Change school in Jan 2022 for year 12

[sixthformerfulltimemum]

Hello Parents,

My DS is studying in Y12 day school in London. due to some sudden circumstances, we may have to move back to our country. If DS changes in January 2023 to another boarding. Do you know when he will receive predicted grade ? If he only change in January, would that affect the impression of of uni on him, which adversely affected his university application?

many thanks

Primary thing is to find a school with the same A levels and boards, then the schools can talk to each other about grades etc.

Another option maybe to look for home guardian type thing where you are already? I know ds 6th form has some kids who parents live abroad and live with guardians. And one person I know took in a friend’s daughter in similar circumstances.

Thanks a lot for suggestions of guardian. DS doesn’t want to stay in host family. Further, it may be difficult to find host family as his school is in north London

Thanks for information. Do you know when predicted grades will be issued ? Do you have friends have similar situations? Many thanks

Predicted grades are normally based on end of year exams in Year 12, so May of next year if he has just started sixth form. The grades would be handed out in time for the UCAS form, which is the first term of year 13.

Thanks For information. If the exam boards are different, would it have impact on predicted grade.

we are also considering host family for DS, do you know any good guardian companies or host family (north London)? Many thanks

Check with whatever schools you might be considering- you could find it's a very short list for switching even if you can match the exam boards. Forget about predictions for now - you priority needs to be finding a school with space and willing to accommodate a Jan move.

Thanks for information.

we have found a boarding school already. But we’re just wondering whether it’d be better for DS to continue with current school and live in a host family. The current school is good and DS has fit in quite well and peers are good. but DS doesn’t like to be in host family.

DS would rather go to boarding school.

DS is easily influenced by peers.

I think the chances of anyone accepting someone to start a new school in January of year 12 is slight. Is he already in year 12 and you are looking for a move in 2 months time? Or are you thinking a year in advance?

If it’s a year in advance he needs to start the new school in January 2023. If it’s for 2 months time it’s far far better for him to remain at the school he is at now.

What subjects? If the boards are different then the syllabus maybe so he'd have to catch up what he's missed this term in the new school, as well as settle in which might be a big ask if something like history and the new school studies totally different periods. In the other hand science is pretty similar across boards, but again you don't the order of topics. He could have spent this term studying evolution, to find the new school studied plant biology this term. You need to work that out before deciding imo. Staying where he is would seem to be a possibly better option.

Could you ask his current school for any suggestions on guardians? They may have come across similar situations before and have recommendations.

Thanks for info. He’s studying biology, chemistry, maths and economics. The. Exam Boards are completely different. The current school will help listing what have been taught, and liaise with new schools what they have taught

we has a discussion with current school academic head, it seems they would be very busy next term having extension course and preparing the students for university application, particularly those interested in Oxbridge.

i m worried that the change is too much n affect his academic results n university application

Thanks for advice. DS was in boarding school last year n didn’t like staying in host family. He prefer staying in boarding school

the current school is much stronger academically

It’s highly unlikely that the new school will use all of the same exam boards and so you will be impacting his education.

How will you find someone to look after him if it isn’t family or friends? He would probably be better returning to your home country with you.

thanks for advice. For science subjects and economics, would the synabllus of different exam boards are similar

he’s going to boarding school, so he will be taken by school and guardian

No, the syllabus is quite different between exam boards. January of Year 12 is probably far too late to switch exam boards. Most schools do mocks in February (or even before Christmas) which they use as supporting evidence for the predicted grades. And even if they don't, it doesn't leave much time to learn a different syllabus for the mocks in May/June.
If you really have to move him to another school I'd investigate whether he could be held back a year and restart year 12 in September 2023.

Even if it is the same exam board another school may cover the syllabus in a different order. So he may miss a topic completely or cover the same topic twice.

In terms of content my daughter found that at university everyone else on her course did AQA biology and her school did Edexel and there were some topics she had to learn from scratch because they weren't covered at her school.

If he must change schools and if it is ging to affect his academic performance could he drop one subject? Universities, including medical schools and Oxbridge don't tend to offer on four subjects unless one of the four is further maths. It is far better to achieve AAA or higher than AABB.

Thanks for advice. DS is willing to go to host family. His school is in north London (northern line). Do you have recommendations of good host family or guardian company in London ?

re Oxbridge, is 4 subjects more advantageous than 3 subjects? At the moment, he handles them well. Thanks