Do schools teach Arabic to GCSE?

[Arabiankelpie]

Hi, this is my first thread so sorry if this is a daft question!
We are probably moving to the UK this summer from Dubai. My kids have done all their schooling so far in Dubai schools so began being taught Arabic in Year 1. DD1 is going into Year 8 in September and, if we were staying here, would be expected to take Arabic at GCSE. We are not Arabic speakers but I would like her to continue, if possible. Is Arabic a GCSE option in any schools for those for whom it is not a first language?
Thanks!

Where in the UK are you moving? I haven't encountered it but I haven't worked in a school with a very high proportion of Arabic speakers. The Arabic-speaking students that I've taught have attended Arabic school on Saturday mornings, separate to their state education.

PS: you might find that a school is willing to enter your DC for the exam if you make arrangements for tutoring.

I'm sure some would offer it , especially to native speakers, but not as a general rule. Given the stage you would return your schooling options would be restricted anyway so you may need to accept a compromise and perhaps arrange it privately.

It depends on where you live. I live in Birmingham and a few schools do offer it as we have a beautiful multi diverse city. Also is schools don't offer taught subject, they can make arrangements to sit the exam with the expectation that you gave organised your own tutoring. I also agree that many attend Arabic classes in evenings or weekend instead of expecting mainstream schools to cater for their needs. Hope this helps.

Thank you for your replies. We don't know yet where we are moving to. Seems a shame to let a foundation in the language slip but I don't think we'll be up for 4 years of tutoring! Arabic is compulsory here so hopefully the children will retain some of what they've been taught.

It might also be worth getting a tutor's opinion of your DD's level - she might be ready for the GCSE in y9.

At my dcs school you can sit a language exam in year 8, 9 or 10 if you get an A or above in the mock. No point really doing it if you aren't going to get a good grade.

At the school I work at, pupils speak 30-40 different languages to varying degrees of fluency, mainly due to parents/grandparents being immigrants. Those who wish to take a GCSE in one of these languages are accommodated but they have to arrange to study it privately either with their parents or a tutor.
Our town is not a big multicultural city but there are still enough families of Asian decent so that there are a couple of mosques & the children of those families can take Arabic classes locally.
So you would definitely need to do your research but I would imagine it is feasible unless you are living somewhere very rural

Thank you all for your replies. Neither DH or I speak Arabic despite having lived here for many years so we'll look into tutoring. The school DD is at has their own assessment levels and she is currently working at a level that they would expect to result in an A at GCSE but that would be taking it in Year 11. I'd like DD2 (currently in Year 3) to continue so we'll look for a tutor when we know where we're moving to.
Thank you, I'm sure this will be the first of many questions! ??

I would look to see if you can find any Saturday schools for Arabic. There must be some! I only know of Japanese ones where I live.