Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Moving from Northern Irish School System to English HELP!!

33 replies

Joleenshaw85 · 05/03/2019 11:49

We are looking to relocate from Belfast to Chester as a family, my husband is currently working there at present and dependant on myself obtaining a job there we would all relocate.

We have a 14 year old son who is currently in year 10 in a Secondary school in Belfast who would be due to start his G.C.S.E years in September 2019.

I am looking for some information on how easy it is to move from the Northern Irish System to the English System. Has anyone experienced this?
Here in Belfast I would just contact schools in the area I live and see if they have spaces. I think this is different in England though Do we countact the Education Authority. Do we have any say in which school he gets or do they just allocate him one? As this is the start of his GCSE's I would like to pick a school on subjects offered.

We would ideally be looking to move upon completion of his year 10 in Belfast in June, however as I’m aware English school years end in July would he ok to just take up a place in a new school in September?

Any help with this is greatly appreciated we are kind of in the dark here with the systems being so different.

OP posts:
clary · 05/03/2019 15:44

If he is 15 in August then yes, he would be in yr 11 in September, basically the final year of GCSEs, that's a nightmare time to move. It's very unusual to find a state school willing to take a student out of year, or willing to let one join in yr 11, esp if he hasn't even started GCSEs.

WatcherintheRye · 05/03/2019 15:30

I'm not understanding how the system in N.I. seems to differ so radically? My ds date of birth is similar to your ds - 6/8/2004, and he is in Yr 10, albeit young in the year. His school started work towards some GCSEs in yr 9, and he is now halfway through the GCSE years proper.

Original poster
Joleenshaw85 · 05/03/2019 15:25

Hopefully cause he has completed the correct number of school years they would let him be held back a year. We dont have a definitive address yet and are still looking at areas so hopefully we will know an address soon to contact a school

OP posts:
GU24Mum · 05/03/2019 15:15

Hello,
The problem you might well find is that he's supposed to be in Y10 in the English system so unless a school will take him "out of year" then it's going to be tricky.

You'll probably need to speak to some schools and see whether they'd take someone out of year.

Original poster
Joleenshaw85 · 05/03/2019 15:01

He is born the 02/08/2004. However he has not started his GCSES yet he is due to pick his subjects this year and start his studies toward them in September 2019. He is in the England equivalent of year 9.

OP posts:
GU24Mum · 05/03/2019 14:42

Hi OP, is your son born on or before 31st Aug 2004 or after?

If it's before then he'd be due to start in Y11 which is half way (and in practice about 2/3 of the way) through the GCSE courses which would be pretty disastrous.

If he's born on or after 1st Sept 2004 then he'll go into Y10 and start the GCSE courses which is fine.

malmontar · 05/03/2019 14:35

Well if your husband has a job in Cheshire he presumably has also got an address there. Just contact the local lea and ask what schools have spaces. He will need to take up the space almost immediately though as they will presume he has moved already. So you could call once he finishes his school in Ireland and he would ideally join for the last couple of weeks. Year 9 GCSEs is a consideration but he would be able to catch up so I wouldn’t discount a school just on that, you may not have much choice anyway.

clary · 05/03/2019 14:27

When is he 15? If he turns 15 before Sept 1 he would join an english school at the start of yr 11which is the final year of GCSEs and thus very much to be avoided. If he is 15 after Sept 1then it's not as tricky, he would need to find a school ASAP tho as they will be picking options now. You need to find a school with a two year KS4 as many are now starting GCSE courses in yr 9 ie when pupils are 13,turning 14.

Swipe left for the next trending thread