Kids Education on the road
 

I`m planning on taking an overland trip and will hope to on the road for around six months. Problem is my yougest kid will then be 16 but will miss out on his further education ! is there any way he can distance learn using his laptop and the internet to keep up while we go, then slot back in when we get back ? I live in scotland ! Any advice welcome......thanks.

I guess it depends upon:
which six months of the year;
what is he studying;
how self organised/motivated he is;
how sympathetic his teachers are.

Which is to say, a bit more context in the question would help.

Simon

There's a mountain of Home Schooling info and products available, if you want to go that route. Enough to choke a horse and your wallet. :)

Like Simon typed: Which 6.
Some schools/teachers can make allowances and consider a great trip such as yours/his a true education, worthy of credit.

Speaking as an educator...
 

Sixteen years old sounds around GCSE (or equivalent) age. Is he going to take them before leaving or miss out? If those are done, I don’t see why he couldn’t start ‘A’ levels a year later. The wonderful experience of seeing the world would actually help an ‘A’ level student.

I don’t think you should mess up the GCSEs. They’re irrelevant when you’re older but are a stepping stone to ‘A’ levels which are stepping stone to a university place etc.

My parents left home (to work overseas) when I was 15 and I stayed with a family I didn’t know that well to complete my ‘O’ levels. Hard but worth it.

On the other hand, my daughter had spells in both English & German speaking schools and ended up ‘a year behind’ when she finished her ‘A’ levels. It didn’t really matter in the slightest. Part of her success at getting into the tertiary institution of her choice was her broad horizons on the world which obviously influence a young person’s personality development for the better.

Stephan

To answer some of your questions,we will be traveling over the winter, november to april (variable). he would have sat his standard grades and it would be his highers (A levels) that he would need to study on the move, the trouble is that the school year would already be well under way by then. As for what subjects, as this trip is three years off it`s not set in stone. Again his motivation at that time is anybodys guess ! I will also have a word with his school to find out there position. An intresting point from stephano about your daughter, i suppose my son could take a gap year, not sure how that would work though ! Right now i`m just trying to find out what the options are, with so many variables that are outside my control it was never gonna be easy. Thanks to all for the replies..........Marty

Marty,

The months november to april pretty much cover the academic year - the last term (we're in the British system here) has only a few teaching weeks properly called.

My opinion, as a traveller and ex-teacher of Year 7 to 11 English and history:

Forget the distance learning. What sort of an adventure is he going to have working several hours a day? Travel is demanding enough already. Having to study along the way is barely possible, and even if he and you make the time and are able to achieve the massively high level of motivation and organisation needed, it will seriously detract from the trip. Total drag.

Very few students are able to study on their own at that age - it is a skill few people learn in the school system (why that is...well, don't get me started okay!).

Really, you are looking at skipping a year (no reason why not) or doing the Highers in one year rather than two - this is possible with some subjects, with a very dedicated learner.

Whatever negatives may be involved in these two options, they are hugely outweighed by the benefits of travel.

According to my maths, your son is just about to hit - or is hitting - what is for most people, the most difficult period of life. During those intense times, the promise of a family trip after Year 11 might just be the perfect way to motivate you all through the period, and pull you together after you've had your alloted share of rows and slammed doors. :) Just a thought.

In other words sixteen seems a great time to go.

Last point, his teachers will be very lukewarm I suspect, in pubic anyway. It is their proffessional duty to discourage leaving the school system, so listen to their advice with this in mind. In private they may think it is great, but it cannot be said of a teacher that she suggested leaving school as a great educational idea, now, can it? How would that look when it got back to the HM? Not having to hold down a teaching job, I can of course. :)

So, no serious reasons why not that I can see, and some easy solutions. So go for it.

Simon

when you put it like that simon, it sure sounds good, perhaps i just worry to much eh ! and at the age he will be then it may be a last chance for the family to adventure together. i will be doing the trip anyway i can only hope that he will want to come with us at that time, like you say the benefit of travel can only help him in life. Thanks for the reply Simon, the gap year option looks like the best plan. Regards.........marty.

Where are you heading?

Simon

An obvious point but is your son keen to do the trip? If his friends are all going to be moving onto highers without him, will he still be keen to go back to school and study after taking a break, especially with 'the year below' and his friends all finishing a year earlier?

Just a thought,

Chris

Hi Marty

a friend travelled for a year with his two kids - a bit younger than yours. but they took some educational stuff with them na dmade the kids do a project style book on their year away - once back and in agreement with schools and teachers the youngest droped back a year and the eldest jumped back in with her friends and peers and worked her arse off to catch up on what she had missed.

Whatever you and your son feel comfortable with - it must be mostly his decision or it wil not work.
Just my twi penneth worth.

Chris

Hi, we are going to Africa, starting in marocco then head south. still plannig so completely flexable on destination. Chris of motocross africa, my son is keen now but that could change next week let alone in 3 years. Chis C you hit the nail on the head it must be his decision at the end of the day.