Living abroad, DC need to do GCSE Maths/English for A levels in UK

[Hecho]

I hope I've posted in the right place; just looking for experiences or information on kids getting the minimum GCSE qualifications before starting 6th form college in the UK.

I've started looking at Oxford, Wolsey, etc. but would be grateful for any advice on how to approach this, or if anyone could share their experiences. DC are currently in full time education in local school/educational system, aged 13 and 14.

Thanks for any help : )

It may depend on what system they are currently in and whether there are equivalent entry qualifications at level 2. The schools should be able to advise, especially part or full boarding schools which take overseas pupils into sixth form. Would IB perhaps be a better option?

Thanks for your reply LIZS; they're currently in the Spanish system which means they still need English and Maths GCSE to move onto A level. We only found this out when my oldest daughter started at the 6th form college and had to do the GCSE 'lite' exams last year. Interestingly the MYP of IB wasn't acceptable either. I'm trying to do my own research to understand the most effective way through for the younger kids to start 6th form without this extra pressure on their time and energy. We have a home in the UK in the catchment of an excellent state college, so they won't be boarding.

International GCSEs might be an option?
They are International qualifications designed to mirror the English system to appeal to overseas students wanting to study in the UK. They can't be sat in state schools in the UK but many private schools and home educators use them.
For funding purposes at 16 plus college and as entry to uni they are considered equivalent to GCSE.
They are offered by Edexcel and Cambridge exam boards. You might need to check which can be sat local to you - I believe Wolsey does Cambridge IGCSE.

Thanks itsstillgood : ) yes, I think you're right about the IGCSE, just finding out where to sit them as an external candidate

I imagine this situation is not uncommon among expats in your country, so maybe if you ask on the appropriate forum, someone will know where you can sit exams locally?

Hi Saracen, thanks for your note. We are a little unusual. Most families go into the private/UK/international school system (which isn't available where we live) or the state system, and stay with those. It's very rare to change. Since my post I've managed to find a centre that accepts a limited number of external candidates, around 2 hours from home, which is a good thing.

I'm in Spain and used to teach in an English school here which offered igcse to external candidates. I can't afford the private school but I intend to pay for my own dc to take them there. Are there any private English schools near you? I live in the least expatty part of Spain and we have two English schools (private) so there should be one in your nearest city?

Thanks Quentin. I've checked around 5 private UK schools, found through the Pearson website, which are within a couple of hours, only one is still offering places for external candidates (although currently suspended due to you know what), but I've found a private academy in Gibraltar! We're in Malaga province, in the mountains, so nothing is that close : ). I'd be interested in your experiences or thoughts although it sounds like we're in a similar boat