Alfresco

Our daughter will have just finished GCSEs in the UK in mid 2010 but we're only planning to move to Oz that September or later, so she will miss about 2-3 months of year 11. Will that be a problem in the sense that she will have loads of catching up to do, as well as adjusting to Oz life?

Smartinis

Ok, don't panic, she won't have missed anything, in fact she will have a whole summer holiday ahead of her. My son was in exactly this position 4 years ago. We arrived in September, he was 16 (his brothers were 18, just finished A levels, and 12) he could have gone to school in October (his younger brother did) for term 4 here repeating last term of year 10 (year 11 UK) but decided he's rather have a break and a Looooooooooooong holiday with his older brother. He started in the new year at the end of January. That was in year 11, first year VCE (A level equivalent in VIC) he took 2 of his final year subjects (and 4 year 1 VCE subjects) that year and the final 4 subjects the second year. The GCSE was a brilliant base for his VCE and he had no problems fitting in to the new system at all. He got an excellent ENTER score for uni, where he is happily studying now. Rest easy she's not going to be behind, she'll actually be in front!!

If you need any help understanding VCE etc pm me, going through it for the second time now. It can all be rather confusing at first.

We are in VIC, the system is the same in most states but exam names do differ.

quoll

Remember that the school year in Aus starts in Feb so if you arrive in September she can have the rest of the year off as Smartinis has said and then start year 11 in the February. If you were to put her straight into year 11 when you arrive (which would be a bad move btw) then she will have missed at least 9 months of a 2 year course!

Alfresco

Thanks very much for this information. I have passed this on to my wife. It seems there is no need to worry and we can plan our move for when its most convenient for all of us.

Alfresco

What is the average age of kids in year 11 in Oz?

My daughter will turn 17 in May next year (2011) and she will have started in year 11 next year over there having finished GCSEs this year (2010) in the UK.

Thanks.

quoll

All depends on the state but for the most part they will either have just turned 16 or be turning 16 fairly early in the year that they begin year 11.

Alfresco

Thanks. She turns 17 at the end of May 2011 and we've dug up an email from queensland that states she would go into year 11 next year as she is the right age for year 10 now.