Moving from England to Scotland with 15yr old

3

Hi All!
I’m moving to Scotland this summer, trailing along my 3 boys. Boy 1 & 3 are fine, sorted. But my 15 yr old is giving me greys! He would have been doing his GCSE’s this time next year, currently in year 10. He turns 16 in October, which seems very old for him to go back to 3rd year to do his 2 year exam prep. Can anyone point me in the right direction. We don’t even know the area we’ll be moving to so can’t enroll him into a school until a few months into the year as it is. Worried I’m ruining his life! Please help!

Reply 1

BlackLab

15

If he was born 2005 I think he will be going into S4 not S3, unless he defers back a year. Not sure if they would even allow that for an October birthday (Scotland cutoff date is end of February and only jan/Feb birthdays can defer automatically) or if he'd want to be in with a much younger class.

In Scotland (most schools), we start doing 9 subjects in S3, then drop 2 to take 7 subjects in more depth in S4. The timetable to S4 normally changes and NAT5 work begins after the Easter holidays. Prelims (you call them mocks), will be December or early January, not really that long after he had started.

It is difficult years to change school systems. Hopefully some of the subject content will be covered in his GCSES, otherwise he will have a lot of work to do.

Reply 2

Blobfish12345

12

My birthday is in April 2005 and I am in S4, moving into S5 after the summer. An October birthday would be in the same year.

Reply 3

BlackLab

15

I always get confused with the cutoffs as I am a deferred Feb birthday. But you're right April 2005 will be same year as oct 2005 birthday. We're you 16 this year too?

That makes it even tougher, skipping both NAT5/GCSES and going straight to Highers. Couldn't have picked a worse year. Could potentially defer a year and go into S4 if school allows. Must admit I would be giving you greys too!

Reply 4

cchloepx

16

Skipping nat5 and going to highers is not really that difficult, lol. Most people crash highers in 5th or 6th year anyway.

Id say he might struggle with maths and perhaps English, not sure about sciences but social subjects like modern studies, history, etc. teach completely new content at higher and the exam structures are different which means you won’t essentially miss anything,

Reply 5

confusedmama

OP

3

Thanks all. Housing issues may be sorted, so we should be able to get into the local school and question them! Thanks again x

Reply 6

Nmg14

1

Original post

by confusedmama

Thanks all. Housing issues may be sorted, so we should be able to get into the local school and question them! Thanks again x

Hi, I see some time has passed but I am now in this position and wondered how it worked out for you? Any tips or regrets?

Reply 7

Nata2000

3

Original post

by Nmg14

Hi, I see some time has passed but I am now in this position and wondered how it worked out for you? Any tips or regrets?

Hi same situation here now. My son is in year 10 now England . His birthday is in January 2010. We asked one of the Scottish councils and they mentioned he will be taken in S5 when we are planning the move in July _August. That's scary . How can he give highers without taking either NAT 5s or GCSEs

Reply 8

Purple

18

Original post

by Nata2000

Hi same situation here now. My son is in year 10 now England . His birthday is in January 2010. We asked one of the Scottish councils and they mentioned he will be taken in S5 when we are planning the move in July _August. That's scary . How can he give highers without taking either NAT 5s or GCSEs

As he'll be a year through GCSEs at that point you could home educate and sit some of the GCSE exams privately then join a school for Highers?

Reply 9

Nata2000

3

Original post

by Purple

As he'll be a year through GCSEs at that point you could home educate and sit some of the GCSE exams privately then join a school for Highers?

Thanks . Yes, that seems like a feasible option so if we home educate , then he could potentially join in at S5 for highers? Would date of birth be an issue? As in his D.O .B is 10.01.2010 so I don't want him to go in S6 after completing home schooling and appearing for GCSEs exam. I believe he would still be entitled for free university education in Scotland as he would have lived three years after S^ and taking advanced highers.

Reply 10

Purple

18

Original post

by Nata2000

Thanks . Yes, that seems like a feasible option so if we home educate , then he could potentially join in at S5 for highers? Would date of birth be an issue? As in his D.O .B is 10.01.2010 so I don't want him to go in S6 after completing home schooling and appearing for GCSEs exam. I believe he would still be entitled for free university education in Scotland as he would have lived three years after S^ and taking advanced highers.

It will be fine as it would be the same schedule as if he'd just deferred primary school entry which is increasingly common for Nov-Febish birthdays.
After S5 you'll have some pupils still doing Nat 5s alongside their Highers so its less linear than what you would get in English schools. You'll need to speak to the school re. entry point as nat 5s are usually sat around April then the Higher classes start at the start of summer term so he'd probably need to start then.
Whatever you do don't skip GCSE or Nat 5 English and Maths as so many unis need at least a C in these for the majority of their courses.
I home ed my son so if you have any questions re. exam centres etc. I'm happy to help!

Reply 11

Nata2000

3

Original post

by Purple

It will be fine as it would be the same schedule as if he'd just deferred primary school entry which is increasingly common for Nov-Febish birthdays.
After S5 you'll have some pupils still doing Nat 5s alongside their Highers so its less linear than what you would get in English schools. You'll need to speak to the school re. entry point as nat 5s are usually sat around April then the Higher classes start at the start of summer term so he'd probably need to start then.
Whatever you do don't skip GCSE or Nat 5 English and Maths as so many unis need at least a C in these for the majority of their courses.
I home ed my son so if you have any questions re. exam centres etc. I'm happy to help!

Thank you so much. Please check your inbox

Reply 12

Purple

18

Original post

by Nata2000

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Moving from England to Scotland with 15yr old

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