schools! [aaaaaaah! scary places!!]

[caroline]

hi im carolines daughter and i would like some info on the schools please!

when we move to oz i would be in the middle of my GCSEs! so i would like to know whether i can carry them on or will i have 2 throw away a whole year of work???

thank alot!

XxJaedxX

[attagirl]

That is a very good question. I would like to see the answer to this question as well. I hope that we can both find what we are looking for. There are many knowledgable people here.

[caroline]

even if they dont have GCSEs do they have anouther sort of exam thet will gain me some qualifications at they end of school????

!!!!thank you!!!!

[Quassia]

Hi Caroline's daughter.

When we were in Aus, my kids found school to be about the same level as UK.

We left before GCSE stage so I can't advise exactly, but I know what you've done so far won't be wasted. They don't have the same exam system as UK. They have some kind of a points scoring system. Their school year starts in January, not September, and the long hols are at Christmas.

Going at this stage you will have plenty of time to get qualified for TAFE (college) or uni. It's important to do further or higher ed there as you need to get qualifications for everything except the very dregs!

My daughters both found their Australian schools to be very friendly, and I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Sorry I can't be more specific about exams etc, but search education.au and you'll come up with some useful stuff.

Good luck! Q

[caroline]

ok, thank you any way, that has helped a little bit!

[starry]

Do a google search with the name of the state you will be moving to and the words "certificate of education". You should at least be able to find contact details for the right people to ask.

[caroline]

thanks i'll do that!

[golde]

I'm just talking about NSW, but think the system is somewhat similar in Victoria.
At the end of year 10 we have School Certificate (SC). Mandatory courses with written exams in Maths, English, combined Geography + History (we call HSIE--Human Society and Its Environment) an ICT test and two or more 'elective' subjects eg languages, music, art, sport. After this comes Years 11 and 12 (UK equivalent Sixth Form) where you study for Higher School Certificate (HSC) which are roughly equivalent to A levels.
My daughter had no problems coming from a UK school to NSW. She went into a Public School in year 9, made lots of friends and had very few problems with the curriculum. My eldest son had completed A levels and after a gap year applied for Sydney University. They simply 'converted' his A level results into a UAI (University Admissions Index) which fortunately was of the standard to get onto the courses he wanted.
Bear in mind that year 10 here in Oz is year 11 in the UK!
Whether you're in Public, Private or Catholic schools here the SC and HSC systems are the same. All 3 of my children have enjoyed the experience and had a lot fun!
Hope all goes well for you.
Golde