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Original poster

9 year old going to school abroad?

14 replies

tinkerbellone · 07/01/2018 14:09

My mum lives in the Middle East & is the executive head at private school where she lives on site. .
We have visited a few times.
My 9 year old (she's one of four) wants to go to school there.
We are visiting in April, my daughter could stay and then return when my mum comes back in July.
She's a very mature 9. She's talked about doing this for over a year. She would be very safe and happy with my mum.
How would this fit in with UK school? Any advice appreciated x

OP posts:

SandLand · 07/01/2018 14:41

I'm in the ME. I assume not where you are contemplating. I have a Y4 and a Y2 in a British school here.
Honestly? Don't do it.
Would you get back into your current UK school after a term out?
What is the term dates like?? We finish mid June - and are in reduced hours from mid May due to Ramadan. So maybe 9 weeks schooling, and half of that on short days.
It's too darn hot at that time of year.
Would you even get a place? We gave waiting lists for places in most years at our school.

Shmithecat · 07/01/2018 14:44

I wouldn't. We're in the ME (waves at Sandland) and are ending our time here when DS is due to start school because we don't like the schooling here. It's too hit and miss.

Original poster

tinkerbellone · 07/01/2018 15:29

It would be less than 3 months -April until June. The school is excellent. Could I withdraw her in U.K. & class it as home school?
I would have to pay - my mum would.
I thought it would be great experience for her?

OP posts:

EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/01/2018 15:31

Your daughters current school do not have to hold her place open for her so you couldn't guarantee that you could put her back into the same school if/when she returns.

Snowysnowysnow · 07/01/2018 15:42

How excellent is the school and where? I'm in the UAE and for fees for the vast majority of the excellent schools here you could as easily pay private in the UK (I pay GBP 12k a child, it would be more for a 9 year old and I know people paying far far more).

Snowysnowysnow · 07/01/2018 15:47

Plus April to a June is miserable weather. She will basically be indoors the whole time

jellycat1 · 08/01/2018 07:42

We're in the ME at the too. My older son will start at a British School in sept. Younger one the year after. I'm currently looking at uk preps in contemplation of them coming back at 8/9 so the opposite! I'm not really sure I understand why you'd do it for one term.
I disagree that she'll be indoor the whole time from April to July though....maybe June July but April May should be ok.

Original poster

tinkerbellone · 08/01/2018 08:40

It's Israel and I just thought it would be a great experience for her.

OP posts:

smartiecake · 08/01/2018 08:43

You will lose her place at her current school. What will you do when she comes back? She may have to attend a completely different school.

JoandMax · 08/01/2018 08:46

I wouldn't do it that time of year - weather is so so hot they can't play outside, reduced hours for Ramadan....... Maybe consider it for winter or spring term next year? And find out the situation on getting her back into her current school or if it's even a possibility?

sashh · 08/01/2018 08:51

Assuming your mum is not retiring soon if she is really keen then the last term of primary might work out better.

SandLand · 08/01/2018 08:53

What great experiences are you expecting?
It's school. They go, they have homework. You need to go and do the shopping, and house cleaning at the weekend. Her Grandmother will be working. Who will be with her from end of school til the head has finished work?
We are NOT here primarily for the benefit of the kids. We are here as that is where the job is. There are something's that are great for this kids, there are some things that are better in the UK.

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 08/01/2018 09:00

Agree with sashh go for last term of primary, she will have a yr7 place for Sept (assuming not middle school), misses SATs and as it is yr6 they might not be able to fill her place, any school problems at that stage and parents tend to stick it out for a term rather than move so she might get her old place back for the fun stuff in June/July. Secondary schools can cope with a child without SATs as they usually do their own assessment and children from private schools generally don't do SATs.

teaandakitkat · 08/01/2018 09:07

I would let her do it. Why not? It's only 3 months, she's only 9. It's hardly going to ruin her life chances. Living somewhere different is a great experience, even if it's just experiencing normal day to day life in a slightly different way.

Unless there is a high chance of her not getting back into a decent school in the U.K., that would be the only thing that would put me off. You might be stuck with several years of double school runs which would not be fun.

It's not for long, I would definitely let her go if she wanted to and your mum was happy to have her.

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