Returning to the UK and schooling for children

I wasn't sure where this would fit in so if there are any mods on this forum ;) move as required please.

Im thinking of going back to the UK for a bit, I think it would be good to earn some money for a change as well as getting my eldest son into a half decent(?) education system. He speaks English fine but his reading and writing arent the best at the moment.

With the state of immigration in the UK I would guess that most schools have something in place already for kids in a similar situation, i.e integration of johnny foreigners.

Does anyone have any experience of this already?
Is there anyone special/useful to contact about this sort of thing?

Ive already contacted the local authority and the school I would like him to attend but as its Friday and approaching the end of the school term in the UK I might not get much of a response.

Where abouts in the UK?

We will be moving back to the loveliest bit of Leicestershire there is.

Good luck Melv and I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

A big step for the family but one I am sure you have thought through!

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Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Good luck Melv and I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

A big step for the family but one I am sure you have thought through!

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Thanks. I have thought it through and it seems like the best option at the moment. Im planning on doing a course if I return which I could do from here online but I'd like the kids to see the other part of their heritage as well. The wife enjoyed it last time we were there and it would be nice for my parents to spend some time with the kids.

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Originally Posted by jandajoy

Where abouts in the UK?

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Was there a point to this question?

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Originally Posted by melvbot

Was there a point to this question?

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Yes. If you were going to an area, LEA, in which I'd worked I could comment. You're not, so I won't.

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Originally Posted by melvbot

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Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Good luck Melv and I hope everything goes smoothly for you.

A big step for the family but one I am sure you have thought through!

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Thanks. I have thought it through and it seems like the best option at the moment. Im planning on doing a course if I return which I could do from here online but I'd like the kids to see the other part of their heritage as well. The wife enjoyed it last time we were there and it would be nice for my parents to spend some time with the kids.

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I think it's a great idea too, and I think I would return to England if I had kids at schooling age. I think there is something to be said about bringing them up with their English culture, grandparents/family etc.

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Originally Posted by tjyflhol

I think there is something to be said about bringing them up with their English culture

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and what might that be, meet some mates to drink with, move to pattaya maybe

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Originally Posted by jim1176

and what might that be, meet some mates to drink with, move to pattaya maybe

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Nothing useful to add as usual Jim?

If you have enough money, your kids will be much better off being sent to a decent international school in Bangkok. Work ethic and the general attitude of a large majority of the kids in UK state schools, is simply awful. Not to mention the poor facilities and lack of decent extra curricular activities.

International schools are so expensive here though, I expect the cost is an issue for many.

I think if the kids are put into a decent school and with the right parental guidance a UK state school should be as good as a BKK international school, shouldn't it? I imagine they both have their advantages and disadvantages.

I went to both as a kid and I can honestly tell you that there was not a single advantage to the UK state school. Biggest problem was the large number of delinquent kids who basically ruin it for anyone with a work ethic or some intelligence. This was at a very highly rated state school, I hate to think what other schools are like.

Compare that with international schools, where the kids tend to be a lot nicer and harder working and once you include the facilities and extra activities on offer, there is no comparison at all.

I lived in Asia all my life apart from a few years back in the UK for some schooling. Apart from making some good friends, it was a bad idea from an educational point of view.

Of course we shouldn't really compare the two, as one costs up to 600,000 baht a year, while the other is free.

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Originally Posted by tjyflhol

I think if the kids are put into a decent school and with the right parental guidance a UK state school should be as good as a BKK international school, shouldn't it? I imagine they both have their advantages and disadvantages.

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I think thats what affects the work ethic and attitude. Im sure theres international schools that dont really live up to the amount you can pay for them. Im not interested in moving back to Bangkok, been there done that.

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Originally Posted by melvbot

The wife enjoyed it last time we were there and it would be nice for my parents to spend some time with the kids.

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Now is a great time to do it then and what course are gong to study?

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Originally Posted by Loy Toy

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Originally Posted by melvbot

The wife enjoyed it last time we were there and it would be nice for my parents to spend some time with the kids.

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Now is a great time to do it then and what course are gong to study?

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Its a great time because the school holidays are in effect, gives me a bit of time to arrange a school, weathers better so they (wife more than sons) can get ready for the winter.
Course-wise would be something IT tech based I guess.

