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Living overseas

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Original poster

Moving from US to UK schoolsystem before GCSE

13 replies

AgnesG · 15/10/2019 18:13

We are currently living temporarily in the US. Have been here 2 years and original plan was to go back next July (after 3 years) in time for DS to start Year 8. There is now a possibility of extending our stay for up to a further 2 years but I am concernedabout how much this will impact DS' schooling. Does anyone have any experience of making this move and has any advice? US to UK would be especially helpful but other examples also welcome. We are in a part of the US which has an excellent reputation for schools so we think he is getting a good education here and he is quite bright and adaptable but I worry about how well he will assimilateback into the UK system as it gets closer to exams. Many thanks in advance

OP posts:

Walkingdeadfangirl · 15/10/2019 18:29

Have no experience of that sort of move but in relation to the school issue. Are you talking about moving to the UK for the start of Y10?

If you can, avoid it. It will impact what school you can send your DC to, you will have very little (if any) choice in the state system. It will impact what subjects they can study for GCSE (some GCSEs will already be started by then). It wont give them any time to assimilate to the new education system and so impact his results. So many ways it can go wrong at such a crucial time.

Obviously its possible but if you want the best for your DC then its a bad time for such a big move.

JoJoSM2 · 15/10/2019 22:00

Will you be looking at state or independent schools when you're back? And where in the UK? England? State-wise, your LA will be obliged to find him a place but desirable schools tend to be full most places and kids often end up at poor schools.

If you're going to go independent, then you could put him in an a
American or International school. Or go down the GCSE route if you find a school with a space.

steppenmum · 15/10/2019 22:06

If going into a private school it might be doable but I wouldn't if you're going State.

MrsSchadenfreude · 15/10/2019 22:11

We moved back to UK when ours were 12 and 15. The 12 year old slotted back into the UK system with no difficulty. The 15 year old continued in the US system and did the IB. One warning - US/international schools in UK are extortionately expensive and they can be difficult to get into. ASL gives US citizens preference.

Original poster

AgnesG · 16/10/2019 00:04

All really helpful feedback thanks - and mostly in line with what I was already thinking. We would hope to come back to a state school so appreciate the additional limitation there. Lots to think about...

OP posts:

mbosnz · 16/10/2019 13:24

We moved last year with a year 8 and a year 10. Both were given places in a state school that we have found excellent and supportive. Teachers gave the girls lots of help to catch up where they needed to.

Year 8 is a lot better, it gives them a chance to come to grips with the differing curriculum, make friends, and gives them more choice in terms of subjects.

In saying that, our year 10 has coped excellently, is in top streams now for all her subjects, and predicted excellent GCSE grades.

We also got them a tutor for maths and science, to give them a confidence boost and catch them up with any holes in what they've studied back home.

LinoleumBlownapart · 17/10/2019 19:33

If your son is in preAP/IB classes in the USA and starts at the beginning if year 10 I think he'll be fine. On level classes might give him more of a struggle. Although subjects vary, like like maths tends to be a little more advanced earlier in the USA and English advances earlier in the UK. But it varies so much.

IJumpedAboardAPirateShip · 22/10/2019 06:26

We’re looking at this as a likely scenario too and for that reason are looking at private in the US to make sure DC are up to scratch to catch up with the british system

BellaBattenburg · 22/10/2019 06:35

Lots of state schools start the GCSE curriculum in Year 9 now. My DCs' very ordinary state secondary has them make their choices during Year 8 and they study only those subjects from Year 9, rather than Yr 10. You may find your children will have missed a huge chunk of the GCSE curriculum if they transfer to Yr 10?

GeoffreyAndBungle · 22/10/2019 06:40

Was just coming on to say what Bella said about GCSES courses starting in year 9. This is the case for most state high schools in our area.

Also some state schools in our area require all children to take their RE and/ or English lit GCSEs in Y10.

stucknoue · 22/10/2019 06:44

It's really hard to change at the beginning of year 10 because all the options are done in year 9 and some schools start prep in year 9. The other issue is the two systems are quite different, some subjects are ahead, others behind, if you are coming back at some point the sooner the better, or you need to commit to staying there

sashh · 22/10/2019 06:51

The best option for your child is the original one, time to get to grips with UK high school and then take GCSEs.

You should also check the criteria for student funding, he needs to be 'ordinarily resident' for 3 years to get a student loan.

missyoumuch · 22/10/2019 07:05

Is a private school offering British or IB curriculum an option? It's not a great time to relocate back to the UK if you/your DP's job in the US is secure. I'm an expat and have a friend who spent a month in the UK trying to find a job to get her back home and she gave up and has decided to stick it out overseas.

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