Bringing my 12yr old Nephew to Ireland from NZ for an "Exchange Student" Type experie

kiwipower · 26-03-2012 02:49PM #1

I have just spent some time in NZ with my family, I have a fantastic, nephew there that I had an amazing time with. He turned 12 last November, and will be due to start secondary school next February in NZ.
He is an amazing kid and a credit to his mum, my brother and his step-dad. He is so well behaved, and able to look after himself, I would love to be able to bring him to Galway for a couple of months, so I can spend more time with him, and so he could have an "Exchange Student" type experience, without staying without Exchanging or staying with a host family.

Has anyone had experience organising this sort of visit, or having a student from another country on exchange in their class? As I would need guidance on arranging this.

Thanks!

byhookorbycrook · 26-03-2012 04:45PM

1st port of call will be to see if a school will take him.

aisher · 27-03-2012 12:43PM

First thing you should do is Ring the Dept. of Ed. to see if they will accept a student from NZ into a Secondary school - he might require a Visa and without one you cant enrol him into a school - we had a request from a student from India but she was unable to get a visa. Also the cost - there is a fee now for 'International' students from Sept. 2012 payable to the Dept. of Ed. - I would assume NZ being outside the EU will be considered international. If you get this far and he can come you then have to find a school who will take him - they will only be interested if he can be in the school no later then 30 Sept - Capitation is paid for students on the roll in the school as on the 30 Sept - after that the school does not get money for students enrolled from 1 Oct - you wont find a school interested in a short time placement if there is no benefit to them - good luck!

kiwipower · 27-03-2012 01:48PM

Thanks for the great starting points.

I think he is entitled to an Irish Passport under the Grandparent rule, mine (and my brothers) father is Irish. The only problem may be that his parents were never married, and from what I remember when I applied for my Irish passport I had to provide my Parents marriage certificate.

Would you know if there is likely to be long term implications on a Childs learning if they are to spend a few months in another country? While I think the experience could be very positive, especially as the Irish education system is more competitive than the NZ system. The cultural exposure and travel would be very good for him has he has never had the opportunity to travel further than a 3hour drive from the home town, and he does have an interest in his Irish heritage. (He embarrassed his Maori grandfather by shouting for Ireland at a rugby match a few years back.) But I would be concerned that he could miss out important learning from the NZ syllabus in the time away.

byhookorbycrook · 27-03-2012 09:29PM

Do you want to put him in a primary or secondary?

kiwipower · 28-03-2012 09:53AM

Do you want to put him in a primary or secondary?

Im not sure.
He is due to finish Primary in December, and is at a very small country school, so would probably be better in a primary school, as I think the size and difference of a secondary maybe slightly to much.
I was just emailing my brother about the idea, but he recons the young lads mother and step dad wont go for it. As much as she wants him to come over here at some stage, she thinks 21 is young enough! Shes not to keen on letting go of the apron strings, wont even let him catch the bus over to my brother. (A distance the equivalent of Galway to Balinasloe with a maximum of two stops in between!) :rolleyes:

byhookorbycrook · 28-03-2012 09:44PM

I think a primary school might take him faster than a secondary, but may well be proved wrong.Not as much to-ing and fro-ing in primary, might make friends more easily too.

Bringing my 12yr old Nephew to Ireland from NZ for an "Exchange Student" Type experie

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