The schools are continuing to be my biggest headache and I am not even in the UK yet.
Actually, I am not very worried about the schools for my younger three. Really, my oldests' situation has become my biggest stress. I know, you have to be wondering why, right? You would think that as close as America and the UK are that it would be simple. I.wish.
In the UK, Primary or Preprepatory schools are Elementary schools, they have ages 3-7. The Prepartory tend to be the next level and that is for the kids aged 7-11. Then is the Senior school (called college, not to be confused with University) which has the kids aged 11-16 (think Harry Potter). In the Preparatory years they take tests, called the A-levels. In the Senior years they also take a test, called the GCSE.
So, my oldest is in the 9th grade here in the US. We think that in the UK he would go into the 10th year. In the UK, in the 9th and 10th years they prepare for the GCSE test. The kids pick 11 subjects to study and they study them intensely for those two years and then they take the tests. When they are done, they do not have to go back to school. But if they have good scores they can choose to further their education, which is called the 6th Forms, and many schools that have 6th yeas call them colleges (not to be confused with Universities).
If we were going to be there for 2 years, I would just have my oldest take the GCSE's. It would be my hope then that he would qualify to stay and do the next level of education in the 6th years and do a International Baccalaureate (IB) Certificate or do the A-Levels (similar to our AP system). The IB program would actually be the preferred route, as some of the curriculum should transfer. But we are not planning on that to happen. So, we have looked into the International Schools, schools with pre-IB programs and really just run problems. For instance the International schools are to far away, and the boys are not comfortable taking the train by themselves. The other schools that would work, do not have vacancies at this time. One school that might have spots, would be with their boarding program, but we do not want to board them. I know that they would protest as well, I asked my older two sons!
So, now I have a call out to our schools to see what their suggestions are as, it looks like Oldest Son will be in a UK school. From what I have been reading this may set him back a year in our school. I am hopeful though because I have found an online high school and I think that he can take a correspondence course in the subjects that may not transfer.
One of the reason that we are having the issues that we having is because the school year is just getting ready to start. The top schools in the area that we are looking to live are full and many have waiting lists.
Also, since many schools are out, I am having problems getting responses from the schools. This issue may really just have to wait until we get there. As well as some of the other things, like finding a place to live!
Actually, I am not very worried about the schools for my younger three. Really, my oldests' situation has become my biggest stress. I know, you have to be wondering why, right? You would think that as close as America and the UK are that it would be simple. I.wish.
In the UK, Primary or Preprepatory schools are Elementary schools, they have ages 3-7. The Prepartory tend to be the next level and that is for the kids aged 7-11. Then is the Senior school (called college, not to be confused with University) which has the kids aged 11-16 (think Harry Potter). In the Preparatory years they take tests, called the A-levels. In the Senior years they also take a test, called the GCSE.
So, my oldest is in the 9th grade here in the US. We think that in the UK he would go into the 10th year. In the UK, in the 9th and 10th years they prepare for the GCSE test. The kids pick 11 subjects to study and they study them intensely for those two years and then they take the tests. When they are done, they do not have to go back to school. But if they have good scores they can choose to further their education, which is called the 6th Forms, and many schools that have 6th yeas call them colleges (not to be confused with Universities).
If we were going to be there for 2 years, I would just have my oldest take the GCSE's. It would be my hope then that he would qualify to stay and do the next level of education in the 6th years and do a International Baccalaureate (IB) Certificate or do the A-Levels (similar to our AP system). The IB program would actually be the preferred route, as some of the curriculum should transfer. But we are not planning on that to happen. So, we have looked into the International Schools, schools with pre-IB programs and really just run problems. For instance the International schools are to far away, and the boys are not comfortable taking the train by themselves. The other schools that would work, do not have vacancies at this time. One school that might have spots, would be with their boarding program, but we do not want to board them. I know that they would protest as well, I asked my older two sons!
So, now I have a call out to our schools to see what their suggestions are as, it looks like Oldest Son will be in a UK school. From what I have been reading this may set him back a year in our school. I am hopeful though because I have found an online high school and I think that he can take a correspondence course in the subjects that may not transfer.
One of the reason that we are having the issues that we having is because the school year is just getting ready to start. The top schools in the area that we are looking to live are full and many have waiting lists.
Also, since many schools are out, I am having problems getting responses from the schools. This issue may really just have to wait until we get there. As well as some of the other things, like finding a place to live!
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