Requesting transcripts from UK schools?
 

Possible move to Sunnyvale/Fremont area in the pipeline. Nothing confirmed yet but planning ahead and worrying about the transition into new schools for our kids.

We will have 2 in High school and 2 in Middle

I have heard people mention about getting transcripts from the old schools in the UK to hand across to the new schools in the US. I guess so that the schools know which grade to put them in?

I just wondered if anyone had done this and whether the UK schools were ok with it and understood what needed to be done (and are willing to do so etc)

I am particularly concerned about our twin daughters aged 16 who are both very bright (they get it from their dad :D). They have just both received good sets of GCSE's and I want to make sure they get the right credits in their new schools.

Any experiences of requesting and providing school transcripts much appreciated.

Re: Requesting transcripts from UK schools?
 

The easiest thing will be to simply ask the school and see what they say. I imagine they will understand.

For middle school level I think reports will be enough (that's what I used).

Re: Requesting transcripts from UK schools?
 

I moved over to the states when I was entering my freshman year of Highschool (8 or so years ago) Your girls, I should imagine will be either Sophomores, or Juniors. Depending on their birthday. I found it particularly difficult, transitioning from my English School to the American. Their curriculum is set up far differently. The good news is they've taken their GCSE's, so their report cards and GCSE grades should be okay. I'm sure that's all my mum needed. I will ask her next time I speak with her and post what she says here.

Re: Requesting transcripts from UK schools?
 

Basically high school transcripts just give the subjects taken and grades/GPA (Grade Point Average) obtained etc etc. I would imagine grade reports that you get as a parent each term/year, and their GCSE results would suffice. Have you kept their latest ones?

Re: Requesting transcripts from UK schools?
 

Agree with all the above. I don't think UK schools will have anything on record, other than the "reports" you get each term & the exam results/ coursework reports? (I still have mine from 30 years ago that I discovered in a recent file purge. There are also printouts from the various exam boards giving results.

The US word "Transcript" implies to my British mind a verbatim commentary like in court. I think in US parlance it just means "the record" as it exists.

Re: Requesting transcripts from UK schools?
 

It might be more useful to provide syllabuses to show what has been covered in the GCSE subjects.

Re: Requesting transcripts from UK schools?
 

I agree, but I imagine it counts for little in terms of whether OP's twins are bright for their age and deserve extra credits...They will be tested against local standards.

Re: Requesting transcripts from UK schools?
 

Yes, this is very helpful. A "transcript" in the US use of the word is basically a listing of courses taken and grades obtained. In the US it would basically say "English Literature--3 credit hours -- A+" or something. A syllabus would be more like "three weeks of Shakespeare, two weeks on Jane Austen, write a term paper on such and such". If they have an idea what they've already studied they can help pick the course they need and the courses they can already get credit for.