Moving back to the UK for the start of Year 10

[AntiguaMouse]

We love abroad (in the Caribbean) and have done so for the last 6 and a half years. We had planned to move back this summer and I have secured local school places for my DS going into year 9 and my DD going into year 5. This is theoretically perfect as we are returning to a 3 tier school system and both would be starting new schools along with everyone else.

However my husband and I are splitting up, and with all the other changes going on I want to stay here with the kids for another year. The kids are settled and happy at a good school here which goes through to age 18, plus I love it here and dont want to move.

My question is, if I leave it a year will I completely mess up their education? Will I even be able to get school places outside the normal intake years and will I mess up their social integration (we moved when they were 7 and 3 so they only know the UK from summers visiting family)?

I'm trying the make the best decision for everyone - my head says I should move back but my heart says I should stay. I can't ask the kids yet as they don't know about the split - we want to talk to them when we have a plan to minimise the uncertainty. Any advice would be very appreciated.

Lots of schools are over subscribed and rarely have places for in year admissions - I'd check that. Also many schools start the GCSE syllabuses in year nine, meaning a year 10 start would be a disadvantage.
I wouldn't leave it a year, but those are the things to check.

If you've got places, I would go for it now. From a school point of view, it sounds like the ideal time for your kids to move. if you're going to do it at all, I would go ahead, nothing is to be gained from postponing it and I'm sure you will still love where you live just as much in another year and it won't be any easier. Is there any possibility of not moving at all if you love it?

Can you not stay where you are? It doesn't sound like you want to leave and Y9 or 10 would both be tricky educationally, although Y10 more so.

I could stay but there are complications with jobs which I wont necessarily know until next year - so while I may be able to stay 3 years I wont know until after I need to come back for this school year.

I think it would be worth getting in touch with the admissions people in the local authority you're moving to. In some parts of the country, it's really difficult to get a place if you move into the area. I'm guessing wherever you're moving to is not quite so stretched, or you wouldn't have managed to get year 5/9 places without a local address. They may be able to tell you more about the likely situation if you come back a year later.

Do you know whether the school for your older one does the GCSE syllabus across 2 years or 3? I suspect it's more likely to be 2 if they're in the three-tier system, but it may be worth checking. You also need to bear in mind that if they're not here until year 10, there may be less flexibility on GCSE options.

Schooling-wise, moving this year would probably be much better, if you're going to move. It's difficult to know how it would be in terms of emotional support. It might even be easier to be somewhere new where nobody knows there's been a big change recently and there aren't as many reminders of how things used to be, and there are lots of other new things to think about. Will dad still be involved, and where will he be living?

If you are moving into the U.K. then the local authority does have a legal obligation to find you a school place.

However, it doesn't have to be at a school you choose or even like and it can be at a school a long way away way.

As you will be coming back out of cycle the spaces available will be at undersubscribed schools and there is usually a reason people do not want their children to go there.

If your dc are happy and you can work there for at least 3 years and like it, I'd explore all options for staying where you are.

Why do you want to come back?

So we have a UK address (which we had rented out) so we were able to apply for schools in the area. Its a really nice area with 2 good and 1 less good middle schools and only 1 secondary option - the nearest alternative would be in another town.

Dad would theoretically be living close by and available to help but I anticipate he will get a job with long hours so I will do the vast majority of the childcare and support.

I don't want to come back at all but I only have a 1 year contract here at the moment so am taking a risk - if its not renewed then I'd have to come back next year. The main drivers for this move would be school places and proximity to dad.

The education system is under so much pressure I would come back asap so if you need to change school, get a tutor etc you have time. In some areas you have to apply for 6th forms and choose your A levels at the end of year 10 too. The more time your dc has to settle the better as the uni application system etc is very grade dependent, every academic year counts.

Are you coming to Bedfordshire?

Personally I’d stay where you are. I moved for year 10 and it was fine but if you and the children are happy where you are I’d stay and hope for the best. Education is never ruined

If you've managed to secure placed from abroad, does that mean the schools are undersubscribed? And so you would get in if you applied in 12 months time?
Or have you used an address that you aren't currently living at, which could cause issues...

