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Moving to Dubai/Abu Dhabi when my son is due to start year 11 - is this possible?

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3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 February 2016 - 01:08

Thank you for your replies. I have so far contacted two schools, one of which has replied asking me for a list of the subjects and exam boards my son is currently studying. She also suggested applying online for year 10. They would consider him joining year 11 in September but I know they do different subjects so I think he is best to do year 10 again, then year 11. I need to look through a few more schools yet!

32

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 February 2016 - 15:39

Hi, I moved here 18 months ago with two daughters then aged 13 who had just finished yr 8 and 17 who had just completed yr 12 in UK. We found a school which did the same exam board and the older one did year 12 again coming out with much better results than in UK, not the same subjects so it wasn't because of that, and has just had fab results in A level mocks. Socially she was fine with redoing it because as OP says, the age range is huge within the years. So in my opinion repeating the year may be the best option , good luck ?

298

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 10:45

The UK GCSE's are undergoing huge changes at the moment. The exam format is being altered and coursework is being phased out in most subjects. I know that my son, who is going to sit his GCSE's this year, is following a totally different system from his sibling, who is two years behind. The year group in between is in transition, with some subjects following the old system and some the new. You would need to be careful that your son would transition into the same system/exam board in each subject. He would need to to have the correct coursework in place as catching up in a single year would be tough. Starting from scratch could be a solution, but again, my youngest has already begun the science, english and maths curricula in year nine. I guess that it would be possible. Maybe approach schools individually to find out.

9

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 08:45

Also, if you are considering the move and a year 10 start begin contacting schools now and start the application process. Some schools will be full but often at the end of year 9 there is movement as families may choose to repatriate or send children to boarding school.

9

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 08:35

It may be difficult to find a school that exactly matches the exam board that your son is following for each subject as some English curriculum schools follow two boards and even transferring a child from one school to another within Dubai mid- GCSE would not be practical. If you are considering repeating year 10, as a July birthday your son would not be unusual as many children entering Dubai at different stages are placed in the year below their correct year group (by age) as they have transferred from different systems. One of my children has at least four friends who will turn 15 before they turn 14 as they have a June birthday. Children here are used to new children arriving so if he is sociable that is always a bonus! Perhaps you could contact some of the schools here and speak to the admissions officers directly and see what they advise. Mention the possibility of repeating a year as an option. If he enjoys sport there are plenty of opportunities here and btw RE is not taught in schools here as a general subject. Muslim children have to attend Islamic studies but no other religions are taught.

147

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 03:19

Hi, I think you have misunderstood slightly - it isn't a question of waiting six months; that would just take us to September when he is due to start year 11. We would need to wait a year and six months for him to finish school, by which time the job for my husband would no longer be on offer. I certainly do value my son's education - if I didn't, I wouldn't be posting on this site asking for advice! He is a sociable boy and I have no worries about him making new friends. I suppose I feel he is not making fantastic progress at the school where he is presently, he has a July birthday so is one of the youngest in the year, would redoing year 10 be such a bad thing? Redoing a year might be the answer, I guess. At least that would mean he came out with adequate qualifications for further/ higher education in the future. Not a decision I envy you! I can't talk about Dubai schools but am sure there would be places that accept at year 10. If his current school isn't good it might all work out for the best.

3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 01:36

Hi, I think you have misunderstood slightly - it isn't a question of waiting six months; that would just take us to September when he is due to start year 11. We would need to wait a year and six months for him to finish school, by which time the job for my husband would no longer be on offer. I certainly do value my son's education - if I didn't, I wouldn't be posting on this site asking for advice! He is a sociable boy and I have no worries about him making new friends. I suppose I feel he is not making fantastic progress at the school where he is presently, he has a July birthday so is one of the youngest in the year, would redoing year 10 be such a bad thing?

147

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2016 - 00:26

He may well regret it if he doesn't get his minimum 5A-C GCSEs including maths and English. He may blame you later if you take him away from all that is familiar at such a crucial time in his education. Maybe if you valued education a bit more, he might too. Can you really not wait in UK for just six months whilst he finishes off school here? You could go out holidays and for his study leave. Does he have a close relative of friend you could pay for him to lodge with? If there is no option but to move then I would think the poor boy will have to redo years 10 and 11 as the course may well be different - different exam boards, different set texts, different countries as case studies in geography, different religions in RE, different sports in PE etc. Almost impossible for a child to move at this stage and not suffer because of it.

3

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 17 February 2016 - 23:29

Hi, this is my first post so I apologise firstly if I'm posting in the wrong area?! My husband is in talks about an opportunity to move out to the UAE later in the year, he has lived out there before but me and our children remained in the UK. We would not do this a second time though. If all works out the problem we have is that our son is 14, 15 in July, so currently in year 10 doing his GCSE courses. Do any of the school's accept a child into year 11 when they're already half way through their GCSEs? Is it better to re do year 10 and start from scratch? Worried that probably both options will be met with a brick wall from our son, who isn't very academic, enjoys football, a bit of English sometimes (!) and in his free time plays for a football team and goes to youth club each week. Any advice and opinions would be welcome, thank you.

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