Moving from Scotland to England

[Sata108]

Hi there, I hope I can find here some advice and help. We are planning to move from Scotland to England but my older daughter ( 5.th Year High School) is really scared to move from her school.. we are foreigners and I do not understand to well the education system differences between S and England.. I don't know where to start to find a solution for her.. will she be able just to continue what she is studying now in High School, or she will need to go to the College? Seriously I'm just lost in all the information I can find in internet.. any advice how to convince her that everything will be ok :))))
Thank you for your time in advance :)

Has your dd started 5th year? If so she would be moving from a system where she would sit highers at the end of this year to AS levels in england. AS is halfway towards the A level which is sort of equivalent with the Advanced Higher. You are looking to move at a tricky time academically for your dd. Do you know which school you will be going to? Have you asked them about what they think they could offer?

As far as i can tell i think most pupils go to "sixth form" for as and a levels. That can be within a high school or be part of a larger further education college where vocational/other subjects are also offered. It depends on area. As a scot in england i find the whole english system unecessarily complex and messy. Even english people have to buy books to be able to understand it!

Your daughter will be doing Highers this year, so it's the worst possible time to move (if you do it before June). Even if you wait till after the exams, the subjects may not match -i.e, she might have studied Scottish history here, and wouldn't have the same background knowledge to pick it up at an advanced level in England. Consider too the free university she may be entitled to (depending on how long you've lived here etc).

We had DS's friend to stay here for eight months in his fifth year when his dad had to move abroad for work. It's such an important year - do you have family or anyone she could stay with?

Thank you for your answers :) She is doing English, Maths, Art, French, Computing, so I think it is nothing that different then in English schools. We will be moving after June. She could stay with her dad .. but I don't find him to responsible ( we are divorced, I got married again ). In couple of weeks I will start calling schools and college's over there to get more information about it.. for the moment she is doing great at her school.. still does not want to go with us :( and this is really hard for me :(

The subjects may have the same names but the curriculum will be different. She is likely to get bad results if you move her now without special advice/help.