Appeared in the journal: "British American Business 2004" in April 2004.
On a Learning Curve
Georgia Bennett
Georgia Bennett, President, Bennett Educational Resources, Inc, takes a look at educational opportunities for American children in the UK and how to ease them into the British way of schooling
According to the latest industry data, the UK ranks among the top three global assignment destinations, along with the US and China. This year, hundreds of US families will take an international assignment in the UK, and approximately 60% of these families will have children who will accompany them.
Anticipating the schooling experience for children in the UK should be a positive experience, assuming appropriate counseling and planning. Choices exist among several American international schools in London and its suburbs. Likewise, opportunities exist in public and private British schools. School placement decisions must consider the age of the student, school experience and record, and educational goals. These factors must then be balanced against type of school, for example, parochial, single gender; location of school and waiting lists which may exist at particular levels. Waiting lists are an issue for some schools at certain levels so families with more than one child may unfortunately experience fully-enrolled classes at some grades. It is wise not to make assumptions in respect to school acceptance decisions, and to begin planning for school placement as early as a move is known.
Depending upon a company’s education policy and the relocation site, particularly if outside of London, American families may consider placing their children in a British public school, for example, a government or state school. In this instance, it is important to understand that a national curriculum structure (the British National Curriculum) is mandated in all British public schools (public is used here in the American sense, not in the British vernacular when public school actually means private).
Families who are considering placing their children in the local public school in the U.K. should recognise that there are some basic structural differences between British and American public schools. For example, formal education begins at the age of four in the UK with the ‘Reception’ class, followed by Year 1 at the age of five.
Mid-year intakes are also permitted in the UK, so a child who turns four in January may begin attending a Reception class in the second semester of the year. Thus, an American child placed with his or her academic peers in the UK.would be placed with children at least one full year younger. Placement with age peers could result in real frustration for American children since British children of the same age will be one full academic year ahead of their American counterparts.
The British National Curriculum also mandates standardised testing of all children (with results published nationally in league tables) every two to three years throughout their academic careers. Compulsory testing occurs at the end of Key Stage 1 (age 6-7), at the end of Key Stage 2 (age 10-11), and at the end of Key Stage 3 (age 13-14). Thus, without debating the merits of testing and the variety of ways that children respond to testing, American families may wish to consider placement in British private schools. British independent private schools may not subscribe to the same testing as required by the British National Curriculum. Detailed descriptive information on the British National Curriculum covering each Year (or grade) including goals, objectives, and syllabi is available online at www.nc.uk.net.
Early planning is important overall in respect to a child’s educational placement. Contacting schools via e-mail and/or telephone is advised as soon as a move is anticipated. Most American international schools have detailed websites containing basic information on admissions, philosophy, curriculum, staff, school day and year, and contact information for key personnel.
Other planning elements would include all of what an educational placement counsellor might term, "The Education Passport." These items would include the following:
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Names and addresses of schools attended and dates of attendance
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Transcripts: copies of course lists, grades and evaluations
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Description of the home school curriculum which may be expanded with copies of the most recent math and English textbooks
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Letters from teachers or others who can speak to the child’s achievements, abilities and character. Private schools often require recommendations from former teachers. (Bear in mind that such references may be difficult to obtain during the summer holidays or after the family has relocated.)
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Standardised testing results, if any
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Examples of the child’s work: completed assignments from the most recent academic period, writing samples or special projects
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Medical records: an immunisation history and information on specific conditions that might affect the child’s participation in any element of a school programme
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Results of a full recent physical examination
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Birth certificate, passport, and visa
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Public schools require proof of residency—usually a lease or electric or water bill addressed to the employee at that address will suffice
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Results of standardised testing or assessments that may explain a child’s special abilities or needs
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Families are advised to consider employing the services of an education consultant who will review the education records and goals of each child, determine schools that will best fit each child’s needs, and arrange appointments with all target schools. Another point to keep in mind: determine school placement before deciding upon housing—the American international schools are spread across Greater London so commuting time to schools and office could be significant without some planning.
If children are enrolled in British schools, expect that children will be required to wear uniforms and expect the school to have a more structured approach to discipline than what children are used to in the US. In general, children must adapt to the school and its curriculum rather than the opposite.
Websites for American and International Schools in the U.K.:
Marymount International School, Surrey – www.marymount.kingston.sch.uk
American Community School, Cobham Campus – www.acs-england.co.uk
American Community School, Hillingdon Campus – www.acs-england.co.uk
The American School in London – www.asl.org
International School of London – www.islondon.com
Schiller International School – www.schillerintschool.com
TASIS, The American School in England – www.tasis.com
American Community School, Egham Campus – www.acs-england.co.uk
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