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Original poster

Can my son study Year 10 at age 15?

30 replies

HongKongers · 02/08/2020 14:58

Hi everyone, our family is planning to immigrate to the UK in next year summer.

My son is going to finish his Year 9 at age 15 (he will be age 15 in Jun 2021) in Hong Kong in July 2021. We hope he might continue his Year 10 study in the UK.

It is understood that, in general, students of age 15 will study Year 11 in the UK.
However, I would like to know, is it feasible for my son to study Year 10 on Sep 2021?
Thanks from Joanne

OP posts:
CornflakeMum · 02/08/2020 15:09

Depends on the school. Independent schools are able to be more flexible than state I believe. I know several expat families in our (independent) school where children have had a dis-jointed education and have been allowed to join the school year below the one they technically should have joined for their age.

Original poster
HongKongers · 02/08/2020 16:11

I see. Then I’ll try independent school first. Thanks for the information^^

OP posts:
Singalonggong · 02/08/2020 18:01

Most independent schools won't care in the slightest. It will vary quite a bit in a state school and I wouldn't recommend it.

W00t · 02/08/2020 18:06

You'd need to ask the schools in the location you're moving to. My school has taken children from overseas of Y11 age into Y10 so that they can study the whole GCSE course and gain qualifications.
We're a state-maintained academy.

clary · 02/08/2020 18:47

OP you may not realise but an independent school means a fee-paying one - where fees for KS4 could be as much as £15,000-£20,000 a year.

A state school is one where you don't have to pay. Apologies if you are aware of this, but if not it makes quite a difference as many people obviously could not afford independent school fees.

I have worked in schools and I agree with your instinct that it would be better for him to join at the start of year 10 rather than yr 11 as it would be impossible to catch up with the GCSE curriculum at the start of yr 11. Some state schools, if this is your only option, will allow this. Otherwise he might have to complete a reduced number of GCSEs, perhaps building on his previous skills and focusing on core subjects like maths, English language and sciences.

You really need to speak to some of the schools you might be interested in - not easy in August but maybe look at doing that when they go back in September.

Original poster
HongKongers · 03/08/2020 01:22

Hi all,
Thanks for your kind feedback. Yesterday I’ve asked Council and waiting reply. State school will be prefect for us, may be I should try to ask later when they back to school.
Thanks everyone, it so lucky to meet you:)

OP posts:
W00t · 03/08/2020 09:51

One thing in the current situation is that many schools are doing virtual open days on their websites, so that might help narrow down your choices?

Original poster
HongKongers · 03/08/2020 10:24

Hi@W00t, that’s valuable information for me, thanks a lot ^^

OP posts:
RedskyAtnight · 04/08/2020 10:25

Although state schools don't normally like taking children outside of their normal year group, Year 11 is a bit of an exception.
Children typically study for their GCSEs in Year 10 and Year 11, and it's very unlikely that any school would want a student starting in Year 11, having missed half the GCSE course (and this would be very hard for the student involved as well!) - so this should make it more likely that your son will be taken into Year 10.

Original poster
HongKongers · 05/08/2020 11:01

Hi @RedskyAtnight,
Thanks for the information, it will be great if my kid can be admission to Year 10 Smile

OP posts:
mosquitofeast · 05/08/2020 11:17

it is unlikely in a state school . It will wreck the schools league table performance, as they will have to report the exam results of all 16 years olds, and your son will count as a zero. This will have a terrible affect on the schools statistics. This is why it is better for the school if he goes into year 11. If he comes out with two grade 3s, it is a terrible result for him, but a better result for the school

However, it is possible for him to then go on and do a GCSE resit year in a college. The problem will be that he is unlikely to be able to take many GCSEs, or have any choice at all in what he takes.

This is the worst possible age to move your son. It is virtually impossible to move even within the UK at this stage in education, as different schools will have taught different topics in different orders, and be dong different exam boards.

If at all possible, move now, or delay for a year.

Do you know where you are moving to? If there is family there, could your son move now and stay with family|? Or could you contact the school and find out what exam boards he needs to be studying? It may even be that there will be online lessons in the next few terms, that he could participate in?

mosquitofeast · 05/08/2020 11:18

Unless you can afford an independent school, of course

mosquitofeast · 05/08/2020 11:21

The other option would be to prepare to spend money on private tutors alongside school, and for him to do an extremely intensive year working twice as hard as anybody else. He might already know a lot of the content, coming from Hong Kong, but if he is not used to a UK exam board, then he has to learn exactly what they look for.

