Transfer private -> state secondary

[ragged]

I am thinking to move DS in Jan of y8 (so next January).
The sorts of questions I have are...
A) DS never took SATs or CATs, how will they assess him?
B) Better to transfer in at start of y8, middle of y8, start of y9..., when?
C) When will his cohort decide GCSE options, how does that affect B)?
D) What are the transition arrangements for children starting somewhere in y8+, what do we need to know, will anyone help him find his way around campus or tell him who is who among the adults? I know there's lots of support+guidance for new y7s, but what about anyone else?

I phoned the school I have in mind, they just told me to ring County Hall to see if there's a space now, they seemed bewildered that I should be asking about possible transfer in 8 months time.
Do you think if I tried to directly contact the HoY I might get answers?

Hi Ragged, they will be surprised because usually if you are looking for a place out of normal admission (ie year 7) they will either have spaces or be oversubscribed. If oversubscribed, you would go on the waiting list, when (and if) a place becomes available they offer it to the person at the top of the list and they would start as soon as possible, so it isn't usual for the parent to say "oh I want a place in 8 months time".
Obviously if undersubscribed and they have spaces of course you could pick when to join.
Re GCSE timing it will slightly depend on the school, quite a few start/do some GCSE early, so they may start in yr 8/9.
I have just done the opposite of you and transferred DC from state to private in yr 9. He had already started some of his GCSE coursework in state, but at his private school they do not start till yr 10.
Most schools have a prospectus or they may say on their website.

Ta 4 reply.

I am strongly inclined to believe they will have some spaces, I am not bother to enquire at only state secondary in the area that tends to be over-subbed. The current y8s are choosing GCSE options in local state secondaries but I have the impression that next crop of y8s may not choose until y9 or y10. That's the sort of thing I may need to clarify.

Prospectus... I've had a quick look but only thing relevant in there seems to be "Points of Contact" = main office email & phone number.

Well I'm afraid it's a bit tricky if nothing on website, do they not have a section on curriculum ?
My DC had only just chosen his options (easter yr 9) but they had started the GCSE syllabus in English and maths but only the top and bottom sets take anything early (yr10) but some schools have children taking GCSEs in yr 9.
Perhaps you could start a threat where you name the school and ask for help from parents at the school.

Thanks for the chat! I got a very nice call back so answered a few Qs, feel like I know how to proceed, now. :).