HSC, A levels & GTP!

[Guest Sunshine7]

Hello all,

 

My husband has just had a fantastic job offer in Sydney so we are suddenly researching a relocation for 4 years + after not ever having previously considered this at all! :eek:

 

Thanks to this website and a few others I have found out some very useful information already and the company are flying us out in for a week in September so I can get a proper 'feel' for things before we commit.

 

My biggest concern is my son who will have finished GCSES and would have carried on to do Alevels in the UK. I've rang NRIC and various universities to ask if they would accept the HSC for an undergraduate application should he wish to return to study in England. They have all said "yes" in theory but I would really like to know if anyone has had any experience of this. Good or bad!

 

Whilst I'm on I'm going to throw in another question! I'm a primary school teacher but my qualification isn't recognised in NSW as I took the GTP route after my degree. It's been mentioned that I could convert this in some way. Does anyone now anything about that?

 

I realise that my questions are very specific so no worries if nobody can help. Thanks for reading anyway! :biggrin:

[Guest JamesP]

The OQU (Overseas Qualification Unit) may be able to help you convert your teaching degree.

 

www.immi.gov.au/asri/os-qual-units.htm

 

I'm afraid thats all the help i can offer. good luck with everything

 

James

[Quoll]

Hello all,

 

My husband has just had a fantastic job offer in Sydney so we are suddenly researching a relocation for 4 years + after not ever having previously considered this at all! :eek:

 

Thanks to this website and a few others I have found out some very useful information already and the company are flying us out in for a week in September so I can get a proper 'feel' for things before we commit.

 

My biggest concern is my son who will have finished GCSES and would have carried on to do Alevels in the UK. I've rang NRIC and various universities to ask if they would accept the HSC for an undergraduate application should he wish to return to study in England. They have all said "yes" in theory but I would really like to know if anyone has had any experience of this. Good or bad!

 

Whilst I'm on I'm going to throw in another question! I'm a primary school teacher but my qualification isn't recognised in NSW as I took the GTP route after my degree. It's been mentioned that I could convert this in some way. Does anyone now anything about that?

 

I realise that my questions are very specific so no worries if nobody can help. Thanks for reading anyway! :biggrin:

 

Think you would need to do the fourth year equivalent - PGCE in order to teach. AFAIK the GTP just doesnt cut it here, so no conversion. The chances of you getting a primary teaching position in Sydney are slim to say the least, even if you do requalify. NSW has a placement system - they put you where they need teachers (not usually Sydney, especially the nicer parts) and after a couple of years you get points which are taken into account when you apply for a plum position in a nice place. If you are coming on a temporary visa then you wont get a position at all unless it is casual relief and even they arent easy to come by. Perhaps you might like to think about a new career while you are here - check out the Cert iv in Training and Assessment, it is quicker and there are quite a few spots for TAAs these days, it's a burgeoning market in adult ed (you might get some RPL too). Doing a fourth year here though is going to cost you international fees if you are on a 457 and domestic rate fees paid up front if you are PR. Other thing to bear in mind about NSW is that your son is going to cost you around $5k pa for schooling

 

The HSC could possibly transfer back but the chances are that he would have to do a foundation year as well as pay international student fees once he gets back to UK. He could possibly get into a low ranking uni with very high HSC scores - they dont travel back very well http://www.britishcouncil.org/au-education-uk-study-in-the-uk-school-system.htm#au-education-uk-study-in-the-uk-school-qualifications-anchor-uk-school-qualifications

[Guest Sunshine7]

Thank you both for replying even if the information is so depressing!!

 

I'd gathered that teaching posts in primary would be difficult to come by, even if I did retrain, but that really puts it into perspective. It's just so sad as I only qualified 4 years ago at the grand old age of 42 and I really love it. Turns out I'm pretty good at it too so my promotion prospects are very good!

 

Problem is civil engineering (husband's profession) has fewer opportunities in UK and he is facing reduncany so how can I deny my family the excellent opportunity we're being offered? I certainly couldn't support our family of 4 on my wage!

