Thread: Schooling, both here and abroad

Has anybody experience with educating their kids in two or more countries?

For example, work might require me to bounce between the UK and Thailand for a number of years. There are many advantages to this frequent travel, but the education issue of switching schools constantly might not be so advantageous.

Anyone with first hand knowledge of a similar situation regarding your kids schooling?

I have experience "on the recieving end".

My parents moved around a lot because of my fathers job.
As one of four children, i chose to go to a boarding school, my 3 siblings changed school to wherever the family went.

I was the only family member to go into higher education, and when we get together these days all 3 of them wished they had done as i did.

My eldest sister sent her son to a boarding school - he goes to university this September.

I'm not saying boarding school is the answer, but i am saying a stable schooling environment helps.

Worth considering from that perspective, of course.

I can imagine much resentment at first being hurled into a boarding school set-up, but all for the greater good. Boarding school is one option. However, grandma might be another option (equally scary).

Of the boarding schools I have since looked at -both here and back in the UK - prices are high.

I just found the gov.org website and sent off a reply. Will post back again for those who might be in this "similar situation"

Originally Posted by Bruno

Of the boarding schools I have since looked at -both here and back in the UK - prices are high.

Depending on who you work for - some employers will offer subsidies (to employees who move around a lot) to help toward schooling fees.
Might be worth an ask?

I swap my kids between three countries which is why I chose to homeschool them. So far it is going great. Another option to consider.

If the kids are in primary school it (moving around) might be good for them.
If they were in secondary school the lack of continuity and shifting curriculum would make it nigh on impossible to score well in exit exams.

I went to my first three years of school in Paris, in a French school. I went to 8th Grade in a very small American Embasyy school in Tunis. I was the sent off to a US boarding school for two years until I got expelled.

No real damage done in Paris - at least I came out native in French. Pretty poor show for the year in Tunis - but I had to repeat the 8th Grade in the boarding school to get caught up. The boarding school sucked - I hated every second of it.

All in all, no real damage. I think I had a few gaps, but I filled them in later by reading.

Is there an option for your wife to be based in one country and the kids to be schooled there, and you to work abroad when you need to? If your wife it Thai, surely a good international school in Thailand would be ideal, no?

Originally Posted by Gilbert

Is there an option for your wife to be based in one country and the kids to be schooled there, and you to work abroad when you need to? If your wife it Thai, surely a good international school in Thailand would be ideal, no?

Some good suggestions.

Yes, what you say seems the most rational train of thought. However, one of the benefits I can foresee is experience in two cultures, regular interaction with family from both sides, and not to mention how the boy might regularly look forward to frequent trips?

It seems many of you have experience in exactly this type of environment yourselves with not too many negatives; a good thing then.

It was Davis that mentioned a good point about secondary and of course tertiary education, that this age needs a solid base and no upheavals. Although IB schools might be correlated - thus going back to your original "international school" suggestion.

On the fence with this one...

Primary school, move them with you. Secondary Schooling I would suggest a good boarding school.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Although IB schools might be correlated - thus going back to your original "international school" suggestion.

To a certain degree, yes. Though moving creates discontinuity with teachers, friendships, rules and regulations and so on. Having said that, kids are pretty adaptable and if the moves are only every couple of years, I would think they'll be fine.

Again, some good suggestions.

I absolutely agree that parents need take an active role; not leaving it the sole responsibility of the teacher.

I think it is clear however, that secondary education needs stability. For me, this would mean a British curriculum taught school here in Thailand. Primary education on the other hand might have massive benefits by being exposed to the two cultures and education systems, not to mention all the friends he would make, and smiling family members on his return.

But as Nigel said, placements for this back home would likely be an issue. More research is needed.

Thanks for the replies

Originally Posted by Bruno

this would mean a British curriculum taught school here in Thailand

That would cost you at least 300k a year then.

Probably Amnuay Silpa. It's Thai but seems to be the best of a very suspect bunch. Properly qualified teachers and a defined British/Thai curriculum.


We have both kids in international school. They love it and I'm delighted to be able to afford it.