Question
We’re hopefully moving to Malaga in October but was wondering if anyone moved out there with a teenager and if they struggled a tall with the move… My daughter is 14 and I’m feeling kinda guilty about taking her away from her friends…
Answers
These are the answers of some Facebook group members:
“We moved with a 14 year old and 10 year old and put both children into Spanish state schools, was more difficult for the older one as it was in the middle of covid so schooling was only 2 days a week but they have both flourished and neither would move back to the UK, they have both Spanish and English friends and we have 100% no regrets”
“It won’t be easy for her but who knows might be the best thing ever..”
“My parents brought me here in 1964. I was about 12. Very much deep end. But I learned Spanish (by ear) had a great job as air stewardess London but back here now.
4 generations…”
“All of my children came to Spain ages 12, 10, 18 and 17. The younger ones went straight into the Novaschool international school in Cártama. I have had no regrets been here 5 years now and the schools amazing as are the teachers and children. My daughter had Severe anxiety but flourished and got her GCSE’s and English language and Lit with A it’s like a big family and have enjoyed watching them all do well. There is a private bus service too all over the coast that collects and drops them off. I highly recommend the school. Good luck and you won’t regret moving here.”
“We did it with a 13 and a 7 year old. We visited the local high school and the nearest private ‘international’ school and gave our 13 yr old the choice. He went for the high school. Good choice in terms of networking, we live in a village and had he gone to the private school, making friends locally would hace been a challenge.
It wasn’t easy, but he got through it. I felt guilty at putting him through that stress, but what ifs are not real. We all just have to go with the flow, balance the different wish lists and issues and find a way. Diving to the deep end teaches you how to swim, and we all do it differently. Don’t be hard on yourself! That’s probably the biggest thing”
“It is a difficult age. You may want to let her continue with the British system in which case it is a private school choice. Putting her in Spanish public will be very tough on her, although not impissible, but you know her best and can evaluate if she is up to the task. It will be difficult anyway…but not impossible, I guess very much depends on the character of your daughter and how adaptable she is. Good luck!”
“When we came from the UK I sent my daughter to do her “O” & “A” levels at Sunny View School in Torremolinos. They offer all levels in Spanish and English. I would recommend it.”
“Wrong age for your daughter … put her in a private school .. where she can continue her English education .. she will learn Spanish- and then make friends … but to just put her into a Spanish school will hurt her education …. should of done it years ago from her point of view”
“I moved here when I was 14 and my parents put me me in a British school to finish my GCSE’s. I made tonnes of new friends and have never looked back. My 6 year old daughter goes to the same school I went to and it is pricey, around €7000 for the year. Goes up a little bit as they get older, I can send you more info privately if you are interested. Your children should be just fine, there’s a huge expat community here, even in the state schools. Wish u the best”
“f she is successful socially and doing ok in school where she is, I would say it’s a big risk. It takes a lot for a kid to pull that off and people underestimate how difficult and important it is. It’s quite another thing if she’s unhappy, doesn’t have too many friends, and/or is failing at school…
But otherwise, the harsh fact is that 14 is probably one of the most delicate ages there is to cope with change. In just two years she’ll be as good as grown-up, graduate high-school, and everything changes. Harsh but, I would say don’t underestimate how much damage a wrench like that can be for a kid – even if objectively better in every other way, the social side of development can be set back massively with long effects….Or, she’ll be fine and adapt immediately, of course….Nobody knows your child as well as you do.”
“I think the key thing is schooling. At that age I would go the international school route so she can continue with her GCSES. It can be costly though.”
“I was 15, when my parents moved here I wished my parents had waited until I finished secondary school.”
“I moved out here years ago when I just just 17 with just my mum it was the best thing to ever happen to me ofcourse at first it was not good without any friends but you learn to make new ones especially when your young Good luck to you and your family Spain is a great country with fantastic people of all nationalities”
