Taking a teenager back...

[Chezzapat]

Hi, wanting to return to the UK with a 15 /16yr old next year. He would be going in to year 11. Not ideal as obviously will have missed the entire start of GCSE course. But.... it is what it is. Does anyone have any experiences anyone can share? Thoughts? 

[FirstWorldProblems]

My experience is not directly related to your situation but might be somewhat helpful.  You can definitely call the school in the UK and the school counsellor or head of year will be able to give you advice.

I have 3 kids; 1) a degree graduate who has just started working, 2) an A-level student currently touring universites & 3) a year 10 student in the first year of GCSE's.  I have a pretty broad view of what it's like for kids in education now and it's very different to when I was their age.  But a current UK teacher could certainly give you a better insight.  I also spent a lot of time researching the opposite scenario to yours, moving kids to the Australian system and am aware that they just don't line up.

Year 11 builds on what they learn in year 10, which as you know is a year where kids select the subjects they want to study

A-levels then narrow that focus further, specialising on 3 or 4 subjects they already have a solid base in from their GCSE options (and mandatory subjects) and builds on top of that base.

Degree narrows even further to just one specialty, again building on what they learn at a-level and GCSE.

Watching my eldest go through her degree and touring uni's with #2, it's obvious that university education is nothing like it was when I went.  It's far more work, far more competitive and nothing like the cruise it was 25+ years ago.  This weekend we were hearing an admissions tutor describe how they also look at GCSE results, not just A-level results.  So if this is a route your son may want to take, good GCSE's are going to be important

Now A-levels and a degree may not be the path your son wants to take in life, but whatever route appeals to him, good GCSE results and the learning that comes with it can only help.  Trying to enter halfway through the GCSE 2-year programme is going to really difficult and I would say very unlikely to lead to his best outcome or school experience.

In short, put him into year 10.

[Chezzapat]

12 hours ago, FirstWorldProblems said:

My experience is not directly related to your situation but might be somewhat helpful.  You can definitely call the school in the UK and the school counsellor or head of year will be able to give you advice.

I have 3 kids; 1) a degree graduate who has just started working, 2) an A-level student currently touring universites & 3) a year 10 student in the first year of GCSE's.  I have a pretty broad view of what it's like for kids in education now and it's very different to when I was their age.  But a current UK teacher could certainly give you a better insight.  I also spent a lot of time researching the opposite scenario to yours, moving kids to the Australian system and am aware that they just don't line up.

Year 11 builds on what they learn in year 10, which as you know is a year where kids select the subjects they want to study

A-levels then narrow that focus further, specialising on 3 or 4 subjects they already have a solid base in from their GCSE options (and mandatory subjects) and builds on top of that base.

Degree narrows even further to just one specialty, again building on what they learn at a-level and GCSE.

Watching my eldest go through her degree and touring uni's with #2, it's obvious that university education is nothing like it was when I went.  It's far more work, far more competitive and nothing like the cruise it was 25+ years ago.  This weekend we were hearing an admissions tutor describe how they also look at GCSE results, not just A-level results.  So if this is a route your son may want to take, good GCSE's are going to be important

Now A-levels and a degree may not be the path your son wants to take in life, but whatever route appeals to him, good GCSE results and the learning that comes with it can only help.  Trying to enter halfway through the GCSE 2-year programme is going to really difficult and I would say very unlikely to lead to his best outcome or school experience.

In short, put him into year 10.

Thanks for taking the time to offer your insight! Completely agree. Gosh it's such minefield decision isn't it. I like the idea of actually calling the school to discuss. Issue is, I'd hopefully be sending him to the school where all his previous peers go (we took him out of year 4 to come to Australia) I think he would be horrified to join them all again in the year below.