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Original poster

Is private Y9 state Y10 possible ice age 14 DS?

34 replies

Woonang · 02/05/2021 14:34

Hi
My family will move to UK in Oct. My DS will be 14 at that time. If we wait for the allocation of Y10 upon arrival, I estimate that it will take at least 1 month. It will then take another month for DS to get used to the new environment as English is not our mother language. I'm worrying that he will not be able to pick up the missing GCSE course properly.

I want to ask if it is impossible to apply for Y9 in state school? If it is impossible, can I arrange DS to study in private school Y9 first. Apply to move him to Yr 10 in state school in Sep 2022? Is it feasible under his age consideration?

Thx for your advice in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
Woonang · 02/05/2021 15:38

Icic. Thx for advising. By the way, I'm confuse whether there are 2 terms or 3 terms in a year? I checked a couple private schools' website, they quote tuition per term.

OP posts:
LIZS · 02/05/2021 15:32

If an independent school accepts your ds you will need to pay a deposit and become liable for first term's fees , even if you cancel before September.

Original poster
Woonang · 02/05/2021 15:28

@MayIDestroyYou
English is not my major concern. I think my DS can pick up not too long later as child can learn it very fast. What I am worrying is that he will be unable to pick up the missing GCSE course. As said, some school will actually teaching GCSE from Yr 9. He is studying Y8 now in my hometown. Since his birthday is in July, he should be admitted to Y10 under UK system.

OP posts:
Original poster
Woonang · 02/05/2021 15:23

@Postapocalypticcowgirl
Yes, 2 years backward may be too much even for the child. Will try to use the excuse suggested by @UserAtRandom to apply for Yr 9. By the way, can I apply for private Y9 as back up?

OP posts:
MayIDestroyYou · 02/05/2021 15:22

Could you not give him an intense immersion in English for the intervening five months? English reading, radio, TV, films, + a formal online course?

Only because I'd have thought being a year out of sync with his peers might be more problematic at that age.

Original poster
Woonang · 02/05/2021 15:15

@UserAtRandom

How good is your DC's English?

We've had an example of a similar situation at my DC's state school where a child arrived at the start of what should have been Year 10, but speaking virtually no English. It was decided that he would be unable to access the curriculum and he was moved back 2 years to start in Year 8. I would have thought you might be better pursuing an argument like this? Otherwise it's very unusual to start a child out of their chronological year in a state school, and having been to a private school first will make no difference. You should also be aware that many schools start GCSE courses in Year 9, so something else to look out for in potential schools.

So your child moved to Y8 at state school at that time?
OP posts:
LIZS · 02/05/2021 14:53

So he should enter year 10? I think it unlikely state schools will allocate out of year and any negotiations will only delay it. Independent schools might but you will be staying in fee paying until post gcse then possibly transfer at year 12.

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 02/05/2021 14:46

It may be possible for him to be one year behind in a UK state school, I think two would be more unlikely.

In the state system, his education would normally be funded until he is 19, so any further education would probably need to be finished by then or funded by you (in e.g. a private school).

I would try to get him into a state school in Y9 in October if you can.

UserAtRandom · 02/05/2021 14:40

How good is your DC's English?

We've had an example of a similar situation at my DC's state school where a child arrived at the start of what should have been Year 10, but speaking virtually no English. It was decided that he would be unable to access the curriculum and he was moved back 2 years to start in Year 8. I would have thought you might be better pursuing an argument like this? Otherwise it's very unusual to start a child out of their chronological year in a state school, and having been to a private school first will make no difference. You should also be aware that many schools start GCSE courses in Year 9, so something else to look out for in potential schools.

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