How will my son continue his studies abroad?

What happened? Did you move 🤔 How is your son doing now?

Eton send pupils to US universities for decades so maybe worth asking about it during the application process.

If uni in the US is the plan then move him after GCSEs and get him used to the American system. If Eton is on your radar you have money to throw at this - employ a consultant.

What is his plan for post A-level? I think that's the first thing to work out.

If UK university, then check out student finance eligibility - I think he needs to be normally living in the UK, and moving may mean he has to pay overseas fees.
Applying will be a lot easier from the UK. It might be worth looking at possible boarding options, or whether he could stay with friends or family for year 13. I knew one sixth-former who lived alone for year 13 because his family moved - I think family friends kept an eye on him.

If he will want to continue his study post-18 in the US, then you need to look at how he would slot into high school there; that might inform what he should do in year 12, to be best prepared to join their system.

Look at UK state boarding schools- there are a few and leave him here

Either move Sept 2024, or after June 2026. Or split the family for a year to allow him to complete his A levels in one place.

Check uni fee status in both cases.

Do not move him in Sept 2025.

We still do AS levels in Wales but that’s not really the point here.

ideally he would stay in the UK to complete years 12 and 13 but if that’s really not possible then moving for him tot start year 12 in the US would be the next best option.

@LuckyMumOf1 , how much time have you spend looking at the cost of US uni or a uk place when you live abroad? It's far better to complete a levels in uk and apply via UCAS in second year of sixth form.

Of course it's better to move him straight after GCSEs rather than half way through a-levels. You simply can't disrupt his education half way through a levels, it's unlikely they will be following the same exam board and even if they are he may not be given the opportunity to cover all the content as they may study different topics at different times of the year. I'm not convinced a school or college will allow this either to be honest. Is he planning on going to Uni? In the Uk or US? Personally I wouldn't be moving, timing is awful both academically and socially at that age. Does he want to move? Have you spoken to him about it?

To interrupt his studies hal way through A levels is ridiculous and I feel sorry for him. I think AS levels are phased out by the way. Why can't he move just after completing his A levels? I really think you need to talk with the school for advice on how to not harm his chances foe further education and/or uni.

@LuckyMumOf1 what need more Lego said.

I can only imagine that there has to be a way to “translate” one education system into another as I’m sure loads of people do it. I think where your DS plans to do Uni would determine what I’d do.

if he plans to go in the UK, I’d find a way for him to finish there rather than coming to the US with you.

The US HS system is very different in that it’s not based on something like A levels, and rather on a cumulative 4 year program. I don’t know how they’d account for his only being there for 1 or 2 years.

No . He stays uk with relatives
Or start a boarding school year 12
Or one parent stays
Til he completes a levels

Just find a boarding school in U.K. for Sixth Form, there are some good state options too. Unless you want him to go to uni in the US he is far better off staying here and then straight to uni. Also check out when extortionate overseas uni fees become payable on U.K. unis.

The only other option is going after he completes his GCSEs so before A levels Is that more feasible?

Yes, because he wouldn't be part-way through a course. You'd have to spring into action asap to find out where he could go to school over there though.

What's the uni plan? Is there one? If UK bear in mind the cost for an international student. Having US qualifications won't be an issue though.

Let him finish his A levels, with the current exam board in his school. Could one of you stay behind or family stay with him for that 1 year?
US high school, very different classes and A levels is at first year university level in US. If he wants to apply to US universities it would be fine with current A levels set up.
International schools may have different courses and there may be gap in his knowledge. So even if same exam board, the courses modules taught could be different.
Also, A levels lots of study groups with friends….how is he going to set up his course and revision whilst trying to make friends. All the US top students in any high school is focusing on their university applications and unlike UCAS you can apply to as many universities if you want. They would be focus on those applications whilst the groups that may be socially active may not care about their grades.

The only other option is going after he completes his GCSEs so before A levels Is that more feasible? certainly better or find a sixth form where he has a boarding option, either state or private.

It would be better to go after GCSE's and before A-levels.
I don't know how it would work with translating the GCSE grades into "credits" that would essentially cover what he would have done in 9th + 10th Grade but they must have a system for international students who don't do the full 4 years of American High School but still graduate.
But that would definitely be a better time to move.

A friend of mine's parents moved house half way through her A levels. It was only 50 miles away but none of the schools she might move to offered the same syllabus that she'd been studying. She actually lived with my family for the Upper Sixth and went home at weekends.

@LuckyMumOf1 in terms of how a final year of HS would look in the US.

Most kids take 6 or 7 classes. They take the class every day. There aren’t 2 year courses like A levels, each year is stand alone, so your son won’t be trying to “catch up” if it’s something new to him (exception probably being a foreign language).

Classes are generally offered at regular, honours and AP (advanced placement) level. If your son was expected to excel at A levels, then he’d likely be wanting to do AP classes.

He would probably be required to take a placement test to determine which level he’d be in, especially for Maths, English and foreign language classes. These wouldn’t be horrific exams, just probably a 45 min assessment type thing to gauge his knowledge.

Christ almighty, unless you are all being deported and have absolutely no choice in the matter, do not do this. This is a disastrous time to move for him - his first year of A levels won’t transfer at all.

Are you planning to all live in the USA on a permanent basis? If so community college and getting his GED is probably the best option. But it’s a shit option. He won’t easily be able to transfer into high school, he’ll be too old at 18 and he won’t be able to take enough credits to graduate high school in a year anyway.

If he plans on returning to the UK for uni, he’ll essentially have to go back to an FE college and re-take his A levels from scratch.

Seriously, what possessed you to move at this stage in the game? Why not wait for him to finish his exams?

Does he need A-levels? He could do a one year course at a local college (there's lots he could choose - one year courses are usually GCSE equivalent but it could be something that interests him but he hasn't had the opportunity to do before) for his "Year 12" and then the final year of American High School.
Maybe doing a bit of online preparation for the American curriculum in that year as well.

Unless you can find an international school where he can complete his British education in the US I absolutely wouldn’t move him. I think it’s a dreadful idea quire honestly. It’s such a critical time for his future.

I would imagine most major US cities do have a British school, there’s one in my city, but it won’t be cheap. However, if you’re anywhere in small town America, you won’t find this. If you can’t find a British school, I’d find a way for him to stay in the UK and finish there.

Also, what he would do educationally would largely depend on if he plans to go to a US university or a British one. If he plans on attending a US Uni, you’d want him taking AP courses in high school.