Transitionsing from a US High School to a Scottish Secondary School?

jgVT Member

Member since 14 January 2020

jgVTMember14 January 2020 21:46:00

I have a pending job offer that would allow me to move from the US to Glasgow in the summer of 2020.聽 My son would be entering his junior year of high school here in the US after the summer.聽 My understanding is the educational systems are quite different between the two countries but I'm wondering if anyone here has had a child make a similar move?聽 I looked into an IB school but cannot seem to locate one in Glasgow and I don't want to commute from Edinburgh.聽 Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Cynic UK/Netherlands Expert

Member since 15 September 2015

CynicUK/Netherlands Expert15 January 2020 08:44:42

8078

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

When I did it (many, many years ago), it was no problem, but I was a lot younger than your son will be and pretty much grew up in the UK system.

For what it's worth, my opinion, albeit only from talking to the guys that worked for me up there, is that on the whole, the Scottish education system was highly regarded, just that the politicians have started to change things and in the process are starting to really screw things up where they are changing things they had already changed before the changes were fully implemented, it's a bit chaotic up there.

You're right about IB schools, I could only find 4 in the whole of Scotland, 2 in Edinburgh and the others in Fife and Aberdeen (even further from Glasgow).

If you decide to live in Edinburgh, there is a pretty good rail service between there and Glasgow (every 15 minutes, - takes just under an hour) but it would be quite a chunk to add to your working day, but many people work on the train to and from work and some employers regard this as working time, so maybe not so bad.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Fred Indonesia Expert

Member since 02 August 2009

A smile is the universal welcome.
Max Eastman

FredIndonesia Expert15 January 2020 11:46:05

30171

Apart from politicians messing up the UK's education system (No shock there). many state schools are dumps that the RSPCA would prosecute you for if you sent a dog there.

, but I suppose the mummies and daddies have to get their drug money from somewhere

- These naughty little snipes

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WARNING - SCOTTISH LANGUAGE - The (with a U)

Fred Indonesia Expert

Member since 02 August 2009

A smile is the universal welcome.
Max Eastman

FredIndonesia Expert15 January 2020 12:06:11

30171

I should add - Glasgow is a place not to upset people.

Some foolish gentlemen decided to be less than perfect terrorist at Glasgow airport some years ago but, instead of a large explosion, the twit managed to set fire to the car and himself.
If you can imagine the scene, the hapless terrorist is running around in flames, screaming in a manner that you'd expect from a chap if the devil himself was after him, and a baggage handler beat him up.

Yes, you read it correctly, a baggage handler beat the poop out of the idiot terrorist, even though the silly sod was running around like a larger than average candle that had just experienced a terrible breakup with a vengeful gas oven.

I've been to Glasgow - Lovely people but don't upset them.