moving back to uk

[Netballneleh]

HI We are an English family who have been living in CA USA for the past 10 years and have 11 year old and 8 year old kids. We have the chance to move back to the UK and are trying to decide whether to do a year or three? we have a place at an American school, TASIS in Surrey, for both girls. The 11 year old is my concern as she finds it hard to make friends so if we did a year she would move back to CA 7th grade. Whereas three years would mean she returns to start a new high school. Everything I read says it is harder to move with teenagers. Any thoughts? Also any ideas where to live near Thorpe, Surrey. We don't need to be near train or motorway for commute. Ideally somewhere with a nice town/village center that we could walk to

[lljkk]

if you don't move now or very soon then they will want to live as adults in CA. Make your choice now.

[Laptopwieldingharpy]

I think this move might be the hardest. They might actuall be relieved to go back "home" to california!
If we moved back to UK now, my kids of a similar age would have a culture shock for sure ( we have been in Asia for the last 10 years).
what is the purpose of this move? A necessary (or lucrative) career move? Just an opportunity for the girls to experience UK life? It seems that you are set on living in CA in the long run

[SinAndTonic]

Hi Netballneleh - dont forget to seek out extra curricular stuff for outside of school - local leisure centre for swimming (my DS loves underwater hockey which he does at our local leisure centre) and has made a few friends there - hes about sameish age as your eldest. Also seek out local scouts groups (they take girls too now ) and maybe drama groups etc.

My DS struggles a little on the friendship side - he currently goes to a small surrey prep and out of 15 boys in his class he is the only one who wasnt fussed about football so this did limit his friendship opportunities a bit - hes given footie a go now and this has helped a bit but footie isnt his first love. Outside school things have helped him enormously.

He recently said hes really looking forward to starting secondary as it will be a fresh start so probably like you i hope weve chosen his next school wisely.

Good luck with the move OP.

[kansasmum]

We moved back from the USA when my dds were 13 and 10. It was very hard for 13 yr old as she went into Yr8 halfway through the year and did struggle for a term, not with work but socially. (It was a state school and despite a good Ofsted was a bit rubbish and staff did zero to help her settle )
My 10 yr old did a term of Yr6 at Primary so got the chance to do transition to secondary with some new friends do bit easier for her.
The school systems are very different although if you are putting them in an American school it might be easier. I wouldn't leave it til later. It will be really hard for them.
Good luck!

[ohtobeanonymous]

I think it takes a good year just to settle in, so a move for three years might be the way to go. However, if the plan is to live long term in CA, use the year as an adventure and then get back to 'normal'. Going into an American school, there wont be issues with the school curriculum or calendar so that's a bonus.
Enjoy the change for a while - you never know, you might decide to stay!