To coincide with the start of the new academic year and the relaunch of Smart Move, Re:locate’s website for relocating employees and their families, Rebecca Marriage looks at what relocating parents need to know about school admissions.
David Cameron wants us all to be happy. He is planning to measure our ‘general well-being’ (GWB) alongside GDP, using a ‘happiness index’. According to a government poll of people in the UK, the things that matter most in our lives are: health; friends and family; job satisfaction and economic security; and finally, of course, education.
It will come as no surprise to anyone that education decisions are some of the most important when it comes to the happiness and harmony of family life. When relocating, those choices become even more critical and can even affect the decision to relocate at all.
Planning, preparing and arming themselves with information will be second nature to any parent organising a move, but navigating the hundreds of choices in the UK education system can seem daunting, to say the least.
However, help is at hand. Smart Move, Re:locate’s new website for relocating employees and their families, offers a wealth of resources built up over many years – ranging from help for parents deciding which school is right for their child to tips on settling children in to a new school.
Planning and preparing: when to start?
The simple answer is, of course, ‘as soon as possible’. It’s never too early to start looking at the education choices available for relocating children, and, as a rule of thumb, one whole academic year is ideal for entry to any school.
It is unlikely that many families in the process of relocating will have that amount of notice, but parents will still have to go through the selection and application process. Equipped with the essential information, there is every chance they will secure a place at the school they have decided is best for their child.
Which school system?
In the UK, it is compulsory for a child to attend full-time education from the term after his or her fifth birthday until the age of 16. This compulsory age is set to rise to 18 by 2015. Children usually attend primary and junior school from the age of five, moving to secondary education when they reach 11.
Families may already be enrolled in a school in another part of the country and have made their choice of school system. However, for those from overseas, or with children entering school for the first time, we have broken down the options and indicated the key considerations for each: state, independent and international. `
The UK Education System Explained, on Smart Move, can offer further background. To help parents choose between state and fee-paying schools, see The Choice of a UK School for Relocating Parents.
There may also be further decisions to make, such as single-sex or co-educational, boarding or day, and faith. These are very personal choices, and families will need to think carefully about which option is right for them.
Here again, Smart Move can help. See The Benefits of Boarding School for Relocating Children, Boarding Bonanza, and Single-Sex Schools Breed High Hopes.
Choices for overseas pupils
If a family is moving to the UK from within the European Economic Area (EEA), the same options will be available as to UK residents. When moving to the UK from outside the EA, the family’s visa status will determine whether or not an application for a state-funded school place can be made.
Careful consideration must be given to the suitability of each school to a child’s individual needs. For example, if a long-term or permanent relocation to the UK is planned, a local school, either state or fee-paying, might be the best choice, as the child will benefit from integrating into the local community.
However, if successive family moves are likely, international schools will bring the benefits of a consistent education. They are also well set up to receive relocating pupils, and have systems in place to help children settle in quickly and painlessly.
International schools are often aware of the difficulties of timing when planning relocation and are geared up to help as best they can.
Matthew Cook, director of admissions at the International Community School, told Re:locate, “No two cases are ever the same. The ideal notice period is between a year and18 months, but we’ve just had a case where the family has been told they will be moving next month. The variance can be massive.”
Where to look?
Finding a school has never been easier; with online directories and parent forums, there is an overwhelming amount of information on the web.
Smart Move has a Schools Directory for independent schools in the UK, and links to published guidebooks. Many national newspapers also publish their own directories of state and independent schools, ranking them according to academic achievement and other independent factors.
How to decide which school is best?
There are a number of ways of creating a shortlist. There are the indisputable facts and figures, such as league tables, exam results, and inspection reports. These can all be found on the Department for Education’s website, www.dfes.gov.uk/performancetables/, and they will help to measure each school’s educational achievements.
However, there is no substitute for hearing what pupils and teachers have to say, so the best advice is to visit the school. Often, schools hold official open days – typically twice a year, in spring and autumn – but they are likely to welcome families and prospective pupils at any time during the academic year. Smart Move has its own Open Days Listing and advice on what to look for when attending, including articles on Making the Most of School Open Days and School Open Days: A Valuable Resource for Relocating Families.
Curriculum and teaching systems
The National Curriculum is taught in state schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland until pupils reach the age of 16. Pupils are required to study core subjects and are divided by age groups into ‘key stages’. The Smart Move article The National Curriculum Explained goes into this in greater detail.
Independent schools are not required to follow the National Curriculum and are free to devise their own teaching systems.
Examinations and qualifications in the UK
If moving a child before he or she has started secondary school, a major deciding factor for parents will be the learning choices available: what the child will learn, how they will be examined, and what qualifications will be awarded at the end of school. This is where it gets a bit trickier.
UK Qualifications and Examinations Explained is a comprehensive Smart Move guide to examinations and qualifications in UK schools, to help families choose between the options available, which include A Levels, GCSEs, International GCSEs (iGCSEs) and the International Baccalaureate (IB).
There is also the IB section on Smart Move, which includes Is the IB the Best Option?, IB – Riding High! and IB – Bridging the Gap?
Careful thought will need to be given to moving a child directly before secondary school examinations take place. Some schools will be unable to take pupils if they do not slot into the system or are not at the appropriate level to be entered for exams.
Applying for a place
The considerations for application to each school system are addressed on p44, but getting the application right isn’t the end of the story. Securing a place can depend on other factors many parents may not have thought of.
These factors are looked at in detail on Smart Move, in How to Get that School Place. The article includes tips on gaining a competitive edge at an interview for an independent school and going through the appeals process for a failed state-school application.
Talk to families
Discussing the choices with fellow relocatees will be enormously beneficial to families faced with these difficult decisions. Schools will always go out of their way to help, and they will often introduce parents and pupils to other families who have gone through a similar process of moving and finding the right route for their child.
Online forums
Smart Move doesn’t only offer a range of practical advice; it also has a forum for parents to discuss their concerns and fears and share valuable tips and advice.
“A happy child is a successful child,” as David Day reminds us. But let’s not forget the happy and settled parent. Despite all the upheaval that goes with a move and a school change, hopefully, with Smart Move’s help and advice, relocating families could be well on their way to increasing their GWB!
