valleygurl

Hi we have the oppurtunity to move to NZ but our daughter is currently in year 11 and would be doing her GCSES next may/June. Should we wait until she has completed them are they worth anything to her there?

Catchafire

Yes I would wait. Better she has something to put on her CV.

Justcol

Wait and do the GCSE's before leaving.

If she wants college she can stay on here and complete year 13 which
will then put her at uni entrance level, although good GCSE grades
might be enough

valleygurl

Thank you it's all very confusing!

MrsFychan

I would personally contact the schools/colleges/university in the area where you might move to and ask them.

bourbon-biscuit

I would let her finish. Contacting schools here only tells you what they advise for fitting in with NCEAs, it won't tell you how to protect your daughter's future in case emigrating does not work out. Also, at this point she has worked towards those GCSEs and getting them will be more straightforward for her than putting her into NZ schooling now (she'll have to choose 6 NCEAs and get used to the quite different assessment approach). At the end of GCSEs she could probably transfer into year 13 here but because it's half way through our school year I would put her in year 12 (which is weirdly necessary because unis base hall and scholarship offers on year 12 ...) which gives her run in to year 13.

Tricky age to move. We did it with our girl (UK yr 10 into NCEA1) and she is a week off from sitting her IB finals.

Charismatic

GCSEs? You need a degree in stackology to work at a super' now Cacha.

Justcol

year 11 is 16 year olds and equal to last year at high school in uk

Years 12 1nd 13 are nz equivalent of college, although its just the same as staying on at school
at the end of year 13 kids will be 18 (ish) and ready to move on to uni

bourbon-biscuit

Yeah-nah. Yes, they are the same age-ish cohort but NCEA1 is not always considered equivalent to GCSEs. In fact, the guide (from NZ Quals Authority) is that NCEA2 is equivalent to GCSEs in the subjects taken. However, obviously, at level 2 you only take 6 subjects. NCEA3 is considered acceptable for uni entrance but you *generally* (obvs, it's down to unis in the end) need over 80 and majority of merits/ excellence in the subjects intended to be studied at uni. That's a bit different to NZ "UE" (42 at level 3).

Of course, in the end, it all comes down to the unis to decide what they consider acceptable, but still, it's a bit telling

(from: http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/studying-in-...-requirements/ )

valleygurl

Thank you everyone, we spoke to her school here in the UK and have decided to get her through her exams! Doesn't really help when employer wants an answer as to when we can get over

AceofSpades

YES!!! she should do them because if you/she decide to go back to the UK she'll have to play catch up. Rule #1 #2 #3 of being an immigrant :

1. Never burn bridges

2. Always have a back-up plan

3. See rule #1

valleygurl

We are what you'd call ping pong poms!!! Returned home 5 years ago due to family issues but now have an oppurtunity and an offer to come back, but the decision is so much harder this time given the children's ages

j19fmm

I wouldn't wait. My daughter did hers just before we moved, got 13 super dooper grades and the High School here was not interested - apart from the fact it told them she was a worker and reasonably clever!! She even had to do NCEA Level 1 in order to continue on to Year 12 here. She has done extremely well and is just finishing her first year at Otago University. Son is just finishing Year 12.On a slight aside, one has to be resident for 3 years in order to qualify for a student loan, so you need to factor that in if you think she'll want to go to Uni. Currently I have to pay for everything - fees and accommodation. Don't know what Visa you'll be on but if on a Business Visa that doesn't get you domestic status at tertiary level either.

valleygurl

We were on a skilled migrant visa last time and left just before we received our residency. This time we will do eoi and get residency from the off

j19fmm

She still would have to wait 3 years before being able to get a student loan.