 

However, I could look at adult education if there might be more opportunities in that area as it's what I did for the 13 years before primary teaching. I have something called a Certificate in Education which is a UK qualification for post 16 teaching. I also have

experience and qualifications in training and assessing. I lectured teenagers and adults with a range of special needs but my degree is in early childhood studies and English lit so maybe that'll will have potential for employment.

 

As for my son I've now found out that even if he did return to the UK after our contract was finished he would have to pay international fees as he won't have been a resident in the EU for 3 years. It's an absolute minefield! I'm going to look into schools that offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) in Sydney as that is internationally recognised. I have a list but if anyone has any personal knowledge of this I'd really appreciate hearing from you. I know it would be expensive but as I said in my first post the job offer for my husband is a fantastic one!

 

Thanks again for your replies. It's so very helpful and I feel a bit isolated looking at it all on my own (bit of self pity never hurts!!)

 

Xx

[cjscjs]

Thank you both for replying even if the information is so depressing!!

 

I'd gathered that teaching posts in primary would be difficult to come by, even if I did retrain, but that really puts it into perspective. It's just so sad as I only qualified 4 years ago at the grand old age of 42 and I really love it. Turns out I'm pretty good at it too so my promotion prospects are very good!

 

Problem is civil engineering (husband's profession) has fewer opportunities in UK and he is facing reduncany so how can I deny my family the excellent opportunity we're being offered? I certainly couldn't support our family of 4 on my wage!

 

However, I could look at adult education if there might be more opportunities in that area as it's what I did for the 13 years before primary teaching. I have something called a Certificate in Education which is a UK qualification for post 16 teaching. I also have

experience and qualifications in training and assessing. I lectured teenagers and adults with a range of special needs but my degree is in early childhood studies and English lit so maybe that'll will have potential for employment.

 

As for my son I've now found out that even if he did return to the UK after our contract was finished he would have to pay international fees as he won't have been a resident in the EU for 3 years. It's an absolute minefield! I'm going to look into schools that offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) in Sydney as that is internationally recognised. I have a list but if anyone has any personal knowledge of this I'd really appreciate hearing from you. I know it would be expensive but as I said in my first post the job offer for my husband is a fantastic one!

 

Thanks again for your replies. It's so very helpful and I feel a bit isolated looking at it all on my own (bit of self pity never hurts!!)

 

Xx

 

Hi this is website for fantastic schools in Brisbane specialising in the IB only - there might be some links to Sydney equivalents on the site or if you contacted them they could advise - they are v. passionate about the IB courses they deliver

http://www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au/

All the best - you will be advised to apply for citizenship in case you want to stay on longer and your son wants to go to uni in Aus - otherwise he will have to pay international fees here !

[Katkat]

Hi, there are certainly several schools in Sydney (private) that do the IB- don't think that you will find it hard to find one.

Also if you have a degree in early childhood, you could work in day care centres - they are currently crying out for Early Childhood Teachers, as there is a big push towards a qualified workforce with the introduction of the new early years curriculum. I am doing agency work in child care centres (pays better, and allows me to be flexible) and there is loads of work around. You would still need to get your qualifications recognised though.

[Rudi]

In NSW, you are able to teach in private and Catholic (not certain on the Catholic bit - but definitely for private) schools without being registered with the NSW teaching authority. You might be able to pick up quite a lot of casual work that way.

 

I only had a UK 3 year degree (not in education) when I arrived and I studied a Master of teaching when I got here in order to teach in the state system. I had to have my 1st degree assessed and I was then told what I needed in order to gain a full teaching qualification. I could have done just a 1 year diploma, but I wanted to do it distance Ed and it was not an option for that particular course.

 

Good Luck!

 

Love

 

Rudi

x

[Guest Sunshine7]

Thank you all so much for your great advice. It's made me feel more positive about the possibilities of doing something workwise. As long as I could work in education in some way I think I could be happy! The company who want my husband are flying us out for a week on the 23rd September so it's all moving along!

X

[Guest rajt]

Hi Sunshine7

 

How did things pan out in the end. The reason for asking is that I am in a very similar situation to yourself.

I'm thinking of coming over to Sydney early Summer on a PR Visa and 'should' be followed shortly with the family.

 

My elder son would of completed his GCSE and the younger one would be 12.

