UK primary school query

[RMac]

Hi, I have a question about primary education in the UK, my daughter is currently in year one, and will be turning 7 in July. By my reckoning she will start primary 3 (I think) in September. Are the levels in the UK comparable to Australia or are there large differences in academic expectations. I am a bit concerned as my daughter is very average academically and if there are going to be major issues I would like to work on them now before we go. Thanks

[Miley123]

Hi RMac, I too have the same concerns as we will be heading back in a few weeks and my two boys when they start in September in the UK will have missed 6 months of years 3 and 6 and go straight into year 4 and 7. To top it off my 8 year old has just been diagnosed as dyslexic so is two years behind in reading although all other areas he is ahead of his years. So my two have been having extra tuition out of school to try to bridge the gap in that they are missing 6 months of their present academic year. You can get an idea of standards in UK from school websites, many have their curriculum on their websites, this is what I used to guage the levels. Hence I was very worried about my youngest moving with his dyslexia and missing 6 months of school but I have to say that the school we have got him into couldn't have been more helpful and accommodating, especially considering the way they adapt their education methods for children with such difficulties in mainstream classrooms, I was very impressed and relieved. My son will receive much more support and specialised training from a state school in England than anything he has received in a private school in Australia which to date has been none (very frustrating). So to try to relay your fears, yes there may be differences in education levels (losing 6 months academic year for one) but the schools I have been in touch (primary and secondary) with have all been very helpful and on the ball to assist the children get over this hurdle. Infact all the UK teachers at my son's current Australian school have all told me on the quiet that his dyslexia will be much more supported in England then what he has received over here so that's from a professional point of view too. I appreciate all UK schools are different but from what I have experienced so far it has all been positive.

 

Hope this helps, good luck

[RMac]

Thanks for your reply, my daughter is lacking in reading confidence and as such is sitting a little below average in her class, we have also decided to get her some extra tutoring just to help with the reading, I'm not really too worried about numeracy. I have heard anecdotally that schools are a little more advanced in the UK anyway, totally agree with what you say about UK state schools, they sound much better resourced than Aussie schools.

[newjez]

Thanks for your reply, my daughter is lacking in reading confidence and as such is sitting a little below average in her class, we have also decided to get her some extra tutoring just to help with the reading, I'm not really too worried about numeracy. I have heard anecdotally that schools are a little more advanced in the UK anyway, totally agree with what you say about UK state schools, they sound much better resourced than Aussie schools.

 

It's getting a little ridiculous tbh. My wife's cousin is a childminder, and she is now offstead inspected and has to have an education component. My wife's school is just such a hot house, as are many primary now. They really push the children. I guess we have to compete with those darn Chinese somehow.

[VERYSTORMY]

Hi RMac, I too have the same concerns as we will be heading back in a few weeks and my two boys when they start in September in the UK will have missed 6 months of years 3 and 6 and go straight into year 4 and 7. To top it off my 8 year old has just been diagnosed as dyslexic so is two years behind in reading although all other areas he is ahead of his years. So my two have been having extra tuition out of school to try to bridge the gap in that they are missing 6 months of their present academic year. You can get an idea of standards in UK from school websites, many have their curriculum on their websites, this is what I used to guage the levels. Hence I was very worried about my youngest moving with his dyslexia and missing 6 months of school but I have to say that the school we have got him into couldn't have been more helpful and accommodating, especially considering the way they adapt their education methods for children with such difficulties in mainstream classrooms, I was very impressed and relieved. My son will receive much more support and specialised training from a state school in England than anything he has received in a private school in Australia which to date has been none (very frustrating). So to try to relay your fears, yes there may be differences in education levels (losing 6 months academic year for one) but the schools I have been in touch (primary and secondary) with have all been very helpful and on the ball to assist the children get over this hurdle. Infact all the UK teachers at my son's current Australian school have all told me on the quiet that his dyslexia will be much more supported in England then what he has received over here so that's from a professional point of view too. I appreciate all UK schools are different but from what I have experienced so far it has all been positive.

 

Hope this helps, good luck

 

as a dyslexic I can say the support I received was excellent in the UK and come university time the support is fantastic. I received a grant of £10k towards computer equipment. I also had access to a scribe - someone who could attend lectures with me to take my notes and could even have them write for me in exams.

