Would it be mad to move abroad and back during GCSEs and A Levels?

[SongsOfSongs]

I have 2 DDs. DH has just heard of a possible job offer abroad (Asia) that would be for ~3 years. If we moved, DD1 would do Y9-Y11 and GCSEs abroad, but would return for sixth form. DD2 would do Y7-Y9 abroad and would return for GCSEs. Would this be terrible?

We moved from our home country when they were 5 and 3, and they changed schools when starting Y5 and Y3, so they've already had a bit of upheaval and change in their lives, but plenty of families move more I would think. I wouldn't have them move mid-GCSEs or A Levels, but in between. Would this work out ok or are there more difficulties than I realise?

We really enjoy living in the UK, but despite DH making pretty good money (I'm disabled and thus cannot work), we cannot afford to buy a home here. We hope that going away for a few years with higher pay and lower taxes may allow us to return and live a more comfortable life.

Would they follow the UK curriculum whilst abroad?

If the eldest would be doing GCSEs abroad then they will be following in the English curriculum? Sounds like school-wise it would be ok, but you'd need to do the sixth form application stuff from abroad which would be tricky.

Some schools also start the GCSE curriculum for some subjects in Y9 so there might need to be a bit of catch-up.

None of this is insurmountable though.

Your eldest would no longer qualify for student finance so could you afford tuition fees and maintenance for her?
You could probably argue home fee status as it is just a temporary move but if you weren't would you becanle to afford international uni fees?

Would you want to try and get them back into the same schools and would this be likely? I think that would make the transitions easier (appreciate that in some areas sixth forms are all colleges instead). It's a big upheaval socially for them at those ages but it sounds like an amazing opportunity.

Which country? - this matters, a lot! Also remember that in places like HK and Sing, yes, lower taxes but much higher rents and other living costs. Honestly, those places are not fun if you're scraping by.

Does your husband's package include school fees for a good English curriculum school? It's still not ideal IMO but it makes it do-able. Be aware that if overseas they will do IGCSEs rather than GCSE's. It doesn't make much difference (some UK private schools also do IGCSEs although state schools aren't allowed to) Some international schools also have a narrower choice of GCSE options.

Also, are you comfortable with the healthcare you'd receive for your disabilities?

it's probably ok because they'll have a year before starting GCSEs but you will need to find a school that does the english curriculum. Many international schools do the IB. Your only other alternative is boarding schools, not sure if DH is in the sort of role that might command the fees being part of a job offer?

they would qualify if they studied a levels in the uk and then took a gap year

@SongsOfSongsabsolutely go for it! Be prepared to pay foreign fees when your eldest applies to Uni though although most universities will see she moved due to parents work and her home is UK

My dd came back to the uk to start year 10. Her uk school started the gcse curriculum in year 9, but she was offered catch up lessons at lunchtime and quickly covered the additional material. The only problem we had was with gcse MFL where the school did not offer her second language so she didn’t take a MFL gcse.

Yes- she would need to take a gap year to qualify for student finance though.

Just something to be aware of.

Yes, there are English curriculum schools. If for some reason that wouldn't work, then we wouldn't make the move.

She'd be ok if she just took a gap year, right? It only needs to be 3 years that she's in-country? We definitely could not afford international fees.

Lots of schools start GCSE in Year 9.

We are very happy with DD1's school currently, but think we would change her for Sixth Form regardless, as that's not so strong.

DD2 is in primary still, but we've been planning to send her to the same school as DD1. I don't know if we'd be able to get her in or not, but it's not like she would've already been there, so probably not the end of the world if she had to go elsewhere.

I definitely worry about the upheaval - and I don't think they'd be happy about it - but hopefully the experience and subsequent better financial situation would benefit us all in the long run?

We could be based in Singapore or Tokyo. Compensation would be good in both and include schooling, but we don't know all the finer details at this point. Obviously lower taxes, etc. in Singapore, but Japan is much more enticing.

I haven't even looked into medical care at this point, but I know this is something I'll need to do. I just want to think about whether it's even feasible with the children before getting into everything else.

DD1's current school does not start until Y10 so DD2 would be fine to come back there in Y9 as long as we could get her a spot.

Sorry, I see a number of people addressed this. No gap year would probably be preferable, but I don't think it would be the end of the world for her.

I’d say do it. It sounds like a great opportunity

I have advised young people post 16 on their return to uk.
What happens next will depend on a few things. If the qualifications are recognised as equivalent (and completed) then they can usually can slot back in to uk education. Worst case is an extra year. Which I think isn’t too bad as a pay off for the experience. Timing is important for applications.

Hopefully unis would treat your eldest as temporarily away rather than international. Although I’ve seen unis latch on to any possibility to charge overseas fees so in that case A levels plus gap year seems sensible.

Sounds like a great opportunity and the gaps work as well as they're ever going to.

Whichever school she goes to, if she’s joining after the others have chosen their options, she could be left with very limited choice - the less popular subjects most likely

What is DD1’s best subject? Gap Years are seen as problematic for mathematicians but a positive for some other subjects. (Engineering is the one that comes to mind.)

They don't choose until the end of Y9 at DD1's current school, so if she were to go there, I think she'd be fine.

Honestly, I don't know! She's in top sets for everything and I don't really know what her strongest subject would be. She does well at everything.

She currently says she wants to go into finance -- but just so she can work a few years and make lots of money so she can open a bakery, which is what she really wants to do. But also, she's only 12.

How could you be sure she’d get back in? If it’s a good school, she’ll have to go on a waiting list even if she’s in catchment because it will almost certainly be full.

I don't know that she would, of course. I'm not sure how much their waitlist moves, but it's a relatively desirable school. I think most schools in our area have moved to starting GCSEs in Y10, so hopefully it wouldn't be an issue.