School Issues - moving from England to Scotland

Oh yes, forgot of course that the senior classes are on exam leave. Not got to that point yet, sorry!

Llama, if your child is 14 in May they would be the same age as my youngest so should be going into 3rd year in the Summer. Technically that's the last year of BGE so not a subject choice year. However it will depend which school or region you are moving to as they are all applying the rules differently and some are narrowing down the curriculum a year earlier. Additionally, most schools move into the next year in June a few weeks before the end of term. I just know that that particular school moves up earlier. If you have a good idea of where you are planning to move to, it would be worth enquiring what they do in that area or school.

Given that the state school in your catchment area attracts many placement requests from parents dissatisfied with the local indies - I'd put the money towards your DCs' further education. I teach Nat 5 and Higher (also BGE years but your enquiry pertains to exam years) and my friends who deliver GCSE and IGCSE were impressed with the challenge and rigour of Nat 5 as a preparation for post 16. Although the timetable for forthcoming S2-4 changes as Username said commence early May, new S 5,6 do not return until June when SQA exam diet complete. Importantly, options for S5 will begin soon so it might be worth contacting school as courses can fill up, numbers impact on staffing etc.

Reading with interest as I also have a Yr 11 sitting GCSE and its looking like we couldpossibly be off to Scotland before the end of the year. Only just found out.

I too am wondering how they will fit into the Scottish sytem.

I also have a 13yo (14 in May) just choosing her GCSE options.

We will find out by the end of February if we are going to Scotland.

I guess we would be better to push for a spring move if they tell us we are going instead of a later move?? I didnt realise Scottish school years started in May.

Sorry to hog your thread allison.

oops just read the thread properly. I have no idea about how strenuous GCSEs are but understand the Nat 5s are fairly stretching compared to Standard grades - probably closer to the old O grades that I did so I am told. The step up to Higher seems to be less now so he may find it harder maybe? Id try to move him at the start of the new term at the beginning of May rather than in the summer hols if at all possible as he'll be missing nearly 2 months of a 1 year course.

Your 16 year would probably be going into 5th year and therefore would be looking to start Highers I think so Nat 5s would be irrelevant? In Dunblane High the new school year will be starting on 2 May 2015. I think selection for subjects for this is probably happening about now.

Your 11 year old would presumably be looking to start S1 so should be fairly straightforward.

I have no experience of Beaconhurst but understand a lot of private schools follow the English exams rather than Scottish so I guess the transition should be easier?

I have 2 boys in Dunblane but none are in exam years yet, the school is very academic and gets good results so being a mean Scot I'd be thinking why pay for that at a private school when it is available at a state school. That said, i am sure being in Private school gives all sorts of added benefits.