So far, we are weighing the pros vs. cons of British school and DoDD school. Any info, experiences, or input would be appreciated.

So far the main pro's for DoDD is that it's an American education, and it will transfer easily when we PCS. The main con is that we live in Thetford, and we only have 1 car and a hubby that works mids, so we would have to figure out transportation issues.

Pro's for British schools is location, since we have a few schools in Thetford, and the "experience" of trying a different education. Cons are the steep tuition fees and the difficulty of changing his transcripts to american schools. 

I can't really answer your question thoroughly but my Son went to a British school since he was 2. He is 5 now, and I must say that he is further ahead of his American peers in the same age group. It is not that the British school system is "smarter" than the American schools....it is that they teach differently, and teach some things earlier.

We are happy he got to go experience a different school than we did growing up. But, this coming school year he is going to the American school here on base. I look forward to it because it got to be a real chore driving him to school everyday and fighting for parking. People drive like maniacs around here. Now, he'll get to go to school across the street from my house! Yay! So much easier.

I do feel bad he won't get to see his little British friends...he made some great buddies but he's young, he'll be fine! Bottom line it was a great experience for him, put him ahead of the pack but it'll be a great way to wind down for us during our upcoming PCS. We didn't pay any tuition fees....so I can't comment further on that. It will be nice not having to have a uniform ready every morning! 

Which British school did your son go to SSDD? We are looking at one in Thetford, but their tuiton is really high, and one in Elveden, on the A11, but I don't know about them as fara s rates or reputation. 

State schools are free, it's only if you are wanting to send your kids to private school that you have to pay tuition fees. 

Which British school did your son go to SSDD?

He went to "Great Heath Primary School" in Mildenhall. Some great staff down there! The parking is atrocious though. 

Hmmm.... that probably wont work for us since we live in Thetford and if we are driving that far then we might as well just have him go to the DoDD school. Thanks for the info! :) 

We live in Thetford as well and our two older children go to Feltwell Elem. Nothing but positive experiences so far there. Our youngest has been going to a local Nursery school and will start Reception next month locally as well. Both schools are state/public and required no fees. Again, only good things. You didnt say what age your child was. IMO, that would influence my decision. 

He is 5 years old, and his bio dad refused to get him in preschool last year, so he will be brand new to the social aspect of school. I know in American schools he would be in kindergarden, but I don't know what that is in British schools. Do you carpool with anyone from Thetford to Feltwell Beth? 

There's buses that take the kids into the DOD schools. I have four in British schools and have no complaints at all. Quite pleased with what they're getting.
IMHO, you might be better off putting him into Kindergarten since the British schools start Reception as early as 4 (and most go to a play group before that) so they're quite advanced as far as reading goes. I guess it depends on how much you've worked with him or are willing to help catch him up. 

Catherine, I dont drive to Feltwell often. My two older kids ride the bus to/from school. My youngest will be going to Reception (UK Kindergarten equivalent)near to our house, so we will be walking most days. Reception is available for any child that will be 5 during the school year, there isnt a 'have to be 5 by..'date like for US Kindergarten. My son wont be 5 til late October. He did go to preschool all this past year. I absolutely loved his school and the environment was great. But as far as being ahead of US standards, I dont feel that has happened. When we had our orientation, my son's teacher told us that the first half of the school year is like a preschool setting and the second half would involve more. I hope this helps, even a little bit. Feel free to msg me if you want to talk more :) 

British start reception at 4 I thought? They also just changed the enrolling policies, so like my daughter who turns 4 in decemeber missed it this September so she can't start until NEXT September. So we are starting her at Busy Bees and using our grant for the free 15 hours a week. Just so she is doing something. 

It's 4 where we are. A recently turned 4 will do half days for the first half of the school year and an older 4 will start with full days-- at least that's what happens at our school. One of our other boys had kindergarten before we moved here. They placed him in a class according to his age and he was SO behind the other kids. 

