Impact on education when moving back to the UK (end of Yr 11 UK)

[Frizzhead]

Hello,

 

I have looked through several threads, but was hoping someone that has done the move back, could give me a definitive answer on GCSE's / A' levels?

 

There is a possibility that we could have the opportunity to go to Australia, for initially, a 3 year period with my husbands job. The only worry I have is, that it will fall when my daughter would be doing YR 9,10 & 11 in the UK. So, if we went back after the initial contract, what would her options be? I understand from reading that she would have a School Certificate, but no qualifications from Aus.

 

Can you go straight onto A'Levels, without any GCSE's?

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[Guest]

I used to teach A levels at a 6th form college but I am a bit out of touch now however in theory she could go straight into A level courses but I honestly wouldn't recommend it - she would need to do at least English & Maths GCSE as these are a basic requirement for many jobs and university courses.

 

A better option would be to do one year GCSE courses which FE and 6th form colleges offer - she could do five and that would be fine - it would give her a year to settle befoe the academic demands of A level study too.

 

Another alternative would be for her to do IB in Australia which many UK schools do too - many are private but not all http://www.ibo.org/country/GB/

Edited January 8, 2014 by Lady Rainicorn

[Frizzhead]

Thank you for your reply, you've been very helpful. It's so hard to know what's the right thing to do!

[starlight7]

More and more schools are offering the IB- ideal for your situation I would think

[andyjmason]

We came here after my son finished GCSEs. He wanted A level equivalents to get into uni if we went home. He was 16 so missed Yr 11 here and began year 2 of the Victorian Cert of Ed-which is like a 2 year A level program, you study subjects and do assignments and assessments, final exams etc and get an overall ATAR score which the unis here then accept for entry depending on how successful you've been.

Alex loved the method of study here, he found the teaching to be superior overall and the relationships between students and teachers were much more respectful and positive too. (He was previously at a very high standard C oF E school in Dorset). Despite having only one year of a two year program of study, (he worked very hard and applied himself throughout) he got a really good ATAR score.

We decided to stay in Aus and are now permanent residents so he's going to uni here. We looked into him going back to the UK for uni and they will accept ATAR scores there too-they have some body who convert the grades to A level equivalents. The ke would be to complete year 12 really so you have the cert of education from whichever state you live in. They are all slightly different.

The other thing here is that the age for study is flexible so in Yr 12 you can have 16 year olds, 18 yr olds and 19 year olds resitting etc.

The experience of living here outweighs the qualification mess up risk, definitely for your teenager. The quality of life is superior, the educatioanl system is superior in our opinion and the teenagers are more interested in skateboarding, meeting up at the beach and having pool parties than getting into trouble, gangs, cheap booze etc.

We were filled with trepidation about the move here but within months we were so glad we did it. Even short term it broadens horizons. The Aussie lifestyle and culture is generally more positive and people are welcoming and friendly if you are too. Incidentally, our son attended the local secondary school here, not private or anything special. Its likely you'll be charged school fees as a non resident though so prepare for around $8000 a year for that. Good luck, Jo