Hi, i am very new to this so apologies if i haven’t followed the correct links. I saw a post from someone regarding moving to Australia while their child was in year 10 (UK 1st year GCSEs) and wanted to ask how it had gone but discussion was closed. We want to go back to Australia, my year 10 is very keen and I guess i am the one holding it up because i think if they get the ir GCSEs then it makes it easier if we decide to return to uk for uni. However with VAT on fees making it very difficult for us to remain in current school, i am now thinking it’s time to go. Should point out that our child has duel citizenship so don’t know if that makes a difference. Parents on the other hand only have one citizenship, 1 each country. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

GCSEs are essentially irrelevant in Australia. The only two important years are years 11 &12 so you wouldnt want to arrive half way through them. Although you can get credit for GCSEs it doesnt necessarily follow that you would get a good score which would give you a good ATAR if you rocked up half way through the course. Best idea is either to move just before they are or they are just about to turn 16 so they can do years 11 and 12 otherwise wait until they have done A levels which do travel quite well to Aus for Uni applications. If there is any inkling that you will be back in UK then dont leave until they are at the point of deciding Uni with their A levels in hand (for several reasons - one being that if they havent been in UK for 3 years before Uni they will be slugged with International fees even if you are a citizen).

Before you move from UK though, be sure that the non UK citizen gets their citizenship - it can be hard to move back on a spousal visa.

This!!!

Hi As for education I would not bother with GCSE’s unless your child would want to attend University back in the UK, they could still go to University but for some reason having GCSE’s makes this easier. High School education Aus is different to the UK you do not have to sit formal exams unless you want to attend University each state usually have their own “titles” for this ie WACE fie West Australia most of my sons friends (my son included) sat their then called Tee’s as they were going to university but a lot just had their year 10 certificate and headed into apprenticeships or TAFE (college) Good luck (as advised sort out citizenship's first)

Hi there, did you head back to Oz and if you did, how did your son settle? We are thinking of doing the same, difference being our sone is mid way through Uk year 10 but I am not sure whether its worth waiting to do GCSE’s as it would mean starting mid year Oz 11, which I have heard is a total no no. Cheers