How do you feel about the UK now? In this economic climate it's easy to get disillusioned, but is the UK a place where you'd want to bring up your children? How about the ever increasing taxes, the increasing cost of living, the increasing pensionable age, the perceived social instability (perhaps due to immigration, lax welfare rules, persecuted middle classes......) and the economical future of the UK in the balance with high national debt and minimal manufacturing. In contrast, the UK has so much to offer in terms of an excellent education system through to world class universities, excellent career prospects for the brightest, a wonderful way of life (if you can afford it) and a very low level of crime. I'm interested to see the views of different people here, knowing that many of the members have a wide variety of experience of different countries and cultures, whilst others have fought so hard for themselves (or their spouse) to become a British resident and citizen.
This is a massive topic and often discussed on these forums. I tend to see the option to stay in the UK as a package ie not based on any one thing in particular. And whichever any one of us chooses will be for reasons that are specific to each us as we all have differing wants and priorities. For me the bottom line is this. My employers can choose to live and to work almost wherever they want. They are both British and own a company between them that has a foot in a good number of countries across the globe, including South East Asia. One chooses to stay in Britain (Isle of Man) and the other chooses to stay in Spain. I also believe that there is an element of luck in whichever way we go as none of us has a crystal ball. We cant really see the future of either the UK or the Philippines or any other country. So any choice is a gamble.
It really depends a lot on where in the UK. I suggested in a recent thread, that individuals construct a checklist, though it is possible to do it in ones head. A checklist of all the factors involved both positive and negative. Or else risk the possibility of being magnetically drawn to a warm beach in the Philippines with a cold San Mig in the mit, without considering anything else.
This is a very interesting question. My ex-wife and I did choose to bring up my Anglo-Filipino sons in Britain. With one son now 18, I can stand back just a little. I am not worried about rising taxes, which are inevitable, or about inflation, which is inevitable, or about the rise in the pensionable age which is not just inevitable but a Good Thing. I am very worried about the poor standard of education of the mass of the British population, the expansion of bureacracy and jobsworthism which is in part a consequence of that, the decline in our manfacturing industry (if Germany can do it, if Rolls-Royce can do it why the hell is most of our manufacturing so feeble?) which in turn goes back to poor educational attainments and lack of ambition in the population as a whole. I am tremendously encouraged when a Scout mistress walks up to and confronts a bloody, cleaver wielding, murderer to distract him from children, and I am likewise encouraged when the congregation of a mosque offer racist demonstrators a cup of tea. I think the fundamental decency of Britain is OK but we lack any national ambition. This is a very serious flaw. I lived in China for five years - there is no doubt in my mind that everyone in China shares the national ambition - to recover their rightful place as the world's leading nation. They disagree occasionally about the means, never about the mission. We need to wake up or we will become as weak as China became in the 19th century. Yes, I do consider the Philippines as somewhere to live - but not on a beach with a San Mig. I may well have the opportunity to work for a company run by a friend there which is doing really interesting things and has a very bright young work force. I enjoy the company of Filipino friends who are well educated, widely travelled and who share my liberal enthusiasms. However the cost of living there is in effect higher than here, if I take in school fees,medical insurance, etc. To be hones,t I fear that the Philippines will probably become a colony of China - it may just possibly wake up in time but I am not confident.
We are currently living in the Middle East, in a very peaceful and safe environment with our kids in one of the best overseas British Schools. The life for them is incredibly safe, and even for ourselves as we can leave our car running and unlocked outside a shop without fear of theft, or the door unlocked to our house without fear of burglers. It's a nice environment to be in, but is not a place we can stay forever. We have the choice of returning to the UK, where I'd choose to live rurally near good schools, perhaps in Devon. Alternatively, I'm off to Australia to complete a skills assessment for the permenant visa immigration process. We are drawn to both options for different reasons and I could probably live in either place comfortably, but I really want to make a decision that will give me children the best long term future. Whilst it's a personal decision, I'm really interested to hear different peoples views.
I believe that the UK still provides the best in terms of education at all levels. And despite all the doom and gloom, career prospects are good. Just a case of doing some research and picking the right schools etc.
