Secondary school in London - worries

[Allnewfor2020]

I was just looking for people's experiences with beginning their child on the UK system..I always thought I would have moved back to Ireland by now but doesn't look like it is going to happen. Therefore kids will most likely continue their school in London. How was it to watch your kids head into such a different system..GCSE/ A Levels etc...many thanks for any insights into it all..

I moved back when mychildwas one so don't have insights as a parent, however I did teach in English secondary for 10 years and now teach in Ireland. From that perspective I can say I far prefer teaching in Ireland and think the system is much better here and children learn more effectively. That's my two cents as a teacher.

Many thanks for your reply. I’m going to at least try and find a school that suits him - it’s such a disadvantage not having a ‘feel’ for how it all works..but ‘we are where we are’ as the over used saying goes

My DD did all her primary in the UK before we came back. It was fine, but education in the UK is more political and changes a lot. My DD saw big changes with everything getting more traditional and formal and more role learning over her time there. And a big emphasis on learning set spelling words over comprehension.
We came home when she finished year 6 as I wanted the Irish secondary system (plus other reasons!!). Gcses are very high pressure compared to Junior cert, and I prefer the broader leaving cert over Alevels.
But all in all schools are schools and they'll all get educated in the end. Werid bit for you might be the lack of FHC, which is such a big thing here. But you'd probably get that in a Catholic school if you are practicing and get into one.

Many thanks for your message - its very interesting to hear actual experiences of others..I have kind of blown it, timing wise, for getting back in time for secondary school for the first but may make it for the second! fingers crossed :)

What is FHC @turkeyboots ?

First Holy Communion. Technically a major religious milestone, in practice a major party with a church service. A huge party of an Irish child primary years.

Thank you. I should know that. 🙈

My 3 kids have gone through the UK system & I work at a school (not a teacher though). My only comparison with the Irish system is my own experience which was several decades ago!

I think there are pros & cons to both systems. Mine liked only having 3/4 subjects for A Levels so they could drop subjects they didn’t enjoy at that stage. But if kids are not sure what they want to do after school it’s very early to be narrowing down the curriculum.

Compared with my time at school my kids were very aware of their targets & school expectations for them & what to do to achieve them. But at the same time it feels less pressurised than what my nephews & nieces are experiencing in Ireland- less homework I would say & if they want to go on to 3rd level there isn’t the same obsession in the media with exam results & points. There is a bigger choice for 3rd level too with a bigger population