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Original poster

Moving abroad with teenagers

28 replies

Toomanykidsneedaholiday · 19/10/2018 09:10

Hi all,

My husband an I currently have the opportunity to move abroad for a few years. We currently struggle to get by, despite both being in 'professional' jobs, we don't have any spare money to do anything. We don't ever eat out, go for family days out etc because literally ALL our income is used up on bills, food & petrol/travel.

An opportunity has come up for us to move abroad for a fixed term contract which would enable us to save quite significantly so that when (if) we returned to the UK we would be in a much better position. We would also be able to enjoy a better life while doing it!

There are, obviously, many things to consider - missing family members, new cultures etc. But one of the key things is my daughter is currently in year 10 and therefore doing her GCSE's. The move would mean her being educated in a private international school which follow the British curriculum, but is this a terrible idea?

The perfect solution I guess would be to wait a year, but my son would then be in year 10 and so in the exact same position...another 2 years and we would debating moving during A levels. So we are looking at now or 4 years time and I'm not sure we can survive that long financially in our current situation. I am also concerned about the kids welfare as we don't do anything or have many positives in life at the moment, morale is very low in this house.

I have of the opinion that we don't have much to loose, but I'm aware its not me doing the school work etc. and want to respect my children's lives too.

I would like to see what other families think they would do in our position and what people think of moving at a pivotal point in their education!

OP posts:
titchy · 19/10/2018 09:23

Is university on the horizon? Depending where you move to and for how long one or both of them could end up classified as overseas fee payers, with no loan entitlement.

Given their ages, it sounds as if you'd have to commit to being there at least five years - your older one would have to drop down a year, then after that they'd always be in the middle of exam years.

Would they be happy spending five plus years away?

Ontopofthesunset · 19/10/2018 09:21

When would the move be? In my limited experience of moving abroad the whole thing took about 6 months to set up - if this is the case your daughter will be half way through year 10 and changing courses and schools could be difficult. It will be just about ok now, but then how long is the fixed term? Would it mean moving back when either your son or your daughter are mid way through a GCSE or A level course? Or would it be long enough to cover your son through his A levels ie at least 5 years? Sounds like you have to think through all the later options too.

SassitudeandSparkle · 19/10/2018 09:16

That is a hard age to move children, they will lose their friends as well as their schooling - does the international school offer the same options that she's already chosen?

I am not a fan of relocating tbh (having done it myself but not internationally!) so I wouldn't be keen if it was me. Have you asked the children if they want to move?