Choccie

Hi

I've just had an email back from a UK school - they mentioned that they have a child starting A levels in September having been in Australia. She has used NARIC www.naric.co.uk to convert her qualifications to the UK equivalent.

Anyone had any experience using this?

Sun101

My mistake on the three years thing, sorry.
It would therefore not be worth doing a two year course, as an extra year would save many thousands.

I stand by what I say about GCSEs and A-Levels. It would be a very sharp bump to go into A-Levels after leaving the US system at 16/17. If she for example fell behind (very easy to do with everything going on), it could leave in a far worse position academically than if she had stayed in the US.

Spacecake799

Hi,

I will pm you later as I have done this.

Carole

HampshireUK

I can only speak from our own experience, my daughter may be returning to the UK at the end of 10th grade in the US next year. We will be returning to Hampshire which has sixth form colleges rather than sixth forms in a secondary school. All of the colleges I have contacted (4) say that she can study for A-levels (one wishes her to sit tests if Maths or Chemistry are chosen) or the IB Diploma. We are off to the UK this week and will visit the 4 colleges next week - my daughter can then decide which she wishes to apply to. They have already told us that they will do a Skype interview with her if she's not in the UK during the interview period and they are quite happy for any tests to be co-ordinated through her US school counsellor.

My son will start University in the UK this Autumn and whilst doing the visiting rounds last year I asked all the admissions departments whether they would only accept students with GCSEs explaining my daughter's situation. Interestingly they all said that the lack of GCSEs would not be a significant decider. They even went on to say that the better Universities (they specifically said Russell Group) are looking for academically able students - GCSEs do not apparently prove this I was told. Just for info my son applied to Cambridge, Imperial, Birmingham, Loughborough and Manchester.

ajdjad

Hi all , Thank you for your reply's . A little concerned though. Most of the Sixth forms that I talked too are happy to accept her but are full. Option is a sixth form college . Dont know what the fee's are with this. We have a little saved up for college , i didn't want to touch that though until the later years.

I may plan on her working on line and trying to finish her high school diploma. We have decided to rent our house here in the states for at least two years until we have enough to sell without taking a loss.

We are all set apart from the Visa, we are waiting on that . A little scared , but we have a job lined up,9included a letter to state that we have a job depending on visa) somewhere to stay (for free with relatives) but we intend to rent ,9included a budget) and a financial statement of support from our father in law who will be willing to help us for 27 mths if we need it and bank statements to prove it . I am hoping with the job offer that we have gone over and above with proving that we are capable . I even included the kids college fund to prove we can pay for schooling. With that said with a wife and three children being British , I would hope that they allow my husband a visa. I hope all goes well.

Please update me on how your kids are coping with the change.

Sally Redux

Did you have any problems with the GCSE's? I assumed it would not be a problem as it wasn't mentioned to me, but since I wrote that post, my husband was telling me that someone he knows moved back to Northern Ireland and had extreme difficulty getting his daughter onto an A level course. I believe she had to take Maths and English GCSEs at least.

I'm sorry you're having problems finding a place and I hope someone who's been through it will come along with some info.

ajdjad

They just said to bring her current transcript. I think that she could walk a current GCSE Math, English, Science. Its just the History and Geography that she would have a problem with. So if she could sit a test for them I think that might help.

I think that I am winging it , and hoping for the best.

Another stress factor is we wont leave here till September , (School will be started here by then , and English sixth Forms (I was told) are already full.

If its not one thing its thinking about another.....

I cant leave her here, I just can't . And she doesn't want to be without us so that's a no go.

The other schools wont talk to me unless I have a rental letter stating I will be in their district, which I dont know where we will be living yet.

Oh dear...

Sally Redux

So stressful

Is there any way you could hang on here? Of course only you know all the factors.

Mummy in the foothills

Is there a charge for 6th form college? I though all education to age 19 is free.

Sun101

Yes, a 6th form college is free for 19 and unders.
Colleges in the US, would be called universities in the UK. And there is no real equivalent to the Community College that awards Associate Degree that lots of students do in the US. (Well there are CertHE and DipHE, but the only people that get them in the real world are people who drop out in the 1st and 2nd years respectively from universities).

I stick to what I stated above, excluding the GCSE part if she gets a transcript from her current school.

A-Levels are considered to be the equivalent of the first year of university/ college in the US. They would be a massive 'step up' in level compared to what she is used to do. She would only be expected to study three or four subjects, but they do go into great detail.

Also I think you will have a real struggle with colleges letting her start late in the year. She has passed the compulsory education age, and from experience they would not be very flexible. However they should let her in if you come only a few weeks behind of term- but have them confirm this.

ajdjad

Just when I am thinking that everything is going great. I have emailed two more schools , a few colleges and I will go and talk to her school here tomorrow. If I cant get this sorted , I really have to put the spanner in the works. That is going to hurt .

She is at AP level in her classes , they are college credit courses.

I have looked at continuing in Tx online , but she would not be allowed because we no longer live here. We will still own the house but that does not help .. I guess I can tell them its temporary .....

I am feeling so low right now, I don't know which way to go.

I am grateful for the facts and the help .

ajdjad

I don't think she will qualify? Will she be classed as a BC or American?

Sun101

It doesn't matter where she is a citizen of.

The second she steps foot in the UK, she will get free education until shes 19 in school or college.

Spacecake799

Is there a reason why you cant go with her now?
My husband and youngest son leave here next week so they are back in time for September when he will start year nine. Its not ideal but we have no choice. At least that way you can get a rental sorted and go round different schools and colleges.
My son is in sixth form college and doesn't pay.

brits1

Hi Our youngest Son returned to the UK without any formal Australian Qualifications (he had just started his year 12 in Aus and that would of been the year he would of gained his Tee's which are similar to A levels) anyway three of the Colleges and one 6th Form were fine with just his work books (that's all he had to show for just over 4 years in High School) and a final report from his High School. He could study either GCSE's, A Levels or Diploma's and was even offered NVQ's etc he decided on 3 GCSE's (English,Maths and Science) and also an Advanced Btec is Sports Science (worth 3 A levels) so we did not have any problems and all Colleges were very helpful they all seemed very use to and had great insight to overseas Students and most of their Education systems. Try not to worry I know its hard I worried like mad, take as much info as you can in regards to your childs education and have a chat about what is required (as best you can) for your childs future expectations etc. Good luck