Links

There are no ads, no sponsorships and no product placement in the GSGI. But we do trade or insert links we think might be helpful to expats and parents. We decide which ones we like; while we are not responsible for their content, we don't put them on our site unless we have taken a good look, have good reports on them or have used their services ourselves.

Please note that we take no responsibility for the contents of any of the sites that we carry links for (though if you feel that we should delete any of them, please tell us why). Some of the links are commercial; we do not endorse any products or services offered.

If it's a business, they haven't paid to be here....we just think they might be useful (and they often don't know we've put them on our site). Please let us know if you have a problem with one of them, or have a good suggestion as to someone else we need to know about.

Would you like your website to be listed here?...

links@gsgi.co.uk

College and University Counciling

Resources to guide you through the minefields of courses, tests, essays, extracurriculars, applications and funding for post-secondary education.

College Guideposts: Margaret Gandy has been one of the leading college councilors in the southeast for 25 years. Recently retired from one of Florida's leading (Blue Ribbon award) public high schools and now a private consultant, she has helped thousands of students (in all shapes of talent, brains and income) get into everything from ivy league colleges to state universities, and win millions (not an exaggeration) in loans, grants and scholarships. She can advise the 9th grader on the course work and extracurriulars to lay the right college-bound base, or salvage the situation when it seems too late. But her great skill lies in getting even the most blase' student engaged in the process. This is one where a GSGI editor has personal and grateful knowlege of the link. Very up to speed on financial aid for foreign students.
The Kennedy Group: Mike Kennedy saved the day for one GSGI editor's son, as much by urging him to risk reaching higher as by guiding him through the repackaging of his applications as a transfer student. A basketball coach as well as councilor for many years, he's particularly good with student athletes.

Educational Consultants

Even the Good Schools Guides aren't all things to all men. Besides links to our own guides, here are people we like, or work with and whose service might differ in style but not quality.

The Good Schools Guide: The mother ship of The Good Schools Guide International, this long-running, best-selling and completely independent guide to the UK’s top schools is written by parents for parents, with vivid descriptions of each school. First published two decades and now in its thirteenth edition, it contains advice on how to choose the right school and how to get into it. The Good Schools Guide covers the best state and private schools in the United Kingdom, and all age groups up to university. Its reviews are both objective and qualitative, going beyond “the facts” by offering evaluation gathered from parents, teachers, students, and heads, plus site visits by editors. The Guide alone chooses who to include, and takes no payment from them. The entire Good Schools Guide is available in print form (reprinted annually) and by subscription online. The online version allows subscribers to check up-dated changes as they come in, and to read or communicate with GSG editors. Subscribers to the Good Schools Guide International may subscribe to the Good Schools Guide at a 50% discount.
Humphrys Education Ltd: Martin Humphries education, the favourite source of school advice for international bankers coming into the UK. You (or rather your employer) will pay a hefty fee, but you will be competently guided through the business of getting your children into good schools, and your hand will be held at every turn.
School Choice International: Another of our favorites (and if we can't help you in a particular country, we might very well send you to one of these carefully chosen consultants). Highly competent, well oiled machine, particularly in the tough-to-crack NY educational maelstrom. Now with new helpful country and schooling guides online. We think they add value for money even to our own extensive schooling and expat articles, and that readers should invest in both!
The Parents League of New York: Non-profit membership organization of families and independent schools, with resource center for NY City parents. Volunteer parent advisors available to consult with members on early childhood programs, day schools, boarding schools, and special education, summer activities, day and sleep-away camps, trips, teenage opportunities etc.

Special Education Needs

Resources,definitions, information: for all kinds of special education needs, regardless of the country, age or sex of child. Whether you're looking for hard facts, clarity, or moral support...

The Good Schools Guide- Special Education Needs: Quite possibly the most definitive and certainly the most readable book on special education needs in the English language. Although geared to resources and schools in the UK, the entire first third of Sandra Hutchinson's lively and sympathetic book will be helpful anywhere on the globe.

