Moving with a teenager

[P44tto]

Hi and thanks for reading this. My husband has just taken a job in perth he will be starting his job in April 2013. Our son is just seventeen and is currently in his first year of sixth form college. He actually feels that he may have taken the wrong a levels so in a way this move will at least be an opportunity for him to change his subjects. He did amazing in his gcse's mainly A and A* levels. So here's my questions. We will not be joining my husband till July August time. Can he join a school at this point in the year. He is very nervous about moving away from his friends can anyone in similar positions tell me how they helped their teenagers. Is there better types of schooling to be looking at for him. And finally does anyone have similar stories they can tell me about, I am not worried about me or my husband we will be fine. But I am extremely concerned about my son settling.

[Ali B]

Hi there

I teach secondary level in VIC so a WA teacher might have more specific info. Some thoughts tho.

 

Whenever you move the kids will have age-related issues. Like anyone he'll either love it or hate it. He'll be seen as a novelty at school tho and Brits who have settled in my school in Melbourne have generally been well liked and quickly "one of the team".

 

The older the kids tho the harder it is. Teens have all sorts of stuff swilling about anyway and often the older end of school find settling very very hard at a time when they need their mates. I'm very positive in life about just about everything but I'm being realistic not doom-and-gloom when i say he might turn around and say he hates it and wants to go home. So have a Plan B for what to do if he really does mean it.

The school will be used to this tho and should have support mechanisms. Use them IF you sense you son is struggling. And keep the communication going with him so he can feel he can talk about his feelings any time with you. Prepare yourself for this.

 

The Oz school year runs in two semesters, each split into two terms. Sem 1 = terms 1&2 runs end of Jan till Mid June with a two week break at Easter. sem 2 = terms 3&4 runs July till Xmas with two week break end Sep/ beg Oct. the dates vary slightly state to state.

Yes, mid year start is poss and sensible.

He's in UK yr12 which is Oz Yr 11 at the mo. By next July he'll have technically finished UK Yr 11 but here they'll have only done half the Yr 11 course.

 

This could be a problem but you'll need info from WA teachers as I dont know if the WA equivalent of ALevels is organised the same way as Victoria with VCE.

Your son is so far into the UK system you might be better off putting him into an International school that follows a GCSE/ ALevel curriculum. The Oz/UK year levels dont match and this isnt too much of a drama up to Oz Yr 10 (UK Yr 11) but once you get to 6th Form pre-uni it becomes an issue.

 

Our Yr 11 (UK yr 12) courses, in most but not all subjects, have to be completed entirely before you can go into Yr 12 (UK yr13) and do final exams at 18. English is a prime example. But other subjs like Psych and some Music VCEs you can jump straight into final year if you are academically able. So missing the first half of his Oz Yr 11 wouldnt matter so much in those subjs.

 

My sis in law faced a similar dilemma when her husb was offered an amazing promotion package for 2yrs abroad in Middle East with his company. My nephews were in school and settled. My sis in law didnt really want to go. He went alone and flew back 3-4 times a year. Their marriage was strong. It was lonely for them both but they managed it. You're going to hate me for saying this but from what i know about emigrating and schools and teaching 11-18 yr olds for 30 years, I wouldnt do it with him as a 17 yr old. Is there any mileage in him staying 18mths with family or friends to get his ALevs finished THEN join you?

If he's miserable now it could go pear shaped and split you family in two. For a job. You must be absolutely 200% certain with NO doubts that this is the right move to take this risk with his pre-uni studies. He could end up with a mish-mash of two systems and nothing appropriate for uni in either country.

if you go for it, id seriously look at International schools and let him finish Alevels or even International Baccalaureat. IB is highly prestigious, perfect for able kids and internationally recognised for uni.

 

[starlight7]

That is really good advice from Ali- it will be tricky for a 17 year old moving into a completely different system.

[NickyNook]

 

if you go for it, id seriously look at International schools and let him finish Alevels or even International Baccalaureat. IB is highly prestigious, perfect for able kids and internationally recognised for uni.

 

 

You keep referring to International Schools here that do GCSE/A levels.

 

Can you provide a list of these International Schools in Australia? - because I've lived here for over 30 years and have never heard of any that follow the UK curriculum.

[Bob1]

There is only one International school in Perth and they do IB, not A levels. If he is bright, and sounds like he is from his results, then he should be able to slot in depending on what subjects he wants to do. Things like the sciences/maths should transfer easily and you could get extra tutoring to fill the gaps. Picking up courses midway through Year 11 would be OK if he is motivated and being at school would be the best way for him to make friends and adjust. My only worry would be that he may be too old for Year 11. Year 12's in WA 2013 will all be having their 17th birthday during the year - it's a bit complicated as they changed the school starting age 11 years ago and the year 12's next year will be the last of the younger group to go through.

[NickyNook]

There is only one International school in Perth and they do IB, not A levels. .

 

Yes, there are loads of schools here in Sydney that do the IB.

 

It's these mystery International Schools that follow the UK curriculum that I'm interested in. :biggrin:

[ali]

I would contact some schools directly for advice, My daughter is 17 (feb birthday) and has now completed year 12 and just had

WACE results. You may be better considering completing studies through TAFE - Tuart College do year 11 and 12 and Uni entry pathway.

[Quoll]

I'm with Ali (and after a lifetime in education) - I wouldnt be moving a 17 year old, it's too risky if they have any aspirations of university and if there is any likelihood that he might want to continue with university in UK. Can he stay with relatives to get his A levels out of the way? That way he keeps all his options open - his A levels will travel well to Australian university entrance whereas the reverse isnt necessarily true. He's really a year too old - he would have needed to be just 16 starting year 11 in Feb for this to have worked seamlessly.

 

There was talk at one stage of having an O/A level examination centre in WA (Cambridge board) but I dont think that ever got off the ground and the best you might be able to do is the IB but, again, he is just that bit too old and schools dont like enrolling kids in the middle of a course - I have a feeling that it might be only a private school that does the IB in Perth too so that would be extra expense.

[Sammy1]

Schools in Perth are well used to overseas students ( of all ages) arriving in the middle of the school year.

 

One thing you do need to consider is university fees. If you have PR then you will pay the domestic rate, but your son will not be entitled to HECS ( student loan from the government), only Aussie citizens can receive that.

If you are ready for that expense then it will not be an issue, but it is something else to consider.

[P44tto]

Schools in Perth are well used to overseas students ( of all ages) arriving in the middle of the school year.

 

One thing you do need to consider is university fees. If you have PR then you will pay the domestic rate, but your son will not be entitled to HECS ( student loan from the government), only Aussie citizens can receive that.

If you are ready for that expense then it will not be an issue, but it is something else to consider.

 

Thanks for all the great advice, moving without him is not really an option, and actually he wants to come with me. We are moving on a 457 but will be going for pr as soon as we can. Paying for his education won't be too much of a problem, within reason, it's more the transition I'm concerned about. He himself isn't worried, but I don't want to get him there and for him to be unhappy, have no friends. People have mentioned Taft to me but I don't know how this works. We are coming over in three weeks so any advice about where we should be going who to talk to etc would be of benefit. Thanks.