Sometimes you've got to make a sensible decision!

[Guest almost there]

Hi, Feeling a bit sad, we were going to instruct estate agents tomorrow but due to lots of factors have decided to wait until May 2012 (visa valid until Sept 2013) when son completes GCSE.

 

This decision has been painful but I have a health niggle which I wish to resolve with a consultant that I know and trust in the UK, house market is pants and exchange rate worse, also have a dog that has a few health problems so want to see her life out with her in UK. Problem is the age of my son, he has started yr 10 and has started some really good options which I think will benefit him to complete but would like your advice as at the end of the day his future is more important that the above factors.

 

He is taking usual GCSE in maths, english, science, french, ICT etc which I know hold no value in Oz but he is also on 3 vocational courses in construction, motor mechanics and engineering which will result in NVQ. He has also been lucky enough to gain a place on a young apprenticeship scheme in engineering which means he will be spending alot of time gaining work experience in several large well known companies in our town. I think these opportunities are too good to miss and all the skills he learns can be transfered to Oz and will hopefully make him a more attractive proposition for future employers.

 

What do you think? Do you agree that the skills and confidence he will gain are worth sticking around for or do you think to join a new education system at the age of 16yrs is a big ask and we will be messing with his future and limiting his opportunities? Does anyone know what his options will be in Adelaide when he is 16?

 

This has been a really tough descision, but I feel that for the sake of waiting 18mths hopefully the move will be slightly easier and I just keep telling myself all good things come to those that wait!!

Thanks

[Riponian]

Just wanted to say that your positive attitude will stand you in good stead but as I have no older children I can't comment on work/education prospects for your son.

 

In the grand scheme of things 18mths is not a long time so good lick and hope you can get some advice :-)

[foxychick]

Sounds like you have several things influencing this decision, and therefore it must be the right one for you at this time.

 

Moving with your teenager - just like the adults who emigrate here, some take to it like a duck to water, others struggle for a long time, you have no way of knowing which way it would go.

 

One point to consider - if he is happy and settled in his appreticeshiip in 18 months, he may no longer wish to make the move with you, are you prepared to make the move without him?

 

Good luck

[Guest tooeasy]

when your son gets to adelaide he will go to school anyway they stay til 18 here so he will finish his education in the uk then go back to school here and he will find it hard to get his year 12 sace with only 1 year of school here and may have to stay on for year 13 hope this helps

[lorluc]

He is taking usual GCSE in maths, english, science, french, ICT etc which I know hold no value in Oz but he is also on 3 vocational courses in construction, motor mechanics and engineering which will result in NVQ. He has also been lucky enough to gain a place on a young apprenticeship scheme in engineering which means he will be spending alot of time gaining work experience in several large well known companies in our town. I think these opportunities are too good to miss and all the skills he learns can be transfered to Oz and will hopefully make him a more attractive proposition for future employers.

 

From experience of bringing a teenager over 5 years ago at the age of 15, other things i have learned here over the years...........I think you have really made the right decision!!!! If you do come over, the training he has received in the vocational courses will help him greatly...

[Rachiegarlo]

If that's your gut feeling, then it is probably the right decision for you.

[Guest almost there]

Thanks for all your replies.

 

I have thought about the risk that my son may not want to come but I think he will be ok as he listens to the news and understands that things are tough in the UK for young people leaving school and starting out.

 

Does anyone know what year he would start in if he will be 16 in April 2012 and we arrive May 2012?

 

Too Easy - you mentioned staying on into year 13 - is this the equivalent of sixth form in the UK?

 

Thanks

[Guest tooeasy]

jake is 18 in dec of this year and he is in his lat year of school ( year 12 ) year 13 is a bit like 6th form in the uk or alternativley he could go to tafe aussie version of college not sure if he would need his year 12 sace for that tho hope this helps

[Rachiegarlo]

If your son is 16 in April then he would go into Yr 11. This is the start of SACE the final two yrs at school. Most kids do the final year of school in yr 12, but there is the option for them to spread their subjects across 2 years , into yr 13. Yr 13 is also for people who maybe didn't do as well as they hoped and want to stay on and improve their scores. Yr 13 is not an extension of the education levels like in the UK.

 

If your son like the more practical subjects then in yr 11 he can take some VET ( vocational) courses. For example a friend's son did an automotive VET subject in yr 11 which allowed him to a day in the industry, a day at TAFE learning the theoretical side and the other 3 days at school. In yr 12 he increased his time to 2 days with the industry, 1 at TAFE and 2 days at school. He had a job with the company as soon as he left school and finished his apprenticeship through TAFE while working.

[Diane]

He might go into Year 10.... my son is currently in Year 8 and most of his friends are 13/14 now. They make all their SACE subject selections for Year 11 and 12 in year 10 (about August) so it may work for your son to go into Year 10 when he arrives, choose his specialist subjects for the following two years, get settled and make some friends before the pressure of Year 10 and 11.

 

PS Sorry I may have misunderstood - did you say your son is in Year 10 now, but is still only 14 and a couple of months (I guess he has just finished Year 9)? If so, then the year groupings are quite different to here: my daughter is about to turn 16 and is in Year 10 in the Australian system, and my son's friends are 14 now and are in Year 8 here.

 

When we came over here in August (2004) the children had just finished school years in the UK, and went into those same school years until December here. So if you were to arrive now, your son would go into Year 9 again until December. If you arrive in 2011, he'd go into Year 10, then if you arrive 2012, he'd go into Year 11 I guess.

[Guest markbevjake]

Hi Almost There

 

Firstly, I'll be honest and say I know very little about the transition between secondary school to University / TAFE (technical college) and also apprenticeships.

 

However; being from the generation who as intelligent bright young things left school at 16 I can still remember that major life change transition between school and work (child to adult). It sounds like your son will undergo this gradually in the UK whilst still being at school which is great and will mature/develop him over a period of time learning to deal with adults. My concerns would be taking this young man and then putting him back into a school environment for another 2 years before he can go to Uni / TAFE or an apprenticeship. It does appear that Aussie kids are more mature than the equivilant UK aged kids which might help, but will he resent this additional schooling, does he like the vocational work element of school more than the academic and want to go on to a full time apprenticeship away from a school environment?? So many questions and only your family will know how this will affect him as an individual??

 

 

As Rachiegarlo says there appears to be good vocational subjects at high schools in Australia, but I would strongly suggest you researching this and the transition period and also apprenticeships (especially if he will be giving one up in UK by that time). Also 18 months is a long time in terms of his development at this age, so making fixed plans now may not be of much use later as he may not wish to do another 2 years vocational study.

 

Good luck and my only real advice is that you can't do too much research, as Australia is not the same as the UK in many many respects (this being one of them).