Mumsnet Talk

I'm contemplating moving back home this year but DD would be in year 10 now so the timing isn't great for her. Ideal for younger DC though.

How would a state school handle GCSEs for her?

Anyone?

I can't imagine that they'd be able to cram GCSE courses into one year, but she'd hate to be put in the year below.

Everyone is over on the other thread about this very subject: Moving from US to UK

thank you!

I dont know if state schools are compelled to take a student but when I worked in relocations in the middle east, no British school would take a student into year 11. Even if it is the same course the chances of having learnt the same modules in the same order are very slight. I never had a student match a like for like by more than 4 out of 10 subjects, ie subject, exam board, school selected modules, order modules studied in. Good luck I really dont know what to offer, except in the case of this students the parents refused the offer to move out here (to the middle east) for fear of affecting her whole career.

This would be a TERRIBLE move for her. Disaster! This is my area of work and I strongly recommend you not to do this.

A friend just came back from Australia and her daughter went into year 10 rather than year 11. Probably not what you want to hear!

Depends which country you are returning from and what curriculum your dd has been following. If your dd has been studying an international curriculum such as iGCSEs some schools may be able to offer this in the UK.
Regarding the previous posters comments re Australia (also applies to NZ), they start the academic year in January whereas in the UK the school year starts in September. That may result on children born between September and December moving into a different school year on returning to the UK in all school year groups.

If you HAVE to move back, I would get her to repeat year 10.

We would have them move into Y10. We are fairly happy to take students in the middle of Y10 though, if they are moving mid-year.

We would always do what was right for the child, educationally, rather than sticking to strict age cut-offs.

Not all schools will support a year behind placement as they would not have the funds to do so.

Oh.

We don't have to move this year, and if the only option is Y10, probably won't. It's frustrating because I think she would do much better in the UK system, and if we leave it another year she'll be leaving in the middle of a 2-year course here

I'm not really in a position to move before then, which is a shame if there's a chance she'd be taken in Y10 now.

It is a terrible idea and sounds like the move will hugely disrupt your DDs education at a crucial time. Sorry that it is it what you want to hear but from experience children who change countries and schools At this time do badly, very badly academically.

It is not what I want to hear

The family circumstances are complicated. She isn't doing very well academically here anyway and is heading for at best for mediocre, at worst for failure, barring a miracle.

Sorry, I meant that I am sorry that it is not what you want to hear.

There are obviously more things going on, but even so it is a huge upheaval at a critical time emotionally and educationally in her development. How will she weather the move aside from school, leaving behind friends etc?

You could contact the schools she will potentially go to and ask then if they would permit a repeat year. On the sw that would be a NO

I really don't know.

I haven't decided what is best for us all yet but she is the one that worries me the most. Younger DC are quite keen on the idea.

What does she want?

Mostly she says she wants to stay. She doesn't like change and is irrationally scared of British teenagers! Which is crazy because she's very outgoing and confident, hardly a wallflower.

Are you very unhappy where you are? Sounds like staying is best for her

I can only speak from an English teacher's perspective on this subject, but if a student arrived and did not repeat year ten they would have massive issues. Our gcse is 40% coursework ( 4 pieces completed in yr 10 and one piece in yr 11) 40% exam (prepared in yr 11) and 20% speaking and listening. Most exam boards have a similar structure so this will be the case in the majority of schools. All coursework must be completed in school, under supervised conditions. And that is just English! There is not enough time to cover everything in one year, and they are pretty much guaranteed to do less well than if they had been there for two years.
I am pretty sure your child would be in the same boat in other subjects too, so if they can't start in year ten then I would not advise it.

Have you thought about colleges? They also offer gces and might be a more flexible option?

Hmm. Maybe. More thinking and research to do I think.

Mawgatron - Yes I read on the other thread that colleges take younger students, I didn't know that. Are these sixth form colleges?

You also need to consider funding and costs.