Schools and decisions

 S and A have been in international/ private schools their entire life. Since we have moved around so much in the last 11 years, we haven't been able to settle down in any place and adopt the local culture/systems. Keeping this in mind, and having heard so much about the local school system we decided to move S to a local school for secondary. She got into a very prestigious local school through her sports and seemed keen to try it. The hubby was very against it as it meant she would lose a year and move out of the IB syllabus which is more amenable to international postings. I felt the level of studies in her current school was low and she would be among more like minded people in the local school. Also the sports focus was a positive.

S joined the new school first week of 2021. But it didn't go as per our expectation. The level of academics was actually lower than the earlier international school (possibly as she was in the highest band there in the various subjects). The MT in lieu didn't work out as expected, the number of hours spent in school in MT (in which she sat doing Maths/reading a book) was very high while the level of the foreign language outside school (to be done outside school) was very low and we were concerned if she would be able to clear O level in that. On the positive side, the kids in the school were very welcoming and nice and S didn't feel like an outsider at all. She also became more independent, going to and back from school by public transport.

But in the end the negatives outweighed the positives and we decided to move S back to the international system. She starts back at her old school tomorrow. Since her place was given away, she has not been able to go back to all the classes she had. She might grumble and moan that she was in a worse position than when she started. And we have wasted all this money and effort and taken a lot of stress. On the positive side this has been an experience and possibly we can move forward feeling this is the best education we can provide for the girls and they should get the best out of it.

Sadly will have to listen to hubby's I told you so for the foreseeable future!