Transfering Schools
Jun 3rd 2015, 1:57 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2
Transfering Schools
Hello forum!
I have been offered a job in Melbourne and my family and I are considering whether to take the big leap. One of the main concerns is taking our children out of school and settling them in Australia. Our eldest is 15 and halfway through his GCSEs and therefore we don't really want to unsettle him. In addtion, our daughter starts her GCSEs next year and therefore if we delay a year or so then we don't want to unsettle her!
What are people's thoughts? Could we transfer midway through and would the system be similiar in Australia? What are the schools like and what qualifications do children come out with?
Many thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Jim
I have been offered a job in Melbourne and my family and I are considering whether to take the big leap. One of the main concerns is taking our children out of school and settling them in Australia. Our eldest is 15 and halfway through his GCSEs and therefore we don't really want to unsettle him. In addtion, our daughter starts her GCSEs next year and therefore if we delay a year or so then we don't want to unsettle her!
What are people's thoughts? Could we transfer midway through and would the system be similiar in Australia? What are the schools like and what qualifications do children come out with?
Many thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Jim
Jun 3rd 2015, 6:08 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 8,378
Re: Transfering Schools
Foreign country, totally different system. In Aus the important age is 16 when kids begin the final two years of school so they end up with a Yr 12 cert - the school year starts in January too so be aware of that and ensure that they do the full two years starting when they are just 16 or just about to turn 16 (before 30 April in Vic).
If, however you are planning on this being a short term thing (temp visa perhaps) then probably don't move them at all because once they've left the UK system, getting them back in is a challenge (not impossible but they run the risk of being required to do more and lose the chance for local fees etc at Uni). If there is a likelihood that this won't be permanent then have them stay with relatives or board with someone so their education isn't disrupted.
Yr 12 scores don't travel as well back to UK as A level scores travel to Aus for Uni and they may need a super high score just to get into a bog standard Uni course. By the end of Honours (4 yrs in Aus) the qualifications even out though.
If, however you are planning on this being a short term thing (temp visa perhaps) then probably don't move them at all because once they've left the UK system, getting them back in is a challenge (not impossible but they run the risk of being required to do more and lose the chance for local fees etc at Uni). If there is a likelihood that this won't be permanent then have them stay with relatives or board with someone so their education isn't disrupted.
Yr 12 scores don't travel as well back to UK as A level scores travel to Aus for Uni and they may need a super high score just to get into a bog standard Uni course. By the end of Honours (4 yrs in Aus) the qualifications even out though.
Jun 3rd 2015, 8:21 pm
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2
Re: Transfering Schools
Thanks for the reply, I thought that might be the case. We couldn't leave them behind. Ah well, hopefully another opportunity might pop up in a few years when we can all go.
Jun 3rd 2015, 10:40 pm
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 8,378
Re: Transfering Schools
You run the risk in the future of them no longer being dependents when you might be right to go unfortunately and even if they are still studying you will be stung for international fees if they go to an Aus Uni - it's a difficult prospect!
