English yr 10 moving back to Scotland. Scottish mumsnetters I need your help.

[FattyNewYear]

DD is in yr 10 doing GCSE in England.

I know its not ideal but circumstances are changing pretty dramatically down here and we may be forced to move back to Scotland. We always planned to and want to but not until DC had finished schooling as they are now teens. We also have a June 2001 child but understand they should integrate relatively OK so not too worried there.

We find ourselves in a bit of situation relocation V redundancy option - where we may have to move this summer and lots of other boring complicated hoo haar.

We lived in Scotland until DD was 41/2. She is an October baby (turned 15 October 2013). And I seem to recall from back then we had the option to start her in the August before her 5th birthday or defer. Because had we stayed in Scotland(we moved in the June to England) we were going to start her in the August I cannot recall how long the defer would have been. Such as after Xmas or until the August before her 6th birthday.

Anyway what I am trying to get around to is - would there be scope for DD to fall back a year so to speak, if say we were to assume had she actually started school as a deferred child?

I have been reading up on the Curriculum for excellence and I quite like the sound of it.

I know the school years are different in Scotland so some help there would also be useful.

The areas we would be moving to are quite wide and I am only mentioning it in case different areas have different rules. Either anywhere from Inverness through to Aberdeen (I said wide). Or Bridge of Allan area.

Any useful info much appreciated. Like I said we have big decisions to make and lots of research to do, so thought I would ask you lot on here as starting point.

Ok. My son is in S2 and was born June 2000. She should be in S4, therefore. I think starting S4, so dropping back a year in June would work fine. All courses are 1 year so no problem there. But, new courses start in June! a month before the summer holidays so starting in the summer would mean a month misses - not impossible. Your other child would be fine. Some schools, however, are treating one year courses (N4/N5) as 2 year courses so there might be some catching up to do but should be fine.

FWIW I also teach here so pm me if you want any other advice help. Am on the West Coast (lovely..)

So dd will be 16 this October? I think that would put her in 3rd year just now.
With her birthday being early in the school year she would be one of the oldest in her class currently, so would be considerably older than her peersnif she went back a year.
Ds is a January birthday and is the youngest in his year. He will be halfway through 3rd year before he is 15.
Your dd would be due to sit standard grades next year in the subjects of her choice. You may find, that due to curriculum!m restraints she may not be able to transfer all the subjects she is doing at the moment and there could be a bit of reshuffling.
Sorry that's not much help,a fair bit will depend on the school. Bridge of Allan is lovely but the way but small and quiet. Handy for Stirling though

Your daughter would be in fourth year just now if she's 16 in October.

Standard Grades have been replaced by the Nationals (4 and 5).

The new Highers begin in August 2014.

I'm sure her new school would allow her to start S4 in August. Yes, she'll have a bit of catching up as timetables change in May/June depending on the school.

She will be between 4 and 16 months older than her peer group.

If she starts S5 in August she will be ages with her peer group.

Thank you for the replies. Lots to think about and work out.

I was the pupil in this situation. Despite my end-of-June Birthday, when I moved to Scotland at the start of what would have been Y11, I was put in the year 'appropriate' to my age. Within a week, I realised that I would get awful grades due to the difference between the English curriculum and the Scottish one, and lack of time to catch up on coursework.

I requested being moved down a year, and was allowed to. It was the best thing I ever did.

And it really wasn't noticeable, as the age ranges varied so wildly in the 'year' group. I think there were people aged between 14 and 17 in the last year! (The 17yo had some SN's, and was doing far better in this year group than he would have in either of the two above that he could/should have joined).

Yes, I was one of the oldest in the year, but it wasn't really an issue tbh.

Just so you know (although appreciate it may not be an option) but quite a few of the private schools in Scotland do the GCSE syllabus and she would slot right in. Might be worth a look if finances allow.i

Thanks CouthyMow thats really good to know.

Sadly private school is out unless my Fairy Godmother puts in appearance.

My DD just turned 15 last week, is in 4th year and is among the youngest in her year. There are several in hear year who were held back at nursery so have already turned 16 during the last couple of months of 2013. It wouldn't be unusual if your daughter went back to 4th year in August 2013.

You mean 2014??? I assume Preferthedogtothekids??

Thats good news then.

I can feel myself calming a little today. Was seriously flapping on Friday.

Thank you again to those of you that have taken the time to reply and explain things.

Haha, yes, I mean 2014! unless of course you can jump into a Delorean and head back a year :-)