Parenting and Third Culture Kids (TCKs)

Books and links on the parenting, care and feeding of one's own global nomads.

http://www.expatexpert.com: Robin Pascoe's very good site, with books and articles to help expatriate families adjust. Latest book: "Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an On-Demand World".
www.talesmag.com
BR Anchor: Publishers of relocation books and the online newsletter, Relocation Today, but also much useful information about relocating children.
Foreign Service Youth Foundation: Information, advocacy and outreach activities for parents of U.S. Foreign Service children

Relocating: Moving and Housing

www.easyexpat.com: Useful site with non-committal information and help for expatriates on overseas moving and relocation.
Singapore Expat Choice Guide: A useful site if you're looking for properties and housing in Singapore.
BR Anchor: Publishers of relocation books and the online newsletter, Relocation Today; but also an easy, useful site in its own right.
Global Assignment Solutions: Specialises in providing international assignment services to organisations and assistance with moving to and from the UK for individuals.
Alpha Moving & Storage Inc: Long distance movers and packers in the continental US. This is not a service we've tried, but we like the range of helpful links on their website (and not just because we're on it).

HR - Corporate Services

Global Assignment Solutions: Specialises in providing international assignment services to organisations and assistance with moving to and from the UK for individuals.
ECA-International: ECA International is the world’s largest membership organization for international human resources; it provides services and advice for its members, and serves a global network of over 4000 HR professionals in 71 countries.
IPM (International Personel Management Ltd): IPM provides specialist International Assignment Management services to its clients covering the whole range of services from tax and social security planning to work permits and visas. Through its dedicated team of experts, IPM provide a seamless solution and represent excellent value for money.

I Miss My Food From Home...

The British Corner Shop: For British exiles desperately seeking Marmite....'British food shopping online delivered worldwide'. This will alleviate the dreaded TFOLT (terrible fear of of leaving Tesco) for UK citizens through out the world.

Employment for Trailing Spouses and Partners

www.global-networker.com: A helpful site and newsletter developed to enhance and improve an international partner's ability to find and gain employment overseas.
GoWorkAbroad: A clear, easy and well- organized site with succinct information on finances, language issues, legalities and practicalities of working abroad; it's a non-profit site, but even the small and unobtrusive ads provide helpful resources.

Financial Services Companies

www.medibroker.com: Independent international private medical and healthcare insurance broker specialising in cover for expatriates of any nationality, in any country. Free advice and free quotations.
Expat Investor: Financial information and news for Brits abroad. Web site and free printed monthly magazine.
Expat Health Insurance - William Russell: International health, life and income insurance cover for expatriates from William Russell. High value, affordable, specialist insurance plans for expatriates.

Expats Living in the UK

FOCUS: Offers personal advice and expertise to help international professionals and their families successfully live and work in the UK. FOCUS is a non-profit organisation, staffed entirely by expatriates who provide one-to-one support, seminars, workshops, social events and publications. Among other things, members have access to their team of volunteers manning the phones, whom a GSGI editor observed tracking down a question on re-lining a bathtub...there appears to be no limit to their willingness to help (and success doing it).
The American Hour: Website (and magazines, great parties, very useful networking events, buzzy exhibitions, you name it) for Americans living and working in the UK.
Living in London: A Practical Guide: Simply the best guide for moving to London that exists. Full stop. Widely recognised as THE definitive and indispensable tool for a successful international move to London. Test this assertion: ask anyone who has moved here in the last 10 years. Published by the Junior League of London...and we apologise in advance for the glacial pace of their website.
Expat Focus: Global relocation advice for expatriates covering visas, residency, overseas employment, buying property abroad, international schools, offshore finance and more
Mayflower Consulting: Courses to help newly arrived expats integrate into UK life: covering such issues as cultural diversity, the country profile of Britain, cultural characteristics and communication, and the social and practical aspects of adapting to life in Britain, Britain's public transport system, housing, telecommunications, the health system, the education system, motoring, shopping and leisure.

