OrkneytoPortugal

I have been reading the posts regarding returning from abroad to go to university with great interest, since I have a 14 year old daughter who is definite that she wants to go back to the UK to do higher education, rather than stay in Portugal. She has been in Portuguese school for the last 2 years, but would need to do one more year to complete Year 9 and gain the equivalent qualifications to GCSEs (they do a kind of general matriculation across the board here, and specialise post-Year 9)
So this is our dilemma - would it be best for her to finish Year 9 (not something she wants to do) and get her over to the UK and back into the school system there at nearly 16 (staying with friends/relatives) assuming she could get straight on to A-levels? Or would she have to do GCSE's in order to be able to study for A-levels? Or would she be best getting over to the UK ASAP, fitting into school where she could, so that come age 18 and Higher Education time, she would have been resident in the UK for a full 3 years?
I keep going over and over these questions - she is completely anti-Portugal, but I'm not sure she is really ready to leave home yet. She is unclear what she wants to do herself. One option is that she leaves school and takes some GCSEs by correspondence course this year. Is there a minimum number of GCSE's you have to have to go on to A-levels, or is that up to the individual school or college?
Does anyone know if au under-16 year old would be able to just stay with a friend or relative, or would they have to be formally made her legal guardian if we are still living abroad?
I am information-gathering at the moment, and would be grateful for any advice from anyone who has the facts!

Sue

I'm a bit out of touch with the UK education system but reading this it appears that a student will need to have taken GCSE's in order to go and take A levels. However I'm sure someone will be along soon who has first hand experience of this to share.

times up

I did "O" levels, prior to GCSEs and for many subjects, you had to have the "O" level to do the "A" level. Exclusings were things then not taught at "O" level such as economics, psychology, etc. but many such as Maths, English, languages, sciences, all required the prior level qualification.

I also am perhaps a good case study as I did my "A" levels in 9 months and not 2 years, taking both the 1st and 2nd year classes together. That was tough as in 2nd year economics, I was just starting the first year. It all clicked but I would not advise doing it that way.

I know some schools now do the IB as an alternative but I don't know if that is just at the "A" level stage.

What I do know for certain, is that any university offers made whilst your child was studying "S" levels would be largely based upon "O" level performance as much as their teacher's expectations and it might be that things get disrupted as she might not be able to get what she wants or indeed is capable of.

I think you need to have a serious talk and see what is best as constant moving around is certainly not the best.

newshoney

If she really wants to go to uni in the UK get her home asap, not just so she gets GCSE's and A levels but also so she qualifies as a home student - especially if she wants to study in Wales or Scotland, as living there for at least three years is necessary to qualify for the lower tuition scale and better grants.

OrkneytoPortugal

Thank you very much everybody - this confirms what I have been thinking. I would still very much like to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position, particularly with regard to the flexibility of schools and colleges when it comes to taking GCSEs out of the usual straight sequence.

ukintexas

Hi there
Have you heard of School Choice International? They are a company that assists families moving all over the Globe. I've worked with them from both a business and personal viewpoint and they have some great tools, programs and advice that will help you. I think their cheapest online option is as low as $85! Their website is www.schoolchoiceintl.com. Hope that helps.

rebs

The OP is in Portugal - I understood that the 3 year rule to qualify as a home student included all of the EU so no issue with staying in Portugal a bit longer.

newshoney

Yes but the difference is that if you are domiciled or ordinarily resident say in Wales, you qualify for a discount on fees to Welsh universities and the same thing applies in Scotland.

OrkneytoPortugal

http://www.registry.ed.ac.uk/Fees/ov...definition.pdf

I have just found this link and I am wondering if I am correct in interpreting it to mean that a 'national' of an EU member state DOES still qualify for home tuition fees in the UK if resident for 3 years within the EU prior to starting a higher education course?

Mummy in the foothills

Your right

newshoney

Yes, you're right. But if you were formerly domiciled in Orkney (Scotland) and your daughter resumed her residence there prior to applying for a Scottish university, there would be a financial advantage. Check the individual university websites and look up fees and you'll see what I mean.

OrkneytoPortugal

I know you are correct because I have an older daughter at a Scottish university. My younger daughter will probably be returning to England however, rather than Scotland. Goodness, it's complicated!

rebs

How interesting - I've just looked at Stirling (as an example) http://www.external.stir.ac.uk/under...ition_fees.php and it seems that non-UK EU students are treated the same as Scottish students for fees - no tuition fees!

Looks like the only students who have to pay fees are other UK residents and overseas students.

rparsons66

HI,

In answer to your question, no you dont need to have done gcse's in order to do A levels in our experience. We have been chatting to a school in the Uk and they are happy to take my son into the 6th form to do A levels on the basis that that is where his age puts him and he has completed his education up to that point in Australia. He is a good students and will have finished year 11 here, at which point he is half way through the TEE (Uni entrance exams) and nothing to show for 12 years schooling except past reports.

I hope that helps. Contact a school and have a chat, they were a great help.

Becky
Perth

brits1

Hi,

We have had the same "problem" here in Aus....our sons were always "out of sink" with the British system...we had had great help with contacting schools and colleges direct and their information has been great...what we have decided (along with our boys agreement) our eldest finished his year 12 here and sat Tee's (nearly the same as A levels) we have applied for Uni in the U.K and the excepted him (we had to get in touch with Naric u.k and they transfered his qualification into the British equivalent) sent this all off to UCAS who deal with all applications for Uni and are just waiting for the reply....you will have to have some kind of evidence though that you have spent time in the U.K prior to entering Uni or you will be classed as an "International" student...luckily (touch wood) our son has been back quite ofted and enrolled at college in the U.K so we should be granted a home student fee. Our youngest son is in year 11 here in Aus (school year feb-dec) he will have missed his first year at High School studying GCSE's so we contacted the colleges and if he finishes year 11 here (studying his first year of tee's) they will except him with his "report" (we do not have formal exams here until you are in year 12 and stuyding tee's)as having GCSE's and will be able to study A levels...and then hopefully off to Uni if he wishes....hope this has not confused you...it has me lol !!!!! you can do GCSE's at college which are a lot more flexi with their courses and choices than High School as long as you are the correct age...our son wanted college over High School....he will be 16 towards the end of this, November, we have sold our home now and have rented because of this...we did offer to stay until he completes year 12 (gulp) but he is really just wants to be home..plus he will need the 3 years back at home if he wants to go to Uni (he has not gone back as often or to study as our eldest) otherwise he will be classed as an overseas student....and will be charged as such.

I have checked with the Uni's in our "would be area" of return and they are fine with him having A levels and no British GCSE's....I did phone the High Schools/Colleges also and as I said they were very helpful and had some great advice....

Good luck