Returning to UK for year 11 and A levels

[Marymum42kids1]

I'm looking at an opportunity to do an expat job in the USA for 2 years but this would be during my daughter's GCSE years. She wants to go but my only concern is being able to pick up A levels without UK GCSEs on our return. Has anyone done this? She is clever, in private school and intends to do art for A level with other subjects likely to be from History, English, Drama - so arts and humanities. I have looked at the option of an international school but can't see one near to work. Anyone returned to the UK from the USA with children at the same stage?

It's quite difficult to get university offers without GCSEs because they partly use them. In addition most jobs require gcse English and maths as a minimum whatever your further Ed (if you are wholly educated abroad it's ok but she will have English a levels

I went to university in the uk from a non English speaking country with no gcses or a level, so I don't see the priblem. As I had a degree, nobody ever asked about a levels or gcses anyway, and I have a pretty good career (I have worked since finishing uni)

She will be fine. The experience of going abroad for a few years will be worth more than english GCSE. The only caveat to that would be if due to timings she missed getting the US qualifications....she needs something. But at her age even if that means an extra year it will be worth it. Go for it. How exciting.

Unis take lots of students from overseas and are quite used to looking up qualifications to find out GCSE equivalent.

Schools and colleges are less so familiar with this process but if you do some of the leg work for them I.e. direct them to relevant website, tell them what the qualifications is equivalent to then they should be find.

Art A level - they will want to see an art portfolio to judge her art ability and whether it's at the standard needed for A level together her English grade.

I think you need to speak to the international school you have in mind. I would be cautious about doing this knowing how the education system works. Jobs now (have been looking at applying to support a young cousin now) have drop down menus saying ‘do you have maths and English GCSEs?’ With no option for any comments!

I have a GCSEs, a levels, a degree and a postgraduate qualification and well as nearly 20 years on the job and still had to produce my gcse certificates for a recent job!

A friend of a friend’s DD did this but came back and did International Baccalaureate rather then A levels as it seemed an easier transition for their DD.

What they didn’t realise is they got stung with their DD as being classed as a foreign student so had to pay international fees or defer, I don’t know the details but it is something like you have to be resident for at least three years prior to the start of the course. Just mentioning that as I think it can make a huge difference.

Do you mean you would return to the UK for Yr 11?
Or did you mean Yr 12 in your thread title?

If she was willing to apply to uni after A level results, probably taking a year out, it should be fine. However you need to bear in mind that she may be charged tuition fees as an overseas student and it would be worthwhile taking at least gcse English and Maths at some point for future job applications. Could she do this while studying in US by distance learning?

Thousands of overseas children arrive in UK to do A levels. Schools (particularly private schools) and universities have no difficulties accepting non UK qualifications or copies of school reports as equivalents to GCSE qualifications. If in doubt they set an entrance exam. Given the patchy nature of US secondary education she may be well ahead of her UK peers or she may fall behind. That will be your main concern.

On the overseas student fees, if you are a UK national/tax payer etc and you are overseas for a temporary work placement, it will not impact on your eligibility for home student fees. There is extensive guidance on this available.

There are hundreds of thousands of people gainfully employed in UK without UK qualifications in English or Maths. Employers accept overseas equivalents. It may be an issue if your DD wants to become a teacher in UK but even then...

www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Fees-and-Money/Home-or-Overseas-fees-the-basics