I had emailed a daycare in Isleham asking about their rates and how the school system worked there. Not sure if it's like this in all the towns, but she told me the kids start school the school year in which they turn 5. So if your child is 4 in September, but turns 5 in March (mine), then they would start at age 4 because they'll be turning 5 within that school year. If that makes sense. It's supposed to give kids with birthdays near summer the opportunity to start at the same time as kids with birthdays earlier in the school year. Not sure if all the schools do it that way, though.

We plan to start our son in the British school system and see how he does. There's an advantage there in that if they struggle that first year in the British school system, you can start them again in kindergarten at the DoDD school with kids of the same age. 

Thanks for all the responses! I can't say it has made the choice any easier though, lol. Our son turned 5 in April, so by british standards, he is already behind then since he will turn 6 this school year! I have heard that there is a bus for the DoDD school that comes out to Thetford, and I'm going to look into that some more to see if that is an option. Please keep any more responses or input coming, my hubby and I are still kinda lost, lol! 

Personally, I wouldn't send my kids to a DoDD school. I went to two, an elementary and Junior High/High School, they had one school for 7-12th grade...smart having 7th graders hanging out with older kids! The teachers were really bad, only in it for the paycheck and to stay in the country (Germany), didn't really care about the kids and I feel my education suffered because of it.

I wanted to put my daughter in a British school because they were more advance...a spouse in my husband's squadron was telling me that in Reception class her kids learned how to write and read and in Year 1 they were writing in cursive. The age they start does vary by location so you'd have to do a search and call the schools; out in Bury St Edmunds the Reception classes I found started part time the term after they turned 4 but the school we have in our town starts at 4 full time. And not all schools have reception class so they start the term after they turn 5...if your son turned 5 this past April then the Summer term would have been his first term and he wouldn't have missed too much if you put him in for the Fall term (Sep 5 for Suffolk).

My daughter's birthday is in December and we'd move shortly after so it's not really worth it for me to enroll her in Primary School since she goes to a good British Pre-School right now; however before I decided it wasn't worth it I was looking into which schools to put her in and the British schools, Pre-Schools included are rated. 1 is outstanding, 2 is good, 3 is satisfactory and 4 is inadequate. The school the kids of my husband's co-worker goes to got a rating 1 and my daughter's Pre-School got a 2, but the school in our town got a 4 which contributed to my decision to keep her in Pre-School.

Ofsted is the government body that inspects the schools...on their website you can do a search by a post code and then click on the actual inspection report...then scroll down to the rating...the report also gives some general information about the school like the kids ages and how many kids attend as well as why the school got the rating it got. (I'm not smart enough to link the website!)

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report

Another spouse in the squadron has their kids going to school on base, you have to go through Thetford to get to their house (from base)...she said she didn't think her kids would adapt well to a British school. 

Update: Went to Lakenheath Elem today to have them complete paperwork for the command sponsorship and found out that since we live in Thetford, we are "required" to place my son in Feltwell Elem, or British school. I drove out to Feltwell to look around and fill out any paperwork I could just in case that was the choice we made. The woman in reception at Feltwell Elem was great, very friendly and helpful, and I could tell that they were doing work on the building also. Depending on how quick all this command sponsorship stuff goes thru, we might have our school picked out! And they have buses into Thetford, so no long drives 2 times a day! :D 

Both of my kids have been going to British school for 5 years. My daughter was born in january and was able to start at age 4. She going into year three this year ( 2nd grade) and she had a friend that moved last year from british to dodds. Her mother brought in the curriculum for dodds 1st grad and her daughter had already learned 90% of it. I enjoy the British school experience because they learn a lot of english heritage and history. The pros of British school is they get more breaks (half term weeks) and a shorter summer holiday. As apposed to the american schools. The british also do not have as many holidays as America does. I also like the uniforms. If you are serious I suggest looking at Ofsted reports and touring the school. But also be aware that the british school system has new student registration done already and some schools may not have space available. You can talk to the school Liason office on base for advice as well.