Expat Links for Brits Living Abroad

Expat Focus: Global relocation advice for expatriates covering visas, residency, overseas employment, buying property abroad, international schools, offshore finance and more.
Singapore Expat Choice Guide: A useful site if you're looking for properties and housing in Singapore.
Global Assignment Solutions: Specialises in providing international assignment services to organisations and assistance with moving to and from the UK for individuals.
Expat Investor: Financial information and news for Brits abroad. Web site and free printed monthly magazine.
BritishExpats.com: Discussion forums, chat, plus a mostly commercial list of links
Expat Interviews: Interviews with people living outside their home countries. Topics include what motivated them to live abroad, how they generate their income, and what they've learned from their experiences.
Expats.org.uk: Information for British expatriates, contracting or living overseas - a self-styled UK expats 'yellow pages'
Expats Portugal: Useful resource for English speaking expat nationals who live and work in - or are thinking of moving to - Portugal
Expats Abroad: Expatriate resources for English-speaking expats abroad. Chatty, easy intuitive website; loads of very helpful information and links.

Expat Info Generally

www.expatfocus.com: Expat Focus- global relocation advice for expatriates covering visas, residency, overseas employment, buying property abroad, international schools, offshore finance and more.
www.expatchoice.com: Singapore Expat Choice Guide- a very useful site if you are headed that way
ExpatWomen: A free website helping all expatriate women from all nationalities in any country in the world share experiences and advice and find resources for living in a foreign country; with a monthly newsletter featuring a success story, mentor, reader story, and book of the month, plus other interesting articles.
Expat Interviews: Interviews with people living outside their home countries. Topics include what motivated them to live abroad, how they generate their income, and what they've learned from their experiences.
Contact Expats: Contact expats worldwide through their network
Expats Portugal: Useful resource for English speaking expat nationals who live and work in - or are thinking of moving to - Portugal
Expats Abroad: Expatriate resources for English-speaking expats abroad. Chatty, easy intuitive website; loads of very helpful information and links.
ExpatNetwork: Helpful expat site with a range of subjects not necessarily found on other expat sites. They also publish a magazine, called "Nexus".
FOCUS: Offers personal advice and expertise to help international professionals and their families successfully live and work in the UK. FOCUS is a non-profit organisation, staffed entirely by expatriates who provide one-to-one support, seminars, workshops, social events and publications. Among other things, members have access to their team of volunteers manning the phones, whom a GSGI editor observed tracking down a question on re-lining a bathtub...there appears to be no limit to their willingness to help (and success doing it).
Families in Global Transition: Support and resources for families, individuals and organizations working and living globally. Useful information for families, arranged well, along with what looks like a very thorough (albeit expensive)annual conference.
Allo' Expat: An exuberant site full of practical links and tidbits for most countries...real estate, customs, financial planning etc. Bizarre syntax ("we help Connecting the World"), but otherwise plenty of useful information.

Americans Living Abroad

Foreign Service Youth Foundation: Information, advocacy and outreach activities for parents of U.S. Foreign Service children
Americans in France: Resource for Americans and other native English speakers that would like to travel or live in France.
ACA American Citizens Abroad: ACA is a worldwide association dedicated to defending the interests of individual US citizens living abroad.
Expats Abroad: Expatriate resources for English-speaking expats abroad. Chatty, easy intuitive website; loads of very helpful information and links.
The American Hour: Website (and magazines, great parties, very useful networking events, buzzy exhibitions, you name it) for Americans living and working in the UK.
FOCUS: Offers personal advice and expertise to help international professionals and their families successfully live and work in the UK. FOCUS is a non-profit organisation, staffed entirely by expatriates who provide one-to-one support, seminars, workshops, social events and publications. Among other things, members have access to their team of volunteers manning the phones, whom a GSGI editor observed tracking down a question on re-lining a bathtub...there appears to be no limit to their willingness to help (and success doing it).