On reflection, this would be my preferred option, rather than splitting up the family.

Start now, identify a likely school, get details of what they are teaching in year 10, which exam boards, etc, so your son can make a start, then when you come to the UK, employ some decent tutors as well, and prepare your son for a very intensive year.

Is he clever?

ihearttc · 05/08/2020 15:04

He should be in Year 10 in September anyway if he will be 15 in June 2021?
DS1 is currently 15 and has just finished Y10 (he was 15 in Feb 2020)

clary · 05/08/2020 18:48

Ihearttc I think that's the point - he won't move here till next summer, when he should be going into Yr 11 - but that's not a great idea, as the op has gathered.

W00t · 05/08/2020 21:02

I'm sorry mosquitofeast but you're wrong about performance table statistics. A child with no prior attainment in the English system at end of KS2 is not included at all in the progress 8 figure/value added figures for a school, not even in the denominator. He would be included in the Attainment 8 figure, granted, but I am assuming you don't know much of the HK education system, as I seriously doubt there will be any issue for him joining the English system. He is likely to be ahead as he will already have completed Y10 in HK, and I would expect he has native tongue level English, and is already accustomed to working extremely hard and managing long days and a high homework load.

One child is only a fraction of a percent in any case, except in very small schools, and there are a great number of schools that treat pupils as individuals rather than cravenly chasing performance table places.

ihearttc · 05/08/2020 22:30

So sorry, that will teach me to not read a post properly! I thought they were coming now!

mosquitofeast · 05/08/2020 22:45

@W00t

I'm sorry mosquitofeast but you're wrong about performance table statistics. A child with no prior attainment in the English system at end of KS2 is not included at all in the progress 8 figure/value added figures for a school, not even in the denominator. He would be included in the Attainment 8 figure, granted, but I am assuming you don't know much of the HK education system, as I seriously doubt there will be any issue for him joining the English system. He is likely to be ahead as he will already have completed Y10 in HK, and I would expect he has native tongue level English, and is already accustomed to working extremely hard and managing long days and a high homework load.

One child is only a fraction of a percent in any case, except in very small schools, and there are a great number of schools that treat pupils as individuals rather than cravenly chasing performance table places.

It has nothing to do with his ability or his English,and everything to do with his age. He will be a year 11 student, and his results will be counted as year 11, even if he is in year 10, and takes no exams. He will then get zero.And that will be added into the school statistics, and while yes, it would be very nice if that little fraction of a percent didn't matter, the fact is it will matter hugely.
W00t · 05/08/2020 23:11

No, if he joins into Y10, his results will be deferred for performance tables purposes until the next year when he sits GCSE. This happens on a fairly frequent basis. Children are included in performance tables for the year they are in Y11, not by their age.

mosquitofeast · 05/08/2020 23:23

when did that change?

lakeswimmer · 05/08/2020 23:41

Some state schools are flexible. My DS is a year "behind" - he did an extra year at primary school before going to a state secondary school. No-one at the primary, secondary or local authority was in the least concerned about it.

Background; DS has a summer birthday, is young for his age and has some additional needs.

W00t · 06/08/2020 00:08

mosquitofeast that has been the case since Prog8 was introduced, definitely. I can't remember about before then, but possibly since 2014.

Original poster
HongKongers · 06/08/2020 01:24

Dear all, thanks for those kindly advices.
@clary*,*@ihearttc, you’re right, our family plan to move to UK in 2021 summer. I understand it will be quite challenge to my son, as not many options for us, I try to prepare early.
Anyway, I will try to ask schools after they back from summer break on Sept.
Thanks all your opinions again:)

OP posts:
Witchend · 11/08/2020 13:18

At my dc's school (standard state comprehensive) they have taken students into year 10 who should be year 12 in similar circumstances. It's worth asking around.

FredaFrogspawn · 11/08/2020 13:22

The state school I teach in would accept him in Yr 10 because he would have so much to catch up on if he were to enter half way through KS4 straight into Yr 11. We do what’s best for the child regardless of league tables, but agree, he can be counted the following year.

When was he 15? Which month?