Secondary school

[Dubaimum2019]

Hi, we're relocating back to Bournemouth and looking for a place for my daughter to join year 11...awful timing I know but couldn't be helped!
I'd welcome any feedback on state schools in the Bournemouth and Christchurch area please.
So far names mentioned with places are Avonbourne, Bishop of Winchester, The Bourne Academy, The Oak Academy, Leaf Studio and the Grange school. If anyone has any advice they can give me, I'd be very grateful.
I will consider private too, if anyone has any recommendations.
Many thanks

Just bumping this for you, OP.

Are you moving from abroad? You need to contact the local authority to see which schools have places. They may not offer a place in Year 11 but ask that your Dd repeats Year 10 due to the GCSES being a 2 year course.

Also be aware that your child might not be able to take the same gCSE subjects she has already chosen. If you're not going to start her at the beginning of term in a state school they might ask her to go to a PRU. That's what happens in my local authority.

Thanks for the feedback, yes we’re moving from abroad but my daughter really doesn’t want to repeat the year 🙄
As you said, different exam boards and syllabus so she’s got a challenging time ahead. Not sure how it will pan out...

If you’re looking for advice on the specific schools, it may help to repost the thread with Bournemouth in the title so that it attracts the attention of people who know the area

Not so much challenging but virtually impossible. Most schools will be holding GCSE mocks in November or January so essentially she’ll have 3 months to catch up on the entire 2 year syllabus. You could try and get private tutors in the core subjects perhaps.

Op I would ask MN to change the title of this to include Bournemouth and maybe your issue.

Ath (and I don't know the area) I think choosing a school is the least of your worries. Not many state schools will have places, certainly not the better rated ones. Even if they do, it is a massive challenge to join at the start of yr 11.

When will you be back in the UK? For the start of the year (ie in 10 days' time)?

What course has your Dd followed thus far - GCSE or iGCSE? If the latter, be aware that no state schools offer iGCSE.

I would really recommend starting in yr 10. That in itself would be a challenge I imagine, unless she has followed the English curriculum. Is yr Dd young in her year - just if she's not long 15 then it would be so bad to go back with 14 you. I truly doubt if you'll find a school to take her into yr 11. Private perhaps but it will be a massive challenge for her.

Sorry for typos - Ath is meant to be tbh; and if she's young in her year it wouldn't be so bad to go back to studying with 14yos.

Would an online school be able to help? I don’t have direct experience but I’ve seen inter high mentioned. Your DD will ideally want to mix with others but if you find a school that does most of the same Exam boards then you may be able to fill in the gaps online???,

Thanks so much, yes will look at Bournemouth specifically. I’m new to mumsnet!
My daughter is young, but she’s refusing to repeat the year and we can’t force her, has definitely been given the option. We have a school place now and will also look at tutoring as well as the online teaching option. My husband and I will be supporting with her studies too.
Thanks again for all your feedback

op I assume you are from the UK and thus familiar with GCSEs.

Has your dd been following GCSE curriculum abroad? If she is going straight into yr 11, please liaise with the school over what GCSEs she should do. Personally I would advise the core ones such as maths and English language, as there is less likely to be an issue there with syllabi and set texts or topics, as there might be with eng lit or history. Then maybe science and perhaps an MFL if she was studying one and her new school offered it. She could always take extra ones in yr 12 perhaps to take it up to five (which is all you really need).

Thank you, yes I’m British so know the system well. As you said, we’ll concentrate on core subjects plus Spanish as it’s my second language and we’ll see where we go from there. Hopefully will be enough for her
next step up to A levels