Expats Living in Portugal

Expats Portugal: Useful resource for English speaking expat nationals who live and work in - or are thinking of moving to - Portugal

Google Earth and Maps

Google Earth: Click this link to download and install Google Earth. You have to have Google Earth installed on your computer in order to use a Google Earth link. The links will not open in your web browser, because Google Earth is a separate programme. (Have no fear, the process is painless and generally involves clicking "Next" several times.) When you click a Google Earth link on the GSGI, you will be asked to download or open a file. Select "Open." Google Earth will open and you will automatically be magically transported via satellite image to the school in question. Brace yourself; it's very cool. Once you've downloaded and installed Google Earth, you can return to Google Earth from any school where we provide the Google Earth link.

Schooling in the USA

Sites with information about schools and schooling in the continental United States

GreatSchools.net: Described as "The Parent's Guide to K-12 Success"; very good free non-profit site with parents' comments on schools in all 50 states; basic facts and contact info on all schools in US; helpful articles, easy (intuitive) navigation, beautifully organised.
Fixing D.C.'s Schools: Excellent Washington Post website giving loads of statistical information on Washington DC public schools. Great information on an easy-to-work site.
The Parents League of New York: Non-profit membership organization of families and independent schools, with resource center for NY City parents. Volunteer parent advisors available to consult with members on early childhood programs, day schools, boarding schools, and special education, summer activities, day and sleep-away camps, trips, teenage opportunities etc.
School Choice International: Another of our favorites (and if we can't help you in a particular country, we might very well send you to one of these carefully chosen consultants). Highly competent, well oiled machine, particularly in the tough-to-crack NY educational maelstrom. Now with new helpful country and schooling guides online. We think they add value for money even to our own extensive schooling and expat articles, and that readers should invest in both!

Expats Living in Spain

Kids In Spain: Information and advice for expat families on the Costa Almeria, Costa Blanca, Costa Calida and Costa del Sol, Spain.

Transition to UK schools for Non-English Speakers

Bishopstrow College: For non-English-speaking international students (ages 8-17) wishing to transfer to UK schools, but needing a transitional period with language assistance, visa and school application process etc. Max 3 terms, open year round, boarding available (max 40 students). Also for English-speaking students looking for short term intensive revision courses, say during a holiday.

Short Term Swotting or Revision Courses

Bishopstrow College: For non-English-speaking international students (ages 8-17) wishing to transfer to UK schools, but needing a transitional period with language assistance, visa and school application process etc. Max 3 terms, open year round, boarding available (max 40 students). Also for English-speaking students looking for short term intensive revision courses, say during a holiday.

Working Abroad

Sites gving a range of useful information to those wishing to work abroad.

GoWorkAbroad: A clear, easy and well- organized site with succinct information on finances, language issues, legalities and practicalities of working abroad; it's a non-profit site, but even the small and unobtrusive ads provide helpful resources.

Books for Schools and Parents

The Kent Book Company: Long time supplier of books to UK (over 60 years) and growing number of international schools (Europe, Middle East, Africa and the US). Text books, fiction etc also available to parents by individual order. Customer base includes over 2,000 schools and 500 libraries; their specialist staff have extensive knowledge and experience of book supply, servicing and selection for the educational market.

Expats Living in France

Chantilly Expat: Easy-to-navigate website full of info, calendar events and resources for expats living in this beautiful area north of Paris.

Expats in Moscow

Children in Moscow: Interesting, helpful, cheeerful guide to wide range of subjects for expats living in Moscow, including information about schools, kindergartens, and just about anything you can think of related to the care and feeding of children in Moscow.

Travel

Very cool travel websites we think stand out from the bizillion on the internet.

Original Travel: Multi award-winning tour operator based in London, voted the UK’s Best Short Break operator by readers of the Guardian & Observer. All holidays are tailor-made by Original Travel consultants – all of whom specialise in a certain geographical area, that they know thoroughly and personally – and range from a family dog-sledding adventure in Swedish Lapland to indulgent honeymoons in Asia or Latin America, safaris in East and South Africa, and city breaks the world over.