mjanvier
8/8/2014 18:32 EST
Hi,
We recently moved over from the states. I have an 8 year old boy who finished the 3rd grade in the US. I am trying to enroll him in year 5, but I am being told by the local council (over the phone) that he will be in year 4 due to his age. He was born in Oct 2005 and apparently the cut off in the UK is Aug 31. I do not want him to repeat a year, nor do I want any issues when returning to the US with him being put in the appropriate grade. We are looking at free state schools (aka public) here in UK. Does anyone know whether there is an appeals process that deals specifically with this? I am aware that there is an appeals process if you don't get your preferred school. Right now my biggest concern is that he be placed in the correct corresponding year here in the UK. Any suggestions? Thanks
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gah26
From: United Kingdom
8/17/2014 19:58 EST
The schools and curriculum are completely different here. I don't think you should look at it as repeating a year . Friends who moved back to the US found that their kids were in fact ahead of the age appropriate grade. My understanding is there is no negotiation.
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leesajohnson
12/7/2015 05:02 EST
Hi,
Every school society has some rules, so I think that rules cannot be changed for someone. You should also follow the rules.
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taraindc
From: Germany
12/14/2015 08:27 EST
Yes, that is the correct primary school grade for the UK and a boy his age. You are lucky they are aware of the issue, I transferred mine - who were in 9th grade - and they put them in Year 9 when they should have been in Year 10 - but neither the school or I knew about the difference.
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OldPro
1/8/2016 11:19 EST
What 'grade' he is put into is irrelevant. What the curriculum covers and whether he has the background skills for that curriculum is what matters. While some things are similar, some are not and you may find he is ahead in one subject but behind in another as a result.
I moved in the other direction years ago as a 7 year old. My reading and math skills were ahead of my new peers. As a result, after finishing the last few months of the school year in the 'grade' my age dictated I should be placed in, I was 'skipped ahead' by a year.
The government provided school system in any country is not going to make exceptions for your child, if they did that for every new immigrant child, it would be an enormous task.
If you want special consideration, your only alternative is the private (Public Schools) system.
As you refer to moving back to the USA, you will have the same problem at that time in regards to any differences in the curriculum. He may be ahead or behind in some subjects and that can have obvious consequences. You might want to consider a private school that teaches based on the US curriculum.
http://london.usembassy.gov/american_schools_uk.html
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