What's education like in Australia

[user1495443009]

Thinking of moving to Sydney in a few years time when oldest child will finish year 10 and youngest one year 6; or it may be better to let oldest one finish GCSEs.

Will this cause them any problems if they/ we come back to the UK later on. Wil it be better to let them finish their studies in Australia. ?

Husband and kids got Australian passports.

Bumping

Australian schools run from K-Y12, and the age range in each year group is more variable than in the UK. The school year also runs from Jan - Dec. They don't divide into Key Stages either, but the final years of school are still a two-year course for an HSC /VCE or other state qualification. No state has anything like GCSEs at Year 10 (although some would argue that A-Levels are more like a pre-university level course, and the Y11-12 courses are like GCSEs that get you into university!)

You may well find that, depending on your DCs birthdays, they will have to go into a year group number that they have already been in in the UK. My cousin's boy finished Y8 in the UK last Summer and went into Y6 in Australia from July - December to start his Aussie school experience. Many children don't start Kindy until they are nearly 6.

If you're going independent, contact the schools you're interested in but if you want state, contact the state education boards (there is No national curriculum, but for some strange reason they're into all the constant testing and measuring so there are NAPLAN tests in Y9) to find out more.

I'd then advise you stayed in Australia to finish schooling for the older one, but you should be OK to return to the UK if you wanted for your younger one to go into Y10.

Thank you very much. This is very helpful.

We do have a National Curriculum. It’s fairly recent in the scheme of things but has been in for a few years. Implementation affected some states more than others. NSW was pretty much unaffected. From memory QLD and SA were severely impacted, can’t remember much else though.

Research schools carefully and use that to decide area to live as most secondary schools in Sydney (that are decent) have very tight intake areas/boundaries. There is a huge variation in quality of secondary schools in Sydney.

There is a test like the 11+ in the March of year 6 if you are interested in the younger child attending a selective secondary school, you need to register in year 5. Though, these schools can be pressured with many children tutored for the test and afterwards, and entry is competitive.

The cut off to start school (Kindergarten, year before year 1) in NSW is 5 years by 31 July, though almost all children turning 5 in May-July, and many turning 5 in Jan-April, are deferred a year and start Kindergarten at 5 turning 6. So, depending on birthday, your children may need to 'repeat' half a year or 1 1/2 school years compared to their school year in the UK.

we did the opposite. moved from sydney to uk 2 years ago. Moved then 12,7 and 4 year old. My main comment would be is how will the kids, mostly your older one, cope socially? You might have to accept that your older DC will resent the move.
As farangatang said, depending when your DC's birthday is you may fine them sort of repeating a year. Children are often "held back" in Australia which means there can easily be an 18 month age difference in a year group. My 12 year old daughter, with an August birthday, finished year 6 in her correct year in Australia but was expected to go into second term of year 8 when we moved here. Luckily she is at a private school and was able to out of year into year 7 (now oldest in her year 9 class).Obviously the opposite could apply to your DC.
Your DCs certainly would be well able to cope with the work I would think. UK would be ahead in most areas.
Will they be going private or state, and which part of Sydney? Private schools are mostly not selective, but the smaller ones could be quite full and the larger ones can be pretty big (200-300 in a year group). State schools are obviously big too. There is a very competitive state selective system which is over run by children from south east Asia, where they often go to a different school on Saturdays as well!
The advantage of the Australian system is a broader subject base until the end of school eg: English and Maths are compulsory for year 12 (last year of school).

Thank you very much. Sounds tricky. We are thinking North of Sydney. May be better to wait until oldest one finish school here. The move will probably favour youngest one as she is a bit behind in the UK so going a year below won't be a bad thing for her, plus she is very sociable.