UK curriculum to IGCSE and back to A Levels

[louisea]

Sorry for the rather messy title.

Looks like we are moving abroad again. 3 DCs have always been in UK curriculum schools. The secondary school in our new location does IGCSE exams whereas the current secondary school in the UK does GCSEs. ) Does it seem feasible to move them and then bring them back to do A levels.

DD1 (Year 4 at the moment) would come back to enter Year 8 in the UK so I'm not to worried about her moving around though the Elementary school teaches PYP rather than straight UK curriculum so there is still that to consider. I'm more concerned about the boys as this could be a crucial decision for them.

Lots of independent schools in the UK teach iGCSEs and then A'level. So there is no problem there.
Lots of pupils come into UK schools at all ages, having no experience of UK schools, and often limited English. They usually do fine if not excellent at GCSE.
I don't think there will be any issue with your children adapting.

I don't think there's any reason to worry - IGCSEs are a very solid academic qualification. The syllabus will probably be slightly different than what they would cover in the GCSE, but the breadth and depth will be just as good. If there are specific topics which the A level teacher wrongly assumes they've already covered at GCSE, they may need to do a little extra to catch up. But that's only likely to be a small bit here and there, and isn't likely to make it any harder to do an A level in a subject - there will be so much in the A level that is new to all the students anyway, the difference between having done a GCSE or an IGCSE will be minimal.

I believe IGCSEs are generally considered a little harder than GCSEs so good results should not be a bar to studying any A level. The only problem that could arise is if you moved them just before they sat GCSEs as I believe the course requirements are different. I am not particularly familiar with the requirements but I saw the requirement s for DS2 IGCSE art which appeared different to DS1 GCSE art course, maths also seems significantly more in depth for IGCSE.

There wouldn't be any problem if they come back after IGCSE to do A Levels, none at all - lots of pupils do it.

The important thing really is the timing of any move. Traditionally, gcses or igcses are studied over the course of years 10 and 11 at school. Moving a child to another school not doing the same examination board or exam during this time would not be advisable.

However, many schools are now getting pupils to sit exams early - something that might affect the choices of exam open to your children when you go back to the UK. Depending on the timing of the return to the UK, it would be advisable to be in correspondence with the potential school you would be looking at your children attending to ensure that they were able to study all the subjects they wish.

Thanks. The boys would be leaving the UK at the end of the winter term of next school year (Dec 2012) and we would return at the end of the school year 2015. In other words, they would move to start the second term of Year 9 overseas and come back at the end of Year 11.

The job doesn't finish until 2016 but I would come back to the UK before DH so that the boys can go to 6th form.

Sounds like there won't be a problem then louisea. Better gird yourself for the fallout when you move them at 16 and they tell you they don't want to go

Ds has been abroad with us since 2006 (year 6); sits IGCSEs in 2 months, and then goes back to UK to board at state sixth form for A levels. Several of his peer group will be doing the same - so no problems.