 

My dilemas in findings school in Sydney are:

 

 

 

1. I was thinking of getting the older one to start Year 11 in Jan 2013 and use the 5-6 months
   before that settling in Year 10, as it would probably be too late to start Year 11 in July/August. The younger one may be able to go straight in to Year 7 (which seems to be equivalent to our Year 8).
   
2. If he does the HSC and not the IB, yes he can attend UK Universities if he wishes, but may need to pay International fees (unless you can prove to the UK University that the move abroad was temporary). I find this a little annoying, as he has been born and brought up for 16 years in the UK and just by leaving for 2 years he could end up paying International fees.
   
3. Regards UK Universities, by looking at the league tables some Aussie Unis don't seem all that bad, so why not just try to get them to attend Unis in Aus?
   
4. Reading around on the forums, it seems A-levels are tougher than HSC. This seems to be because more subjects are studied in HSC, therefore there is less depth. What has your findings been? Also, does it really matter if they can get into the right Uni?
   
5. Both sons attend selective schools here (one Grammar, one Private), so I would need to find something comparable. For private was I looking at Knox Grammar, and for state Sydney High for Boys.
   The state selective schools would be quite competitive and need them to take entrance exams at certain dates, would could prove tricky when they havent arrived yet!
   
6. Do different schools in Syndey, both state and private, have different cirriculums and academic standards?
   

 

 

 

Please let me know how you got on in finding the right school, and whether you went for HCS/IB.

 

Thank you

[Guest Calliope]

I'm not completely sure that this would be possible, but another thing you could look at is having your sons start university in Australia, then enrol in the UK and have credit transferred for previous studies? (I just thought of this and am posting just in case it's a useful idea - I do have some friends in Australia who got credit for study done in the UK, though, so it might be worth looking into).

 

I agree that the IB seems a good idea for a transferable secondary qualification. There is a list of Australian schools offering the IB here http://www.ibo.org/school/search/index.cfm?programmes=DIPLOMA&country=AU&region=&find_schools=Find

 

ETA: If you are thinking about Knox, then St Andrews Cathedral School might be another option. WHen I was at high school in Sydney it seemed to have a similar pupil demographic. Negatives: a city location, as opposed to Knox's in leafy suburbia. Positives: it offers the IB

[tracy303]

Think you would need to do the fourth year equivalent - PGCE in order to teach. AFAIK the GTP just doesnt cut it here, so no conversion. The chances of you getting a primary teaching position in Sydney are slim to say the least, even if you do requalify. NSW has a placement system - they put you where they need teachers (not usually Sydney, especially the nicer parts) and after a couple of years you get points which are taken into account when you apply for a plum position in a nice place. If you are coming on a temporary visa then you wont get a position at all unless it is casual relief and even they arent easy to come by. Perhaps you might like to think about a new career while you are here - check out the Cert iv in Training and Assessment, it is quicker and there are quite a few spots for TAAs these days, it's a burgeoning market in adult ed (you might get some RPL too). Doing a fourth year here though is going to cost you international fees if you are on a 457 and domestic rate fees paid up front if you are PR. Other thing to bear in mind about NSW is that your son is going to cost you around $5k pa for schooling

 

The HSC could possibly transfer back but the chances are that he would have to do a foundation year as well as pay international student fees once he gets back to UK. He could possibly get into a low ranking uni with very high HSC scores - they dont travel back very well http://www.britishcouncil.org/au-education-uk-study-in-the-uk-school-system.htm#au-education-uk-study-in-the-uk-school-qualifications-anchor-uk-school-qualifications

 

 

I was just wondering how you got on with your son in Australia as I am in a not too dissimilar boat. My daughter is just about to go into Year 11 in the UK to start her GCSEs. She is quite bright and is hoping, to go on to University later on and she would like to become a teacher. My husband has just gone out to Sydney to work and naturally wants us to join him as soon as possible but my daughter is really fretting about her education. Is she better off just forgetting her GCSEs/A Levels and go for the Aussie equivalent of HSC or is she best off staying in the UK to finish her schooling here. Obviously, that would take 4 years in the UK but I do not want to wreck her chances. How do the HSC stack up against the English equivalents? Or should I just go for it and move lock stock and barrel to Oz. We have been given permanent residency if that makes a difference.