IS IT STUPID?

 Will it be stupid to move an almost 15 year old to Sain?

We have been considering for quite a while but having family problems here with not being allowed to associate with a new grandchild, I don't feel like staying in UK to have grief any more

I also have arthritis and fell better in the warm weather

If you can afford to live in without the need of a job then go for it I am sure the 15 year old will enjoy it as well

 well my husband is on state pension from this September - I am just concerned about my son - is it ossible to home school? he wants to join the police force after taking a college course in UK just wonder if we can get him to the same stage in Spain by home schooling - he is learning Spanish in school which will help

 I don't think that is a bad idea for a couple of years.    There are quite a few 'after school' schools for kids wanting to do GCSEs as well as attending Spanish school.   It would take some creative thinking but if said teenager was up for it........

The downside is that it could be isolating.    I guess he could go to scool and do gcse in the evening?  You will need to find a centre so he can take the exams - and preferably be prepared for the exams.  That should not be difficult on the costas.

I don't think it is a good idea-it would be better for him to join you after university, college etc in UK. It is illegal to home school.Surely he will be in the middle of studying for GCSEs;it will be very disruptive. It will also be a long time before he is really fluent in Spanish, even though young people pick up spoken Spanish easily enough.  To move him at  15 is the worst time for him.

 Personally I think 15 is just too old!  I think 10 is about as old a child as I would want to bring to Spain...once they hit teenage years and get attitude they are that bit harder to mould.  

If it were me I would wait till he has gone to university!

I so wish I could say 'go for it', for your sake!  The weather is so good for the mind and for those aches and pains!

Good luck, whatever you decide!

 thanks for replies

this has been our dilemma for  afew years - I have 5 children and 5 grandchildren

most of the children are over 18 just the one who is almost 15

every time we have thought about emigrating the children have either been at high schoool or have girlfriends they dont want to leave or are having their own children

Some day the time will be right - i think leaving it a few years is probably best once my youngest is old enough to decide if he wants to move or not - just hope by then my husband and me aren't too old to want it :(

 I hate to say it but I agree it would be incredibly disruptive for the 15 year old. Home scholing isn't considered her in Spain as far as I am aware and the only way he would have a chance would be going to private English school that teached the British system, but prepare €600/month for that. Otherwise I would stay in the UK until he goes to university. Maybe he could go to a university in Spain and make the move even easier. I am sure he would love it. There are universities in Spain that also offer degrees given entirely in English if his Spainsh isn't up to scratch.

 It depends on how keen the 15 year old is.  As I say, he could go to school and still do English gcses and A level through a part time evening centre, without having to go for a full fee private school.

 That may be the case but in my opinion no matter how keen he is he will eventually get fed up of so many schooling hours, GSCE's are enough work as they are without having to do the Spanish system as well. Add all the pressure of not having friends or not having time to make friends because he is doing "double school", no time for sport or extra curricular activities, always tired because of the hours..., he wouldn't have to be keen, but obsessed with coming to Spain no matter what.  I don't know many 15 year olds who would put up with that for very long...

 He is 15 now - it would not be for long.   He will almost have completed his GCSE work - which could of course present a problem in terms of centres to do the exam.   But I would say if you have been putting off because of circumstances for a while - it is not going to change.   There will always be reasons not to come to Spain.   

I agree with that, I will have to make a decision

thanks 

Roly 2-yes there will always be reasons, but the possible disruption   of a child's schooling is a VERY good reason not to come to Spain yet!

 He is very nearly post compulsory.   I am not saying that it is not important - but it is hardly the priority that it might have if he were 11.

Think of the experience it would be - and the opportunity to be bilingual.   That would open a lot of doors for him in the very near future.  If he wants to go into the police, the chances are he will not be considered until he is about 20 - maybe even older.   So filling in his time and making himself stand out  from all those others who want to join the police, should also be a priority.   

"He is very nearly post compulsory"             

A very compelling reason to let him finish his education undisrupted.  Much easier to move an 11 year old who is about start secondary education than a 15 year old about to take important exams and finish secondary education. Just my opinion as mother who returned to the UK so both my children could be educated without disruptive upheavels and those children then went on to explore the world themselves.