[RMac]

In Australia my daughter is meant to do a work sheet activity, a spelling list and read a book every day for homework, as well as an online mathematics activity, she is only 6 years old. My husband and I have always been very relaxed about homework etc as we feel it is ridiculous but now I am stressing that she will feel behind everyone else

[rach28]

My daughter is currently year 2 and her teacher is a Brit. She told us not too stress about it. She said that my daughter will have no issues and should just slip into the curriculum in the uk. My daughter is neither top or bottom of her class she just floats in the middle.

[Miley123]

as a dyslexic I can say the support I received was excellent in the UK and come university time the support is fantastic. I received a grant of £10k towards computer equipment. I also had access to a scribe - someone who could attend lectures with me to take my notes and could even have them write for me in exams.

 

Thank you VERYSTORMY for your reply, I really appreciate it. It's fantastic to know my son is going into a very supportive environment, the university support seems amazing, over here they wouldn't even do his NAPLANS verbally and had to be tested as all the other children eg via reading and written only. I feel so let down by his education to date, his school has been telling me since kindy they thought he had ADHD and was generally 'slow' and for years I argued he did not show the symptoms of ADHD apart from when doing literacy. When his external tutor who we had to pay for on top of his school fees suggested getting him tested for dyslexia, the school told me I was wasting my money but I went ahead anyway and the results showed that he was moderately dyslexic but had a high IQ, hence why he starts to lose focus when literacy comes into play he gets agitated that he can't understand it. He knows he is behind and it frustrates him greatly and I was just so relieved when I spoke to his new headmistress in the UK how much differently my son would be educated and taught to suit him rather than him having to fit the mould of every other student. I am really positive about his education now, where as if we were staying I know I would have a battle on my hands at his current school. These views are just based on my experiences at school over here though I appreciate all schools are different and I wonder if he had been at a state school in Australia he would maybe have gotten more support.

[newjez]

Thank you VERYSTORMY for your reply, I really appreciate it. It's fantastic to know my son is going into a very supportive environment, the university support seems amazing, over here they wouldn't even do his NAPLANS verbally and had to be tested as all the other children eg via reading and written only. I feel so let down by his education to date, his school has been telling me since kindy they thought he had ADHD and was generally 'slow' and for years I argued he did not show the symptoms of ADHD apart from when doing literacy. When his external tutor who we had to pay for on top of his school fees suggested getting him tested for dyslexia, the school told me I was wasting my money but I went ahead anyway and the results showed that he was moderately dyslexic but had a high IQ, hence why he starts to lose focus when literacy comes into play he gets agitated that he can't understand it. He knows he is behind and it frustrates him greatly and I was just so relieved when I spoke to his new headmistress in the UK how much differently my son would be educated and taught to suit him rather than him having to fit the mould of every other student. I am really positive about his education now, where as if we were staying I know I would have a battle on my hands at his current school. These views are just based on my experiences at school over here though I appreciate all schools are different and I wonder if he had been at a state school in Australia he would maybe have gotten more support.

 

Both my eldest two had issues with their reading. Partially this was because I was very I'll during their early years, and my eldest has a dyslexic like disorder (they don't have a name for it). The schools (uk) were good, but their efforts didn't blow me away. We got things because we pushed for them. We hired a specialist private tutor as well, (not cheap) and managed to get them both back to where they should be

 

At high school my eldest gets extra time for exams where there is reading involved. He's not bad now. He even spells better than me know. (Something I've never been able to grasp). We had an odd period where my eldest was in special needs and the gifted and talented programme. My eldest will never be a fast reader. He has comprehension issues, and he can't take what he reads at face value, he always has to dissect it to ensure it's meaning, but with extra reading time for exams he is doing well.

[RMac]

I can't wait for the hot lunches, no more making sandwiches for me!

[newjez]

I can't wait for the hot lunches, no more making sandwiches for me!

 

They aren't cheap. Facilities vary too, as many schools stopped for a while and turned the dinning halls into classrooms. The quality of the food at my children's schools is very good though, if they are sensible, which they are. You can see what they are buying online which is good, and they use fingerprints to authorise purchases, so no need to carry money.