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Italian Girl looking for some info on Schools in London

Hi everyone I'm Ashley, and I'm new here!

I live in Venice, Italy and I'm planning to come and live in London in September. I still have to finish school and I was looking for a way to do that in the UK and get my GCSEs.

Unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the schooling system and I don't know where to begin searching. What kind of schools should I look for? Are there any programs for foreign students? What is the best period to apply to schools?

I'm not looking for anything too fancy I just want to finish school and have a degree!

Any kind of help would be really useful! Thank you in advance!

love
Ashley
Reply 1
Original post by AshleyLove
Hi everyone I'm Ashley, and I'm new here!

I live in Venice, Italy and I'm planning to come and live in London in September. I still have to finish school and I was looking for a way to do that in the UK and get my GCSEs.

Unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the schooling system and I don't know where to begin searching. What kind of schools should I look for? Are there any programs for foreign students? What is the best period to apply to schools?

I'm not looking for anything too fancy I just want to finish school and have a degree!

Any kind of help would be really useful! Thank you in advance!

love
Ashley


Hi, Ashley. Welcome to London and TSR.

I think the first thing to do is look at the league tables of GCSE's results for schools in your local area. Also is their a specific field you would like to do as a career?

If so, there are certain specialist schools, which you could look for. I'm not sure about programmes fro foreign students, but if your fluent in Italian (which I presume you are), you should think about doing an extra GCSE in Italian.

If you wouldn't mind me asking, what area of London are you moving into? if it was near where I am, I could help you a bit more (I live in Redbridge). Also, a tip for choosing GCSE's remember to pick a broad range of subjects ( I wouldn't recommend BtEC's) and then generalise when you pick your A-Levels when your 16.
Original post by TopG
Hi, Ashley. Welcome to London and TSR.

I think the first thing to do is look at the league tables of GCSE's results for schools in your local area. Also is their a specific field you would like to do as a career?

If so, there are certain specialist schools, which you could look for. I'm not sure about programmes fro foreign students, but if your fluent in Italian (which I presume you are), you should think about doing an extra GCSE in Italian.

If you wouldn't mind me asking, what area of London are you moving into? if it was near where I am, I could help you a bit more (I live in Redbridge). Also, a tip for choosing GCSE's remember to pick a broad range of subjects ( I wouldn't recommend BtEC's) and then generalise when you pick your A-Levels when your 16.


Yeah never choose btec. Interesting story - I got angry at my teacher because he thought I was stupid so he said I should do btec for business studies. Not going to say any further because I may get negs. However, I ended up dropping the subject.

Don't read what the newspapers say about GCSEs, I think we have a world-class education system. GCSEs are still hard enough and the grading system is awesome in my opinion. And if you don't know who Michael Gove is, he is this guy who spent his life between four walls and never associated himself with anyone, he never talked to anyone, and he is evil and wicked and likes to do things if it helps his wealthy friends. He is evil and devilish. I think he spent most of his life planning how to ruin the education which works fine.
Reply 3
Hello! I would like to thank you so much for your help! Thats means a lot to me! :smile:
Hopefully i will get over there sometime in sept or no later than october. I still dont know in what part of London i will end up at, that all depends on what kind of school i will choose. I would love to study international busness, so i would choose my GCSE based on that.
When schools will start over there? And what do i need to do to apply for it? Do i need to take some kind of test? Could you suggest any school that it would be great for me? If you give me a couple of names i can ask them directly!:smile: Hopefully ill make it there sometime in sept or not later than october anyway!:smile:
Thank you so much for your kindness! XoXo
Reply 4
Original post by AshleyLove
Hello! I would like to thank you so much for your help! Thats means a lot to me! :smile:
Hopefully i will get over there sometime in sept or no later than october. I still dont know in what part of London i will end up at, that all depends on what kind of school i will choose. I would love to study international busness, so i would choose my GCSE based on that.
When schools will start over there? And what do i need to do to apply for it? Do i need to take some kind of test? Could you suggest any school that it would be great for me? If you give me a couple of names i can ask them directly!:smile: Hopefully ill make it there sometime in sept or not later than october anyway!:smile:
Thank you so much for your kindness! XoXo




If you want to do Business, take either Business Studies or Economics.

I'm taking Economics as it's more current afaairs and probably more interesting, whearas Business Studies is more common sense and is considered a soft subject by universities.

Before you can apply to school, you need to know where to move to as all state schools have a local catchment area from where the accept students. Some areas have an entrance exam, which you take at the age of 11, these are the top grammer schools. The best schools in London are independent schools, with some doing 14+ exams (just in time for GCSE's)
Reply 5
Original post by AshleyLove
Hi everyone I'm Ashley, and I'm new here!

