to the amount of student mobility that occurs in our area she can really empathise with new arrivals in her year group. In fact when she starts 6th form she intends to take on a volunteer role as a peer mentor and offer support to incoming students.

RollingStones

Thank you for the positive insights.

My children, as I know most are, completely different. My 11 year old son has been quite adamant he doesn't want to move from his comfortable life here. His school is great and, as part of an academy, he will move seemlessly up into secondary this September. We have just accepted his place. He has plenty of solid friends and he's well regarded by adults and kids like. His quiet, self-assured, pragmatic demeanor appeals to many and, although he's reticent, I'm confident he'll be okay. He's cool.

Now my daughter, coming on 13, is totally different. She's a high flier, does well at school, will speak to anyone and comes across as very confident...she's a total drama queen. These preteen dramas right themselves quickly because she's in a close knit group of friends and she's forgiven for being a red head - we both are. It's her development that worries me most because it's so precarious. She's able but so much depends on her confidence I'm loath to jeopardise it.

We should be going to Philadelphia and so far I'm not impressed by any of the international school offerings, and I know boarding won't work for either of them.

Rathy

We are a family moving to Boston for 3 year work assignment - expecting to depart UK in August. We also have a 13 year old son - coming to the end of year 8. We are looking at the British International School in JP as an option only because of new GCSE format when GCSE study appears to begin in Year 9?
PM me if you fancy a chat or meet up. We are living in North London.

C&P

RollingStones

Rathy - If you don't mind, I would really appreciate that. Although I don't think there is a good British International School in Philadelphia.

Pulaski

Unfortunately there is no British International School in Philadelphia - this is a link to the locations of British International Schools.

PandT

Hi and good luck to you too! We are being careful and taking in all the advice from family, friends, this forum etc... it is a big decision!
We are still assessing the situation, but so far kids are both up for it.
We have been in contact with a few state schools offering the IB MYP programme (via the ibo.org website). The couple of schools we approached seem to be really welcoming.

The plan for when back to the UK is potentially to have the choice of College A Levels or IB Diploma.

I will update this thread as we find out more...

Thank you all for the replies :-)

PandT

LOL! thank you for the positive note. This cheered me up :-)

We are definitely taking a pragmatic approach to this and lay all cards on the table. We are looking at all possibilities even the one of not moving if we see that it will be too much of a struggle for the children.

Hoping to make a decision withing the next couple of weeks...
Thank you.

PandT

Sounds like your daughter did really well during your 2 year experience!

Rathy

Thanks. I'd be happy to share my experience but I can't open the private message you sent me.

We moved to an area near philadelphia called Lafayette Hill. This is easy access to the city and has an absolutely wonderful Whitemarsh Elementary School for your youngest and a High School for your older child which is exceptional. We were made very welcome and I think the elementary school was the best experience of my son's life.
We chose to send our older daughter to the Philip Neri Catholic School - there is a small charge as its a catholic school. It was smaller, more intimate and a supportive community, something my oldest needed at that time. We have come full circle - our oldest two are now in uni and our 13 year old will join us in Boston for the next 3 years.
I would dearly love to chose the high school option as he would love what that has to offer but.... it is likely as he is Year 8 that the INternational School would be better given our time is 3 years and will tidily take him through IGCSE. I am going to look at the online material though for Igcse too as this sounds like another option worth exploring.

P.S if you know how I can access pm on this website, please let me know. I am not so tech savvy

Rathy

I will look at that website to check out options. Did you say that you are considering Boston and which schools did you approach if this is the case as I couldn't find any other than the three British/French/German INternational schools.