Relocation services for British Columbia, Canada

Schooling

Schooling is another area that is a worry to parents when moving. What are the schools like? Will my kids fit in OK? What sort of school should we chose? Do we have to live in the catchment area for the school we have chosen? Of the people we have met since moving here, all their kids seem to adapt to life in BC very easily.

Transferring into school

We have guidance to help you with the process of transferring your children into the Canadian public school system. Read more »

Choosing a school

This guide helps you research schools in British Columbia. There is a surprisingly large amount of information available on schools and their performance. You can begin looking at the facts before you come on a visit. Read more »

Daily Life in a Canadian school

This was written by our daughter on her experience of school in Grade 8 (age 13). It is a snapshot of life for her in a Canadian high school. Read more »

Grade schools

You may see the term K-12. This refers to education from Kindergarten to Grade 12. This article explains how children are allocated to the different Grades. Read more »

Curriculum

The Canadian school system is broadly similar to that in the UK. If you want information on what subjects are covered then read on »

Grade Point Averages

This will become a familiar term, usually abbreviated to GPA. It is all important for high school students as it helps determine which colleges they will be able to get into. Read more »

Cost of schooling

Education is "free" in Canada. This means that as a permanent resident, someone on at least a year’s work permit or Canadian citizen you will not have to pay school fees, unless you choose to send your children to private schools. There are however costs involved.

Vancouver Public LibraryStudents are responsible for providing their stationery (paper, pens, pencils etc). This has generated a huge back to school bonanza for the stationery supply shops. Just before the new school year in September there is a rash of back to school sales and the aisles in Staples, London Drugs and Walmart etc are full of kids and their parents clutching lists of the supplies they need.

If your child is involved in school activities, such as sports, music etc, then there will be additional fees for the materials involved. This can work out expensive for uniforms and sports equipment.

There are no school uniforms in Canadian public schools. This means what it says. However most school districts will have some informal dress codes, usually to do with not exposing too much flesh! Boys seem to wear the same things all the time - the skater/snowboard chic being in right now. Girls are more obviously fashion conscious. The bottom line is that you don't have to get a special set of clothes for school, and your costs will be dictated largely by your child's demand for expensive clothing.