I live in Venice, Italy and I'm planning to come and live in London in September. I still have to finish school and I was looking for a way to do that in the UK and get my GCSEs.

Unfortunately I'm not too familiar with the schooling system and I don't know where to begin searching. What kind of schools should I look for? Are there any programs for foreign students? What is the best period to apply to schools?

I'm not looking for anything too fancy I just want to finish school and have a degree!

Any kind of help would be really useful! Thank you in advance!

love
Ashley


Hi Ashley

A bit more information on your background and circumstance would be helpful. Where will you be living in London, are you coming over with your parents or family or alone? What sort of school are you at now and what level of attainment are you at?

Things like starting time and tests and application process vary from school to school, especially in the independent sector. Schools normally start at some time in early-mid September however.

Also, what level/age do you wish to study up to? (University? You mention "degree")
If you want to study A-levels and an undergrad degree after GCSEs I strongly suggest you stick primarily to the "traditional" subjects as they will give you the best base to go into A-levels, where you can specialise more.
Also, subjects like economics, politics and business are done much better at A-level than GCSE (and better still at degree level) and the GCSEs are rather weak (only to be expected, there's not so much in those areas you really can do at such an early stage in your education)
Original post by JamalAhmed
Yeah never choose btec. Interesting story - I got angry at my teacher because he thought I was stupid so he said I should do btec for business studies. Not going to say any further because I may get negs. However, I ended up dropping the subject.

Don't read what the newspapers say about GCSEs, I think we have a world-class education system. GCSEs are still hard enough and the grading system is awesome in my opinion. And if you don't know who Michael Gove is, he is this guy who spent his life between four walls and never associated himself with anyone, he never talked to anyone, and he is evil and wicked and likes to do things if it helps his wealthy friends. He is evil and devilish. I think he spent most of his life planning how to ruin the education which works fine.


:mad:

So your implying that people who are doing btec(s) are stupid? Lmfao.
Mate i do Btec business as my school doesnt offer gcse business so im stupid right?
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by TopG
Hi, Ashley. Welcome to London and TSR.

I think the first thing to do is look at the league tables of GCSE's results for schools in your local area. Also is their a specific field you would like to do as a career?

If so, there are certain specialist schools, which you could look for. I'm not sure about programmes fro foreign students, but if your fluent in Italian (which I presume you are), you should think about doing an extra GCSE in Italian.

If you wouldn't mind me asking, what area of London are you moving into? if it was near where I am, I could help you a bit more (I live in Redbridge). Also, a tip for choosing GCSE's remember to pick a broad range of subjects ( I wouldn't recommend BtEC's) and then generalise when you pick your A-Levels when your 16.



Please elaborate why you should not recommend doing a BTEC for gcse...
Original post by DeathByBSOD
:mad:

So your implying that people who are doing btec(s) are stupid? Lmfao.
Mate i do Btec business as my school doesnt offer gcse business so im stupid right?


Well btec carries no weight at university mate! My school makes people to btec business if they are not academically clever. It's a waste of time and you could be learning other things that actually matter, like a GCSE! I know I'm going to get a lot negs for this but so what! That is the truth. And I know many people got in Oxbridge even though they did btecs. But this means that OxBridge ignored the btec and looked at the person's A-level and GCSEs only.
Original post by JamalAhmed
Well btec carries no weight at university mate! My school makes people to btec business if they are not academically clever. It's a waste of time and you could be learning other things that actually matter, like a GCSE! I know I'm going to get a lot negs for this but so what! That is the truth. And I know many people got in Oxbridge even though they did btecs. But this means that OxBridge ignored the btec and looked at the person's A-level and GCSEs only.


you are the most very ignorant person ever. Full of **** post.
Reply 10
^^ but he is right.
Reply 11
I will move to London alone, well, with a girl of mine. I am 22 years old and i still have to finish high school. I quit because i had a few problems with my family so i decided to just go to work. I would like to get my high school degree, we call it diploma over here in Italy. I was wondering if i would have to start all over again, or if i just can take a few test and get everything done quickly.?! I will obviously find a job over there, so im wondering if theres any night time schools?! And do yall know when do i need to apply for school?and what do i need to do for that? like, what kind of documents do i need? Do i have to take a test to prove my level? I would love to hurry up and get this done quickly, that way i can start college!:smile:
Thank you all so much for your help! :smile:
Reply 12
Original post by AshleyLove
I will move to London alone, well, with a girl of mine. I am 22 years old and i still have to finish high school. I quit because i had a few problems with my family so i decided to just go to work. I would like to get my high school degree, we call it diploma over here in Italy. I was wondering if i would have to start all over again, or if i just can take a few test and get everything done quickly.?! I will obviously find a job over there, so im wondering if theres any night time schools?! And do yall know when do i need to apply for school?and what do i need to do for that? like, what kind of documents do i need? Do i have to take a test to prove my level? I would love to hurry up and get this done quickly, that way i can start college!:smile:
Thank you all so much for your help! :smile:


If you're 22, I don't think you can go back to school. You could do GCSE Maths/English/Science at Adult Education Centres. Try applying to univesities as an overseas graduate.

