Hi everyone

I’m new to this site but it’s been very informative. However, I am a little confused about the education system for 16 years old’s and would like some advice please?

I am a student and will be spending a year abroad at Granada University in September, my daughter will be 16 (at end of August) and will have just completed her GCSE’s. She is undecided about coming with me or not and she will make the final decision. I would like to be armed with all the information and obviously, if we need to apply to schools/colleges, will need to do so in advance. If possible, could anyone here give me some advice about: Where she could go to school (looking at Granada City or no more than 20 mins travel into it) What she could study (Including Spanish), how and when we apply, what documents are required, any recommendations?

A couple of points about us:

We don’t have the funds for international schools so it will be a state education.

She is undertaking a GCSE in Spanish and is predicted grade B

She is keen to take Spanish A level on return to UK, but also loves Drama/music/media studies type subjects

She is open, mature, keen to interact and happy to make friends but realistic enough to know that it will take hard work and effort

Thanks in advance for your help

Helen

Hi Tumbit

Many thanks for your reply.

To be honest, i assumed they would just put her back a year and as her birthday isn’t until the end of August, the children in that year wouldn’t be much younger than her. I thought she would be able to cope as she’s quite outgoing and enthusiastic but now I’m not so sure…

The problem with taking her out of school and paying for private lessons at a Spanish language school (I assume this is what you mean?) is that these will cost quite a bit of money, which we won’t have and there will be limited opportunity for her to interact with Spanish teens.

We have discussed her not going to school and although the liked the idea (!!), I think without the structure of a school day, this will give her more time to think about her friends and what she has left behind. She’s unsure about coming anyway as she wants to do A levels, but can see the benefits that a year in Spain would mean in the long term. I initially just assumed she would jump at the chance and want to join me, hence why I went ahead with my studies when I did.

Oh, well, thanks again for your advice, we’ll just have to keep thinking about the possibilities.