Pls explain the UK (high) school system to a foreigner

[EminSydney]

Hi there from Oz
DH's looking at an opportunity to move to his company's London office so I am researching about the school system for our 2 boys. Older one is 14 years (Oz high school year 8) and the younger is 12 years (year 6 in Oz primary).

So far it has been a bit brain-boggling. We are looking mainly at state schools, and I have come to understand there are selective state schools after children sit for the 11+ exams.
My kids both sat for selective school entry exams here in Oz as well, but whether or not they can get into a UK selective school is a different question. I'm just going to start by looking for a good school.

I need some help to get a better understanding how to look for a good school.

(((If there are mums who have gone through moving to the UK with high school kids, please share how you navigated through putting them into the state system)))

1. I saw this on a post but couldnt understand how to read it.

2022 GCSE results of current school:
99% 9-4 (A-C), 71% 9-7(A-A), 43% 9-8 (A*).

What does 9-4 (A-C) mean??

2. I know the UK school year starts in September. Which year would my son go to if he is 15 years old in Sept 2024? Are the years which they would study determined solely by age?
   In Oz, parents have a choice to send their kids to Kinder when they turn 5 or turning 5. So there are children who are a year younger than others in the same school year. Mine both attended Kinder after they've turned 5 which makes them older than some of their peers in the same class.
   So when they go into a UK school, they might actually have to skip a year if entry is according to age? Not sure how it would impact them academically as the 2 curriculums could be very different...

3. Does a local state school have to take them in if we live in the area no matter when and what? (this applies to where we currently are in Australia)
   Is it possible to start any time during the year at all?

Thanks for your time reading this!

Further eduction colleges can cater for a range of students, Post 16 -level 1,2 and 3 qualifications Including gcse resits in English and
Maths or Functional Skills, vocational qualifications, A levels and T levels - Access courses for those post 19 who do not have level 3 but wishing to go to uni(ie. Nursing), Foundation degree level, life skills for those with Additional Needs, Adult education courses which may lead to a certified qualification or for leisure, and some offer a 14-16 programme for those not in ft school. Not all government funding may be available to you having lived outside EU for 3+ years although this tends to apply post 19.

@EminSydney , as I've said before the geographic areas you are considering don't have grammar schools (there are only 100 in the U.K. and they are listed on the website elevenplusexams.co.uk) so you don't need to refer to 11+ or entry points to a grammar school after the age of 11 and before sixth form because they are almost non-existent.

Some parts of England (like Aldershot) have schools that finish at the end of GCSE's which are taken at the end of year 11 in May and June (there are lots of threads in the secondary education section at the moment). All pupils then move to larger 6th form colleges where everyone takes A levels / Btecs / or T levels in some cases. Many students then go on to uni. Yes you need to have lived continually in the U.K. for 3 years and have indefinite leave to remain to be counted as a home student. You need to goggle the cost of home and international fees as international fees are ££££. There is a Facebook page and website called what I wish I knew about university - WIWIKAU - with endless info.
Do keep asking questions as it's very complicated and there are lots of social media forums that answer them. I would really try an Aussie based Facebook group too to try and find someone who has moved a 15 year old to the U.K. and sent them to a U.K. uni as it's incredibly complex and tricky without repeating a school year / using a private school / going to uni back in Australia.

I think there could be confusion as the NSW state selective schools are state wide while in England they were countrywide but most areas have now gone fully comprehensive so they only remain clustered in certain counties.