This might be of use.

Primary school league tables: Leicestershire Sats results 2008 | Education | guardian.co.uk

I don't know the age of your children, so here's this.

Secondary School League Tables: The Top 50 Independent Schools at A-level* - Education News, Education - The Independent

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Originally Posted by melvbot

Its a great time because the school holidays are in effect, gives me a bit of time to arrange a school, weathers better so they (wife more than sons) can get ready for the winter. Course-wise would be something IT tech based I guess.

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I bet you your loved one's will really benefit from this experience and Thailand will be here and when you wish to return.

The worlds your oyster mate and your kids are extremely lucky! :)

Secondary School League Tables: The Top 50 Comprehensive Schools at A-level* - Education News, Education - The Independent

This is for state schools, JJ's list was for public schools.

As far as Independent schools go it's well worth researching grants and scholarships. They all do them.

The eldest is 7 so its for primary schools. Thanks for the links, very useful.

:smileylaughing:'english culture'.....:rofl:

I thought of BobsKnob when I read this.......made I larf it did...

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Originally Posted by Nawty

:smileylaughing:'english culture'.....:rofl:

I thought of BobsKnob when I read this.......made I larf it did...

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If you haven't got anything constructive to add find some other thread to pollute.

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Originally Posted by melvbot

With the state of immigration in the UK I would guess that most schools have something in place already for kids in a similar situation, i.e integration of johnny foreigners.

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Not quite.

If they don't have enough kids whose English isn't their first language they can't get funding for ESOL tutors. Have to check and see.

Then you have to ask the question. "Do I want my kid to go to a school where there are lots of kids whose English isn't their first language?."

I certainly wouldn't. Means poorer kids, lower quality of education, less time for teachers concentrating on learning the subject matter.

My constructive advice is to stay here....anything would be better for the kid than an english cultural upbringing.

Crikey, even America would be better....but only just.

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

Then you have to ask the question. "Do I want my kid to go to a school where there are lots of kids whose English isn't their first language?."

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The school which he might go to would have about 160 kids, out of that I'd guess that less than 10% wouldnt have English as their first language. Its not like we're moving to Bradford or anything.

For primary school, I think it will be fine.

My sister is leaving London for this reason. She doesn't want her kid who has some attention problems to be in a school where teachers are spending more time concentrating on getting Mohammed to understand the lesson than the other kids getting taught.

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Originally Posted by mrsquirrel

My sister is leaving London for this reason. She doesn't want her kid who has some attention problems to be in a school where teachers are spending more time concentrating on getting Mohammed to understand the lesson than the other kids getting taught.

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Understandable, not a chance of that being the case where I might be living though.

Good luck Melvbot, I'm sure it will be a good experience for the kids.

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Originally Posted by madjbs

For primary school, I think it will be fine.

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I agree. The primary school's here are top class as long as you are not in the inner city.

Secondary school is a different matter.

Like madjbs said even in the good schools a minority of bas students ruin iot for everyone else and the drink and drugs culture is prevalent (as far as I can remember)

My sis -in - law , before she retired last year , was the UK co-ordinator for placing immigrant kids( no disrespect meant but I am sure you know what I mean) in suitable schools with facilities for English Language development.
She worked 90% in London and Birmingham.
I will try to get in touch with her 'cos she is presently in OZ visiting one of her sons , and see if she can give you any contacts/pointers/ or directions where to start looking .

OK ?

Of the schools I have to visit, I see one to one tuition going on for kids whose first language isnt English. Im quite sure theyre not segregated all day, but just for certain parts. I guess the reason would be to get them up to speed as quick as possible, and get them in the mainstream with their peers. Im lucky though, minorities make up less than 1% of where I live.

From my own experience, the stepson came over aged 7 not speaking a word of English. We took him to the local primary school and they took him in the following week, classed him as special needs and got finances for a teaching assistant to spend several hours a week with him for a year.

He's now aged 11 and just done better than average in his SATS. He's also ver happy here. I live in a small village so there is no problem with quotas but he is the only non white anglo-saxon in the school.

Reports from other people suggest that you are better taking the kid to a school mid term and they will almost always accept them as there is inevitably some drop off due to people moving out of the area.