Hope this helps.
Original post by JamalAhmed
Well btec carries no weight at university mate! My school makes people to btec business if they are not academically clever. It's a waste of time and you could be learning other things that actually matter, like a GCSE! I know I'm going to get a lot negs for this but so what! That is the truth. And I know many people got in Oxbridge even though they did btecs. But this means that OxBridge ignored the btec and looked at the person's A-level and GCSEs only.


People get into Universities with pure BTECs, I know a few who have.
Original post by AshleyLove
I will move to London alone, well, with a girl of mine. I am 22 years old and i still have to finish high school. I quit because i had a few problems with my family so i decided to just go to work. I would like to get my high school degree, we call it diploma over here in Italy. I was wondering if i would have to start all over again, or if i just can take a few test and get everything done quickly.?! I will obviously find a job over there, so im wondering if theres any night time schools?! And do yall know when do i need to apply for school?and what do i need to do for that? like, what kind of documents do i need? Do i have to take a test to prove my level? I would love to hurry up and get this done quickly, that way i can start college!:smile:
Thank you all so much for your help! :smile:

I think you'll struggle to find a job, as alot of employers require GCSEs... I think you should continue your education in your country. Over here you only get a degree if you go to University. The qualifications you get from leaving high school are GCSEs. I suppose you could come here, do a distant learning course, study at home and get the GCSEs that way, but the courses are quite expensive especially if you don't have a job, so you may struggle financially. Good luck with it all anyway.
Reply 15
Original post by AshleyLove
I will move to London alone, well, with a girl of mine. I am 22 years old and i still have to finish high school. I quit because i had a few problems with my family so i decided to just go to work. I would like to get my high school degree, we call it diploma over here in Italy. I was wondering if i would have to start all over again, or if i just can take a few test and get everything done quickly.?! I will obviously find a job over there, so im wondering if theres any night time schools?! And do yall know when do i need to apply for school?and what do i need to do for that? like, what kind of documents do i need? Do i have to take a test to prove my level? I would love to hurry up and get this done quickly, that way i can start college!:smile:
Thank you all so much for your help! :smile:


Hello! I am half Italian but have lived in England my whole life :smile: Fortunately I dont live in London but up in the North-west. I would say you have two options: You could do what my fully Italian cousin did. He got the grades in Italy in a school near Rome (Myabe you should finish school in Italy) and then he went to university. 2 years in Rome and then was asked if he wanted to study in another EU country for a year. He chose England of course and had the choice between Manchester, Leeds and London universities. He chose Manchester because it is the best for computer science but could have easily chose London. Also with his good English he would have been able to get a job im sure in England, but he chose to return home. Your second option would be to come to England and study your GCSEs and A levels in a college, but this will probably take you more time and you may find it difficult to find a small job with no qualifications. However, if you can achieve good grades then there should be no problem finding a good university. Dont just look at London though as this is what everyone does! My cousin chose to go to Manchester because everything is much cheaper and his accomodation was dirt cheap, so you wouldnt have to work so much and could study! I also personally think you will prefer Manchester to London (I dont live in Manchester). Im not saying go to Manchester but you should think of the other big cities such as Birmingham and Sheffield too. You could still get good grades and then go to uni in London.
Hope this info helps!
(By the way, it may help if you do an exam on your English before you apply, so you can prove you have good English). My cousin did a big one which is reconised internationally.
Reply 16
Original post by TopG
If you want to do Business, take either Business Studies or Economics.

I'm taking Economics as it's more current afaairs and probably more interesting, whearas Business Studies is more common sense and is considered a soft subject by universities.

Before you can apply to school, you need to know where to move to as all state schools have a local catchment area from where the accept students. Some areas have an entrance exam, which you take at the age of 11, these are the top grammer schools. The best schools in London are independent schools, with some doing 14+ exams (just in time for GCSE's)


the best schools in the league tables for UK are all grammar schools. :biggrin:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-16729387
(edited 11 years ago)

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