I'd come back, and start the schools at the standard intake point.
Moving countries is tough. We came (y5 and Y3) back to England, and discovered loads of stuff that was missing in their general knowledge. Stupid things like school doesn't close when it rains, frost isn't snow. Basic UK Geography (they aced the desert topic!) Giving the oldest a year to adjust socially and environmentally before having to knuckle down to GCSE's would be my preference.

Thank you everyone. We're in Berkshire and the education authority know that we are abroad with a UK house we are moving back to so no issues there. I doubt the schools are undersubscribed - its a very popular area.

It sounds on balance as though I should bite the bullet and move back now - my kids are happy either way, its me that doesn't want to come back and I'm not sure I can risk everything for my happiness - the burden of being a mum.....

I don't think you can get a LA place based on a house you own but aren't living in!!
Many independent schools only take in year 9 not 10 due to GCSE courses

Some practicalities of moving in Y9 rather than Y10 (I have a Y10 child and a Y7 child in a three tier system). Generally, pupils pick their GCSE subjects in Y9, and start the courses at the end of Y9. Being at the school in Y9 will let your child course the subjects they want and have a much better chance of being allocated them than in Y10.

. Arriving at the school in Y10 you'll have to take your chances with which subject classes have got spaces left, so you'll have less chance of getting to do a popular/oversubscribed subject. At ds's school, some GCSE Options are selective (triple science, Spanish, music) and the opportunity to be tested fit these may be lost - selection for triple science is based o science, English and maths performance over the previous year.

DS's school started their GCSE courses in May of Y9. They'd studied one of their English texts by the end of the year.

One last thing - getting a space at a natural movement point is far easier than getting a space in a "non natural" year, especially in a three tier system where there are fewer alternative schools.

In your situation, from an administrative point view, it makes far more sense to move for the start of Y9 than Y10.

If you are moving back to where I think an added complication is that surrounding areas have a two tier system. And yes lots of children have to travel quite long distances for secondary school.
If you want to stay I would talk to employers etc and see if you can get a permanent job and settled status.
Otherwise coming back this year would be the safest.

I would really try to avoid bringing a child back into the UK system in year 10 for the reasons outlined by pp re. GCSE selection but also to give them a year to settle in, make friends and get used to UK life without being straight in at the deep end. What type of school are they in at present- assume international but is it Uk or another curriculum? If not uk curriculum then arguably being back for year 9 is doubly important.

we moved back to uk when my eldest was in final term of year 6. He’d not lived in the Uk before. He settled quickly but it wasn’t frictionless and it took him close to a year to really get to grips with the different routines and expectations. He’ll move next year to a school that starts in year 9 and again I'm glad he’s got that year to settle in before GCSE work starts in earnest.

Even schools which start most of the GCSE curriculum in year 10 might start some of it earlier.

For the DC it will be a massive advantage for them to return and start a new school at the same time as everyone else compared to starting the following year.

From an admissions perspective if these are state schools you have only been able to apply for places from abroad in advance because they are entry points - next year you would have to wait until you arrive to apply or at the very earliest apply a couple of weeks before the summer holidays. The odds of getting two DC into schools you are happy with straightaway are low.

Lots of schools start GCSE or preparing for GCSE in science (in particular) from the start of Y9 so entry in Y10 is not as easy plus they have to hit the ground running arriving in a new school and starting GCSE's at the same time.

On balance and having moved two DC internationally lots I would say move back this year. It gets very tricky once they hit Y10 and are into two year educational cycles for GCSE & A levels, particularly if you can only secure 1 year contracts.

Thank you everyone. It may not be what I wanted to hear but its pretty clear that moving back this summer would be best for my kids and their education. I appreciate all the advice.

I agree with PPs. And you also need to think about university. Your DC will need to have lived here for the 3 years prior to going to uni in order to qualify for home student fees rather than international. If you decide to stay for another 3 years (and come back for sixth form), they won't have been here long enough and would need to take a gap year. Obviously your immediate decision of whether to move for Y9 or Y10 wouldn't affect the uni issue, it would only be if you decided to stay out there longer.