Year abroad in London: Elementary Schools

[Anonymous]

If its just for one year, I think it would be a really broadening experience to do a year of public school in another country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn't be traditional and ideally you'd need a SAHP, but have you considered homeschooling for the one year? You could do a bunch of history and literature and enroll in one of the on-line learning curriculum for math, etc.

There are very strict laws about homeschooling in the UK. You have to present all your materials (curriculum) and it has to match up with national standards, and get approved. Then they can come and "inspect" you at short notice to see how its working and they can, if they think you're not doing a good enough job of it, force you to put your child in an actual school.

So if you do want to try this route, be sure to investigate it fully. Its not like in the US where you sign up online to say you're doing homeschooling and - whoosh, you're done.

This isn't universally true.

I homeschooled my son when we first moved here. Each borough is a little different but mine did send a representative out, but he came with resources for us. It's actually really popular here and growing.

The American school is crazy expensive, but we found a small private school that is half the cost for our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If its just for one year, I think it would be a really broadening experience to do a year of public school in another country.

x1000 for this. We grew up living all over the world. We learned so much beyond academics by being part of the local school systems. Sometimes we were in the country's public system and sometimes private but our parents worked pretty hard to keep us out of the DOD or international schools just so we could get a feel for the culture. It never hurt us and we had great experiences. Especially since this is for only one year, I say go for it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It wouldn't be traditional and ideally you'd need a SAHP, but have you considered homeschooling for the one year? You could do a bunch of history and literature and enroll in one of the on-line learning curriculum for math, etc.

There are very strict laws about homeschooling in the UK. You have to present all your materials (curriculum) and it has to match up with national standards, and get approved. Then they can come and "inspect" you at short notice to see how its working and they can, if they think you're not doing a good enough job of it, force you to put your child in an actual school.

So if you do want to try this route, be sure to investigate it fully. Its not like in the US where you sign up online to say you're doing homeschooling and - whoosh, you're done.

This is just not true. In fact, if you were to move to London and homeschool you would never be know to the local authority at all. It's pretty easy.

Unfortunately it is true. And British people are quite nosy about spotting kids who aren't attending schools and will report you to the local police / social services. That happens all the time.

Sorry, this made me lol! You are just dead wrong. Please take a moment to educate yourself.

http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/UnitedKingdom/default.asp
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/nicky-morgan-orders-review-on-home-schooling-amid-fears-children-having-minds-poisoned-by-a6779886.html
https://www.gov.uk/home-education

Every year I have flown to England from LA with my kids and been walking around during the day before the end of July when schools break for summer, I have been approached and quizzed suspiciously by total strangers about why my children are not in school.

I think if anyone were to live there full time now and have to put up with this, it would be intolerable.

I'm so glad we don't live in England anymore, I'm so sick of English people.

You sound...like a pill. Homeschooling is perfectly legal and easy for American expats. You literally have no dealings with the local council at all. It was recommended to us for our short term stint in England. Thank you pp for the links. As it says right here:


"There are no requirements to inform the authorities when one is home educating, unless the student was previously enrolled in the government school system. At that time, the parent must let the school official know they are withdrawing their student to home educate him. No other requirements for home education exist."

What? Everyone is here to impart what they hope is helpful information, from varied experiences. Don't be an asshole and go around insulting people just because their on-the-ground experiences may not chime with your own. Really, you need to grow up and behave yourself.

PP was being kind. I'd go much stronger. You really sound like a c*nt.