I share your views, Andrew and in particular your point about the lack of affordable decent education and for me - with an almost 2 year-old and now one "cooking", a really important consideration. I am actually considering getting in touch with the Head Master of my old school with the view that his school offer Expats assisted home learning where the curriculum and lessons are set by staff and all done via email. It probably won't be cheap but I'm hoping that it will be less costly than a local international school. I believe one of the examining boards (Cambridge?) already has an examination centre in Manila for GCSEs and A levels. I rather doubt the Philippines would become part of the Chinese Empire but were that to happen, it might actually be a Good Thing and resident foreigners might actually benefit - in the sense that they would no longer be as disadvantaged as they now are. If one is basing one's decision of where to live, there are better indicators than the cost of beer! San Mig is no longer cheap - the supermarket price is now around the 40 Peso mark for SML but if you want it ice cold and served in a clean glass, expect to pay between 90 and 150! If I had a free choice of where Mae and live, it would almost certainly be St Barts in the West Indies.
We also looked at the option of being in the Philippines, but living within driving distance of the British School in Manila is difficult. Also looked at the international school in Cebu. The options are limited. Additionally, Marvie is a yoga teacher and can earn more in a morning session here or in a wealthy western city then she'd earn in a month in the Philippines. The decision on how to proceed for the best possible future for our children is a difficult one, and certainly the education in Australia whilst good, isn't at the level of a good private school in the UK. State school in the UK just wouldn't be an option sadly, unless you live in a very good catchment area. I guess that somehow we'll end up spending more time in the Philippines once we reach retirement age, but thats many years away.
For UK state schools, thats the key - the right catchement area. Also, some areas still have Grammar schools. However I think a good quality private school in the UK cant be beaten. Though not all UK private schools are excellent. Again, a little research needs to be done.
On schooling, though you also tailor the school to the child. Not all of our offspring are suited to the best private schooling. Many of these schools have stiff entrance exams.
Mark.. My son has almost finished his exams (IGCSE`) which he is taking in The British school Manila. It cost me about 50 quid per subject for him to sit there. There are other kids there that have studied from home via NEC home schooling but we were interested to hear of a girl there that studies in an online British school. She has to log in around 5pm here when classes start in the UK and work along with class mates and Brit teachers.. Its more expensive then NEC BTW but might be worth considering. NEC charge around 350 Pounds for an IGCSE subject.. This includes a hard copy of all the course material and a tutor for two years in each subject. My lad reckons he can study for his A levels with just a laptop as has become quite independent study wise... so that will save me a few bob. Not sure yet if the Brit school in Manila can cater for A level exams as they study towards the I.B there.. Will find out soon but there is another EDEXEL exam center in Paranaque.. Failing that its back to the UK for a month in 2 years time!! UGGHHH.
Ricky. I hate debt and the UK is in a debt mess up to its neck.. Government loan interest payments may be barely sustainable at the moment whilst interest rates are low but if they go up to around 4/5% then the UK is bankrupt IMO. Personally,I see no future there for a number of reasons. I hope that I`m wrong as its hard to watch my family struggle over there for very much longer. They have been for the last 5 years.. Sounds awful.
My older boy is no great reader, wants to go to sea, is taking Maths Physics and Geography at A level in our local famously "good" comprehensive, will probably get Bs. Younger son in last year of primary school is quite a different kettle of fish, much more rebellious, voracious reader, all things being equal would do better at a boarding school I think. Yet to see what the stepsprog turns into...
If eldest needs and advice or information on a career at sea, feel free to drop me a PM. Nothing wrong with the IB system, much better then A levels IMO.
Is work at sea confined to ships and boats? Or would offshore drilling rigs come under the umbrella. Maths and Physics will set the boy up for a future in engineering and there is great call in the oil industry for graduate engineers, globally. And big scope for travel as a consequence.
That is the route I'd go for. Atleast with engineering based side they have a trade to fall back on. The money that the senior drilling crew make on here is truely astounding!
Interested in this as we are looking to start a family. Its a way in the future but I'm looking at private schools in my area but also what the phils has to offer. I've never heard of this I.B program before. I'm concerned that if we do stay in the phils how the education there stacks up compared to the standards in the UK. Obviously its important to try to give your kid the best possible start in life so its all a bit of a concern to me especailly trying to find a schooling program that is international recognised.
Yes. No problem satisfying the £18600 per annum requirement. A lot of the drilling engineers that i see are doing night drilling supervisors jobs, moving on to day supervisors / co reps.
