Schooling in RSA

[Biggles111]

Hi All,

I may be looking at a move to Jo'burg in the future with my family for work reasons. I have been over a number of times and have friends out there, so have some idea of the score on most things,

The one issue I am facing is in terms of schooling; we have kids who are approaching their GCSE years. I have found good private schools offering IGCSE/A levels, however the school year, starting January with exams in October, is different from the UK September start with exams in June. This means that potentially (it is a 2 year extendable contract) they could be moving back to the UK part way into GCSE/A level years, and so could lose a term of UK education on return.

Has anyone been through this and how did your kids cope?

Thanks for any ideas...

[Biggles111]

The Moose said:

I realize that this is many months old now, however a family friend went to school in SA. Ended up being bullied, horribly, as the outsider. Had a miserable time.

Ended up hiring a tutor to home school him for everything.

Thanks The Moose. We looked at a number of international schools, which would probably have been ok from this point of view as most people were in the same boat. However, a combination of an over-bureaucratic (slow) visa system and multiple compromises to be made in moving the family meant we decided to stay in the UK. A shame, as the employment opportunity and lifestyle would have been great.