Moving from a school in England to a school in Scotland.

[Mumof3england]

Id love and appreciate some advice on how it would work moving my 13 year old born in March 2010 (currently in Englands year 9) and 11 year old born in August 2012 (currently in Englands year 7).

Im hoping to move by sept 2024!

Regarding my eldest, she is due to chose her GCSE subjects February and would begin them next September when she starts year 10. If the move goes ahead would she be able to do these subjects there and would the curriculum be similar to what she’s doing now? I’m so scared of ruining her future by moving her at this point but it’s a move that needs to happen.

Regarding my 11 year old would he be held back a year with his birthday being mid August?

Not that this makes any difference but they are both currently in the top set for all their subjects.

i have a primary school school child whom im not too worried about as she is just in Englands reception year and will be turning 5 March. It’s my older ones im worrying over.

honestly any advice would be hugely appreciated

thank you in advance

I was born in England and lived there til I was 8. Although I was primary school aged and they start school earlier in England I was put in a mixed class in Scotland (P3/4) but in the p4 age group with the proviso that if I was struggling with their work then I would be put into the P3 group. Was fine

Try posting in the Scotsnet section too.

Your older child if I'm right would be in S2 if in Scotland, they pick subjects for 3rd and 4th year at the end of S2
Your 11 year old would be in primary school p7

Your little one would start school next August.

How do I find that I’m so new to this x

Definitely post in Scotsnet as education system here is very different .
We don't have GCSEs or A Levels - we do Nat 5s and Highers .

Highers allow for more breadth of subjects than A levels typically . You can do 5 Higher subjects instead of 3 A levels.

You need to understand the system and the cut off dates for entry into the various years .

www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/96425.html

SQA website would be a good place to start

Our school years are based on children’s age from 1 March - 28/9 February the next as opposed to Sept - Aug in England so your current 13 year old would be one of the oldest in their year Currently they would go into high school today in S2. Towards the end of the school year , approx March / April 2024 they will choose their Nat 5 options which is usually 6 - 8 subjects that they will study for 2 years and sit the Nat5 final exams in May/June 2026. Very often the new Nat5 timetable starts just before the summer holidays after all exams for nat5 and higher have finished. The school year in Scotland starts in August so by not moving h til then this may slightly limit your child’s choices as they will have to fit into the timetable of classes available at that point.